Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302
NCAA Release
Oct. 21, 2021 – North Central College women's triathlon alumna
Naomi Hill '21 has been named a finalist for the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Woman of the Year Award. The nine national finalists – three from each division – were announced by the NCAA on Thursday.
The Woman of the Year Award, which was established in 1991, honors graduated female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in academic achievement, athletic excellence, service, and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
NCAA member schools nominated 535 female student-athletes across all three NCAA divisions for the award's opening pool. From there, conferences selected up to two nominees to be considered for advancement by a selection committee. The Woman of the Year selection committee chose 10 women from each division to make up the top-30. Three honorees from each division were chosen as the nine finalists.
"Naomi Hill has been the epitome of what it means to be a student-athlete," said North Central College athletic director, Jim Miller '86. "She competed at the highest level of her sport as an athlete, earned All-America and All-Academic honors on multiple national championship teams while maintaining an outstanding academic record and working four years in the Office of Admission, sharing her experiences with prospective students and student-athletes. This is great recognition for a very deserving student athlete and we are very proud of her achievement."
Hill excelled throughout her career on the North Central women's triathlon team, playing roles in the program's USA Triathlon Collegiate Club Division III National Championship team titles in 2017 and 2018, placing fourth individually in both years. Hill was a Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Association (CTCA) All-Region selection in 2017 and 2018.
In addition to her athletic successes, the psychology and behavioral neuroscience dual major was honored as a recipient of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and was recognized as a three-time CTCA Academic All-American in 2017, 2018, and 2021. Graduating summa cum laude, Hill presented research at the National Council for Undergraduate Research, Midwestern Psychology Association Conference, and North Central's Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research. Hill is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma student-athlete honor society, Psi Chi psychology honor society, and Nu Rho Psi neuroscience honor society.
Hill volunteered with the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, where she supervised calls, researched treatment plans, and provided crisis support. Hill sat on North Central's Student Governing Association (SGA) for two years and served as SGA president during the 2019-2020 academic year. She also served as vice president of the Fellowship of Christian Undergraduate Students. As a co-founder of The Body Collective, Hill helped develop a community of athletes stemming from North Central who are committed to supporting body positivity within athletics.
The nine finalists and the Top 30 honorees will be recognized in a virtual awards ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. with the announcement of the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year to follow. The Ceremony will be streamed on the NCAA Twitter account and ncaa.org/woty.
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