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NCAA News Archive - 2003
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The NCAA News
The NCAA has selected 50 Woman of the Year state winners for 2003.
The NCAA Woman of the Year award recognizes outstanding female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics and community leadership.
Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia are represented among the 2003 state winners. No nominations were received from schools in New Mexico. Twenty-nine honorees are from Division I institutions, nine are from Division II schools and 12 represent Division III institutions. The winners represent 17 sports.
Each NCAA member institution was invited to nominate a student-athlete for the 13th annual awards program. For the fourth year, schools were allowed to submit a second nominee if one candidate was an ethnic minority. Twenty-six schools did so, down one from last year.
Of the 338 total nominations received, 176 came from Division I, 56 were submitted by Division II institutions and 106 were received from Division III schools.
A committee consisting of representatives from member institutions chose the state winners. That same committee will chose 10 finalists from among the 50 state winners. Selection criteria include grade-point average, athletics accomplishments and community service.
The 10 finalists will be announced in the September 29 issue of The NCAA News.
A national winner, chosen by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics from among the 10 finalists, will be announced during the 2003 Woman of the Year dinner November 1 at the Marriott Downtown Indianapolis.
Robin Roberts of ABC's "Good Morning America," and Nell Fortner, head coach of the Women's National Basketball Association's Indiana Fever, will serve as emcees for the event.
Also, in conjunction with the NCAA Woman of the Year award weekend, honorees will participate in the NCAA Sports Spectacular, a sports clinic for boys and girls ages 10 through 18.
Last year's national winner was Tanisha Silas, a track student-athlete from the University of California, Davis.
Woman of the Year State Winners
| State | Winner | School | Sport |
| Alabama | Kristin B. Sterner | University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa | Gymnastics |
| Alaska | Leslie Boyd | University of Alaska Anchorage | Cross country, skiing |
| Arizona | Lisa Aguilera | Arizona State University | Cross country, indoor and outdoor track |
| Arkansas | Kattie Shepherd | University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | Swimming |
| California | Susan Churchwell | University of California, Davis | Softball |
| Colorado | Elia Burrill | U.S. Air Force Academy | Fencing |
| Connecticut | Kate O'Neill | Yale University | Cross country |
| Delaware | Julie Van Deusen | University of Delaware | Swimming |
| District of Columbia | Lindsey Davidson | George Washington University | Basketball |
| Florida | Victoria Courmes | Barry University | Tennis |
| Georgia | Candace Turner | Columbus State University | Basketball |
| Hawaii | Margaret Vakasausau | University of Hawaii, Manoa | Volleyball |
| Idaho | Angela Whyte | University of Idaho | Indoor and outdoor track |
| Illinois | Melissa D. Jones | Monmouth College (Illinois) | Basketball, outdoor track, volleyball |
| Indiana | Tiffany Kyser | Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis | Basketball |
| Iowa | Jessica Jensen | Buena Vista University | Basketball, outdoor track |
| Kansas | Sarah Wuertz | Emporia State University | Indoor and outdoor track |
| Kentucky | Travece Turner | Morehead State University | Basketball |
| Louisiana | Trina Peters | Nicholls State University | Cross country, indoor and outdoor track |
| Maine | Elizabeth Anne Barney | Bowdoin College | Cross country, indoor and outdoor track |
| Maryland | Julie Shank | University of Maryland, College Park | Lacrosse |
| Massachusetts | Marret Kjestina Arfsten | Wellesley College | Field hockey |
| Michigan | Janessa Grieco | University of Michigan | Gymnastics |
| Minnesota | Teresa Thompson | University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) | Soccer |
| Mississippi | Mira Radu | University of Mississippi | Tennis |
| Missouri | Rebecca Rotello | Washington University (Missouri) | Volleyball |
| Montana | Lacy Hinzpeter | Montana State University-Bozeman | Indoor and outdoor track |
| Nebraska | Laura Pilakowski | University of Nebraska, Lincoln | Basketball, volleyball |
| Nevada | Jessica Raelynn Zarndt | University of Nevada, Las Vegas | Cross country, indoor and outdoor track |
| New Hampshire | Correne Bredin | Dartmouth College | Ice hockey |
| New Jersey | Alexis Diane Jemal | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick | Fencing |
| New York | Melissa White | State University College at Geneseo | Cross country |
| North Carolina | Joanna Hingle | Duke University | Rowing |
| North Dakota | Becky Moen | University of North Dakota | Basketball |
| Ohio | Ashley Jo Rowatt | Kenyon College | Swimming |
| Oklahoma | Lauren Bay | Oklahoma State University | Softball |
| Oregon | Elizabeth Jillson | Oregon State University | Gymnastics |
| Pennsylvania | Lauren Schmidt | Carnegie Mellon University | Volleyball |
| Rhode Island | Jessica Cooper | Brown University | Volleyball |
| South Carolina | Kristy McPherson | University of South Carolina, Columbia | Golf |
| South Dakota | Melissa Pater | South Dakota State University | Basketball |
| Tennessee | Kara Lawson | University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Basketball |
| Texas | Kendra Anderson | Hardin-Simmons University | Basketball |
| Utah | Katie Martin-Sabey | Brigham Young University | Cross country, indoor and outdoor track |
| Vermont | Elizabeth LeFebvre | St. Michael's College | Basketball |
| Virginia | Erika Paige Proko | Washington and Lee University | Tennis |
| Washington | Paige Benjamin | University of Washington | Volleyball |
| West Virginia | Toni Alexandria Riley | Fairmont State College | Swimming |
| Wisconsin | Jocelyn Christine Loe | University of Wisconsin, La Crosse | Indoor and outdoor track |
| Wyoming | Carrie Bacon | University of Wyoming | Basketball |
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