The NCAA, in collaboration with corporate partner Buick, is proud to continue a significant book donation initiative through the NCAA Woman of the Year program, specifically with its Top 30 honorees.
To recognize these honorees, the NCAA and Buick are donating books to public libraries and middle school libraries that are special to the honorees or near their alma maters. The books will focus on uplifting and relatable topics about sports and other interests that aim to inspire young girls.
The Top 30 honorees for the 2024 award were selected from a record-breaking 627 nominees submitted by member schools — a group that was then narrowed to 168 nominees at the conference level. The Top 30 include 10 honorees from each of the three NCAA divisions. Each honoree has demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. The honorees represent 15 sports, including three student-athletes representing NCAA Emerging Sports for Women. They have a variety of majors, including cell and molecular biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, civil engineering, sociology, nursing, computer science, sport management and more. They collectively have shown a strong commitment to giving back, volunteering with more than 200 campus and community organizations while also excelling in their studies and sports.
List of schools and libraries receiving book donations:
- Albion District Library, Albion, Michigan — Honoree: Avery Campbell, Albion
- Athens-Clarke County Library, Athens, Georgia — Honoree: Caitlin Lyons, Georgia
- Auraria Library, Denver — Honoree: Shelby Robb, Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Avery County Public Library, Newland, North Carolina — Honoree: Cami Belin, Lees-McRae
- Azusa City Library, Azusa, California — Honoree: Sarah Mizel, Azusa Pacific
- Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library, Medford, Massachusetts — Honoree: Sophia DiCocco, Tufts
- Clarion Free Library, Clarion, Pennsylvania — Honoree: London Fuller, Clarion
- Crookston Middle School, Crookston, Minnesota — Honoree: Madeleine Schneider, Minnesota-Crookston
- Dawes Middle School, Lincoln, Nebraska — Honoree: Breanne Geary, Nebraska Wesleyan
- El Roble Intermediate School, Claremont, California — Honoree: Alexandra Turvey, Pomona-Pitzer
- Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore — Honoree: Sydni Black, Loyola Maryland
- Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia — Honoree: Margherita Calderaro, Temple
- Fresno County Public Library, Fresno, California — Honoree: Amelia DiPaola, Fresno State
- Friends of the Knox County Public Library, Knoxville, Tennessee — Honoree: Jala Wright, Duke
- Gordon Avenue Library, Charlottesville, Virginia — Honoree: Natasha Subhash, Virginia
- Grove Family Library, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania — Honoree: Isabella Whittaker, University of Pennsylvania
- Hempstead Public Library, Hempstead, New York — Honoree: Morgan Salmon, Adelphi
- Library Administrative Center, Charlotte, North Carolina — Honoree: Riley Felts, Charlotte
- Linus Pauling Middle School, Corvallis, Oregon — Honoree: Grace Fetherstonhaugh, Oregon State
- Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, Virginia — Honoree: Chandler Eddleton, Marymount (Virginia)
- Old Colorado City Library, Colorado Springs, Colorado — Honoree: Kendall Accetta, Colorado College
- Patrick Beaver Memorial Library, Hickory, North Carolina — Honoree: Nanette Nikolajsen, Lenoir-Rhyne
- Pomona Public Library, Pomona, California — Honoree: Cooper McKenna, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
- Reed Academy, Springfield, Missouri — Honoree: Kinley "Lily" DeSpain, Missouri State
- Robeson County Public Library, Lumberton, North Carolina — Honoree: Anna Grossheim, UNC Pembroke
- Rodman Public Library, Alliance, Ohio — Honoree: Maddy Miles, Mount Union
- St. Anthony Park Library, St. Paul, Minnesota — Honoree: Annessa Ihde, Bethel (Minnesota)
- Strong Vincent Middle School, Erie, Pennsylvania — Honoree: Samantha Pirosko, Gannon
- W. H. Kirk Middle School, East Cleveland, Ohio — Honoree: Hannah Kassaie, Case Western Reserve
- Winona Public Library, Winona, Minnesota — Honoree: Lindsay Cunningham, Winona State