The NCAA has selected nine finalists for the 2006 NCAA Woman of the Year, the winner of which will be announced at the annual awards dinner October 28 in Indianapolis.

The honor recognizes standout female student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics and community service and leadership.     

This year’s finalists are:     

• Anne Bersagel, Wake Forest University (cross country and indoor and outdoor track), Atlantic Coast Conference;   
• Janelle Engle, Old Dominion University (field hockey), Colonial Athletic Association;   
• Angela Homan, Auburn University (cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field), Southeastern Conference;   
• Jennifer Irwin, Ferris State University (cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field), Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference;   
• Adrianne Musu Jackson-Buckner, State University College at Oneonta (field hockey and indoor and outdoor track), State University of New York Athletic Conference;   
• Angela Pfeiffer, Concordia College, Moorhead (indoor and outdoor track), Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference;   
• Bethany Rehm, Texas Woman’s University (gymnastics);   
• Christyn Schumann, Trinity University (Texas) (indoor and outdoor track), Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference; and   
• Greta Trotman, Barry University (tennis), Sunshine State Conference.   

The Committee on Women’s Athletics will select the 2006 Woman of  the Year from among the finalists. Danielle Sargent, an ESPN  personality, will share emcee responsibilities with Kara Lawson. Lawson is a former University of Tennessee, Knoxville, women’s  basketball student-athlete and 2003 Woman of the Year finalist who currently plays in the WNBA. She also has done color commentary for ESPN during the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship.     

While in Indianapolis, the finalists also will participate in a service project with Habitat for Humanity.     

Lauryn McCalley, a former diver at Tennessee, was the 2005 NCAA Woman of the Year.     

Following are some of the accomplishments of the 2006 Woman of the Year finalists:     

Anne Bersagel 
Wake Forest University 
Cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field     

Academic achievement: Economics and political science double-major who graduated with honors from Wake Forest in December 2005. United States Track Coaches Association all-American, 2002-03.  College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American, 2003, 2005. Four-time Edwin G. Wilson Wake Forest Scholar-Athlete of  the Year. NCAA Walter Byers Scholarship, 2006.  NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, 2005. Weaver-James-Corrigan ACC Postgraduate Scholarship, 2006.     

Athletics achievement: Cross country — ACC champion, 2002. Three-time first-team all-American. Two-time first-team all-conference. Indoor track — Two-time first-team    all-conference. Two-time first-team all-American. Outdoor track — First-team all-conference, 2005. Three-time first-team all-American. Two-time ACC champion.     

Service and leadership:United States Embassy, Oslo, internship Wake Forest University Philomathesian Editorial Board member. United States Agency for International Development. Wake Forest University Chapter of Amnesty International, vice president and treasurer. Student Conference on United States Affairs, Wake Forest political science representative. NATO Youth Summit on Anti-Terrorism. U.S. representative on global economics trade panel. U.S. representative to Danish Atlantic Youth Seminar.     

Excerpt from personal statement: "As female student-athletes, we owe a tremendous debt to the women who came before us and paved the way for participation in collegiate athletics. While at Wake Forest, I was fortunate to work with coach Annie Bennett, a former NCAA champion and currently one of the few female head coaches of both a men’s and women’s NCAA Division I track and field program. Through her example, I learned to be more assertive in my racing tactics and approach each competition with calm confidence. That sense of empowerment could not help but spill into the rest of my life as well."     

Adrianne Musu Jackson-Buckner 
State University College at Oneonta 
Field hockey, indoor and outdoor track     

Academic achievement:A May 2006 graduate of Oneonta State. Dean’s List honoree and National Field Hockey Coaches Association Academic Squad member, 2002-06. New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 2006. State University of New York Athletic Conference all-academic squad and Commissioner’s List selection. ESPN the Magazine Cross Country/Track and Field second-team Academic All-American, 2006. NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient, 2006.     

Athletics achievement: Division III national champion in the 200-meter dash, 2006. Two-time indoor and four-time outdoor track and field all-American. Four-time indoor and two-time outdoor Eastern College Athletic Conference track and field champion. Seven-time indoor and 10-time outdoor SUNYAC track and field champion. Oneonta State Women’s Athlete of the Year, 2006. Two-time ECAC Most Outstanding Female Athlete of the Meet (outdoor track), 2005-06.     

