JONESBORO, Ark. (6/22/14) – Sharika Nelvis, a three-time All-America women's track and field athlete at Arkansas State University, has been chosen as the university's nominee for the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
Nelvis, a senior hurdler-sprinter who will graduate this August 2014, is one of 466 college and university female student-athletes to be nominated for the prestigious national award.
The process starts with NCAA member institutions from the three divisions (I, II and III) submitting their top graduating female student-athlete for consideration. Conferences then assess each nominee's eligibility and select up to two women from the nominees to represent their respective conference. The Woman of the Year selection committee selects the top 30 honorees – 10 from each division – from the conference nominees. From among those 30 candidates, the selection committee determines the top three in each division and announces the top nine finalists in September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will vote from among the finalists to determine the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year.
The top 30 honorees will be recognized and the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced at the annual award ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 19, in Indianapolis, Ind.
The NCAA established the Woman of the Year Award in 1991 to celebrate the achievements of women in intercollegiate athletics. Presently in in its 24th year, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award is unique because it recognizes not only the athletics achievements of outstanding young women, but also their academic achievements, community service and leadership.
Nelvis, a three-time (2012-14) Indoor and Outdoor All-America selection by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), was recently selected as the 2014 Honda Sports Award winner for women's track and field. The 2014 NCAA Division I national champion in the indoor 60-meter hurdles and outdoor 100-meter hurdles in now a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2014 Honda Cup.
The 2014 USTFCCCA South Central Region Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, Nelvis received both the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) Female Athlete of the Year Award and A-State Athletics' prestigious Terry Gwin Award for leadership, citizenship, scholarship and athletic performance per the 2013-14 athletics season.
Nelvis went undefeated in 11 finals overall this campaign in the 55-meter hurdles, 60-meter hurdles and 100-meter hurdles. The Memphis, Tenn., native made the most of her final A-State season by winning the long jump, 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and 60-meter hurdles at the 2014 SBC Indoor Track Championships en route to scoring a meet-best 40 points.
In the outdoor season, Nelvis produced three Sun Belt Conference titles by recording first-place performances in the 100-meter hurdles, 100-meter dash, and the 200-meter dash at the Sun Belt Conference Championships and was meet's top scorer with 38 points. Nelvis, a four-time (2011-14) indoor All-SBC First-Team pick and a three-time (2012-14) outdoor first-team all-league selection, was also recognized as the USTFCCCA's Division I National Women's Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week (May 12).
Nelvis concluded her A-State career by setting school records in five indoor events and four for the outdoor season.
The 2013-14 A-State captain has served as a volunteer in community activities such as Arkansas Early Learning Jonesboro Head Start and the Arkansas Special Olympics.
