Indianapolis, IN - NCAA member schools have nominated 543 student-athletes for the 2017 Woman of the Year award that includes senior Rachel Colvin of the Adelphi University field hockey program.

Established in 1991 and now in its 27th year, the NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

The school nominees represent all three NCAA divisions, with 229 from Division I, 117 from Division II and 197 from Division III. The nominees competed in 21 different women's sports, and 122 were multisport athletes during their time in college. The nominees post an average GPA of 3.69 and the group consists of 122 multi-sport athletes.

Colvin said, "being a student-athlete has certainly prepared me for life after college, as I hope to become a high school chemistry teacher."  "As I ignore the collective groan at the word "chemistry", it's important to note that chemistry and the world of athletics have certain things in common.  For example, some people are naturally gifted at one or the other - they do not need to apply themselves to understand periodic trends and it seems effortless to hit a homerun.  But are those people truly successful? No - it is the people who experience failure and learn from it, growing and constantly improving, that experience success. The people who do not have to work hard are able to handle adversity."

A four-year member of the field hockey program, Colvin helped the team to a 52-28 overall record during her time in the Brown and Gold. Her team made an appearance in the Northeast-10 Conference tournament every year and earned berths to the NCAA tournament in 2014 and 2015. In 80 games played she totaled nine goals and two assists, and ranks tied for fourth in defensive saves with 11. 

"The value of hard work is not lost on the student-athlete, and I will carry that ideal with me in my future endeavors and impart it on my future students," she concluded. 

Next, conferences will select up to two conference nominees each from the pool of school nominees. The Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will then choose the top 30 honorees - 10 from each division.

From the top 30, the selection committee determines the top three honorees from each division and announces the nine finalists in September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then chooses the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year from those nine.

The top 30 honorees will be recognized and the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at the annual award ceremony Oct. 22 in Indianapolis.

---

About Adelphi Athletics:
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past eight seasons, has collected 23 regular season conference titles, 25 tournament championships, 33 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), while winning six NCAA Division II National Championships.

For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.