Service and leadership:Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Diversity Committee chair, 2002-04, 2005-06. Oneonta Safe Space student coordinator, 2005-06. African American-Latino-Asian-Native American mentor/mentee.     

Excerpt from personal statement:"The benefits of my experience as a student-athlete are threefold: (1) Discipline. The simultaneous demands of practice and school work forced me, happily, to prioritize. (2) Travel. Between field hockey and track, I have had the opportunity to travel to 14 states and two countries. (3) Endless opportunities. I learned how to perform under pressure before having entered the workplace because I needed that skill on the track. These opportunities, including my ability to be a positive role model, would have escaped me if I had not been involved with athletics.     

Janelle Engle
Old Dominion University
Field hockey     

Academic achievement:Music education major who will graduate in December. ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-American. Colonial Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 2006. Four-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association academic all-American. Four-time CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award.     

Athletics achievement:First team all-American, 2005. Three-time conference champion. Player of the Year, Colonial Athletic Association, 2005. Two-time first-team all-CAA. NCAA all-tournament team, 2005. Old Dominion University Alumni Association Female Student-Athlete of the Year, 2006. Old Dominion Sportsmanship Award, 2005.     

Service and leadership:Two-year member of school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Two-year team captain. Four-year member of Old Dominion Field Hockey Team Council. President (2006) and vice president (2005) of American String Teachers Association. Three-year member of Monarch String Quartet. Two-year concertmaster of Old Dominion Orchestra. First violinist of Diehn String Quartet, two years.     

Excerpt from personal statement:"Being a student-athlete, I learned the value of leadership skills, teamwork, self-discipline and a passion for everything I do. As team captain for two years and concertmaster of the school orchestra, I experienced success because I discovered that being a good leader means being a good teammate ... The success and growth I achieved as a person — academically and athletically — provided me with a sense of accomplishment and joy. Gaining respect from teammates, coaches and opponents through hard work and passion is the true reward and will benefit me in all my future endeavors."     

Angela Homan
Auburn University
Cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field     

Academic achievement:Exercise science major who graduated in May 2006. Auburn University’s Presidential Award of Excellence, 2005. Southeastern Conference (SEC) Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarship recipient and NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient, 2006. Algenon Sydney Sullivan Award, 2006. President’s Award from the College of Education, 2006.     

Athletics achievement:Cross country team captain, 2005. Outdoor track team captain, 2005-06. Indoor track team captain, 2006. Seven-time first team all-American. Three-time SEC cross country individual champions. Member of the 2006 NCAA national championship outdoor track team. Three-time SEC cross country athlete of the year. Member of the Cross Country World Junior Team, 2003.     

Service and leadership:Two-year Project Uplift volunteer. Physical Therapy Special Interest Group President. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member. Three-year American Cancer Society Relay for Life committee volunteer. Volunteer for the Human Performance and Rehabilitation Center and the Lima Memorial Health Systems.     

Excerpt from personal statement:"Being a student-athlete helped me deal with pressure and maximize my potential. I’ve learned to stay focused and balance my time effectively among academics, athletics, volunteer work and extracurricular activities. While this has certainly been challenging, the rewards of hard work have paid off and I now possess memories that will last a lifetime. I have truly learned the value of teamwork, the humility of defeat, and the honor of victory."     

Jennifer Irwin
Ferris State University
Cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field     

Academic achievement:Plastics engineering technology and rubber engineering technology major who graduated in May 2006. Dean’s List every semester. Ferris State Plastics Program Student of the Year, 2005. Ferris State Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 2005-06. Helen Benette Scholarship for Outstanding Female Athlete. Ferris State Scholar-Athlete of the Year.     

Athletics achievement:Four-time Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Cross Country Runner of the Week. Fourteen-time all-conference. Six-time all-American.     

Service and leadership:Four-year member of the Ferris State Rubber Group. Four year member of the Society of Plastics Engineers. Two-year member of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Volunteered as a speaker with elementary school children. Habitat for Humanity volunteer.     

Excerpt from personal statement:"My experience as a student-athlete has provided me with numerous benefits that would have been unattainable without the unique combination of athletics and scholastics. The most significant of these include perseverance, prioritization and dedication. Life is full of opportunities; combining athletics and scholastics has taught me to prioritize my values to be successful and to enjoy life to the fullest."     

