Jul 1, 2010 9:53:43 AM

The NCAA has announced a record 452 college and university nominees for the 20th annual NCAA Woman of the Year award.

The award honors senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.

Every NCAA member institution was encouraged to honor its top graduating female student-athlete. If at least one of the nominees was a woman of color or international student-athlete, schools were urged to submit two nominations to their respective conference offices. Nominees represent all three divisions.

Each conference will assess each nominee's eligibility and select a conference nominee based on collective achievements in service, leadership, athletics and academics. All conference nominees will be forwarded to the Woman of the Year selection committee, which will choose the top 10 honorees in each division.

From among those 30 candidates, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, members of the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will vote from among the top nine finalists to determine the 2010 NCAA Woman of the Year.

To be eligible for the award, female student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2010 spring season, graduated no later than the end of the summer 2010 term and achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.5.

The top 10 honorees per division will be announced in August, followed by the top three honorees by division in September. The top 30 honorees and the nine finalists from Divisions I, II and III will be honored and the 2010 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced at the annual ceremony in Indianapolis on October 17.

To view the list of college and university nominees, click here.