Angela Pfeiffer
Concordia College, Moorhead
Indoor and outdoor track     

Academic achievement:An April 2006 graduate of Concordia-Moorhead. ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-American, 2006; second-team, 2005. Four-time all-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference academic team. Four-time U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association academic team. NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient, 2006.     

Athletics achievement:Team captain, 2005-06. Ten-time MIAC champion. Holds 12 school records and two MIAC meet records. MIAC Track Athlete of the Year, 2004. Two-time top-three finisher at NCAA championships in the 400 meters. Three-time most outstanding performance in conference meet (indoor and outdoor).     

Service and leadership:Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member. Edited, researched and wrote for textbooks as an undergraduate research assistant. Helped first-year students in college transition as an orientation leader. Cared for orphaned children as an orphanage aid in Costa Rica. Volunteered at a low-income day care.     

Excerpt from personal statement:"Although I have been fortunate enough to receive awards and recognition for my track and field participation, these things are not the most important benefits I have gained from my experience. I cannot imagine my college experience without track and field. It has allowed me to develop life-long friendships and memories. Most importantly, I have learned that life is not about winning or losing, but about what you learn and the people you meet."     

Bethany Rehm
Texas Woman’s University
Gymnastics     

Academic achievement:Business major who expects to graduate in December. National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches scholastic all-American. USA Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete. Recipient of Texas Woman’s President’s Award, the highest honor bestowed to a current student-athlete.     

Athletics achievement:  One of three TWU team captains during the 2005-06 season. Won the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships individual title on the uneven bars. Member of the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championship winning team, 2003, 2006. 2006 Midwest Independent Conference all-conference selection.     

Service and leadership: Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member. Collected donations and contributed to Hurricane Katrina relief through United Way and American Red Cross. Member of Sigma Beta Delta honor society for business majors. Helped families in need during Thanksgiving and Christmas through Adopt-a-Family. Habitat for Humanity volunteer.     

Excerpt from personal statement: "The opportunity to be a student-athlete has been a rewarding experience that has taught me countless valuable lessons, the most important of which is the value of teamwork as being crucial to success. Another major insight I have gained from gymnastics is how to deal with adversity."     

Christyn Schumann
Trinity University (Texas)
 Track and field     

Academic achievement: Business management major who graduated in May 2006. Recipient of NCAA Women’s Enhancement Program Postgraduate Scholarship. NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, 2006. Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll. Recipient of Trinity University Division of Student Affairs Presidential Award of Excellence for campus leadership and excellence.     

Athletics Achievement: Team captain, 2004-06. NCAA champion in high jump (outdoor), 2004-06. NCAA champion in high jump (indoor), 2005. Three-time Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference team champion. Holds Trinity and conference high jump records.     

Service and leadership: Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member. Mentor in Big Brothers, Big Sisters Program. Interned with the San Antonio Sports Foundation. Resident assistant for 40 students in dormitory on Trinity campus. Red Cross and UNICEF volunteer.     

Excerpt from personal statement: "It is difficult to delineate all I have gained as a student-athlete, for I cannot imagine my college years without that experience. Division III athletics enabled me to compete at the top level while focusing on other aspects of my life and developing life skills necessary to excel after college."     

Greta Trotman
Barry University
Tennis     

Academic achievement: History and literature double major who graduated in May 2006. Three-time Barry University Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Dean’s Award for Outstanding Senior in the School of Arts and Sciences, 2006. Two-time Sunshine State Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Four-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar All-American.     

Athletics Achievement: Team captain, 2005-06. Top-three finisher at NCAA championships and first-team all-American in singles play, 2005, 2006. Top-three finisher at NCAA championships and first-team all-American in doubles play, 2006. First-team all-conference and Sunshine State conference champion in singles play, 2005. Member of the Sunshine State conference team champion, 2005.     

Service and leadership: Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member. Participant in National Girls and Women in Sports Day and National Student-Athlete Day Clinics. Assistant counselor for homeless children at Nicolas House. Assisted in event planning of Special Olympics.     

Excerpt from personal statement: "My experience as a student-athlete at Barry University has greatly impacted my life. My four years on the tennis team were a period of growth in which I learned more about myself and my surroundings. My roommates made me realize that communication, especially in light of cultural differences, is essential for successful relationships."