June 18, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS – New Mexico’s Gayle Tripp and UNLV’s Brittany Meade are among the 418 college and university nominees for the 19th annual NCAA Woman of the Year award, announced Wednesday by the NCAA.
The award honors senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership. Nominees represent all three divisions.
In order to be eligible for the award, female student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2009 spring season, graduated no later than the end of the summer 2009 term, and achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.5.
Tripp, a native of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, was a four-time letterwinner in the Lobos’ volleyball program, capping off her career as the 2008 MWC Libero of the Year and a first-team all-MWC selection. She is the program’s all-time record-holder for career digs and ranks third in the conference overall. Tripp served on the UNM Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for four years and on the UNM student senate for one year. In addition, she was actively involved in community projects, participating annually in Lobo Pen Pals, local blood drives and as an elementary school storyteller. A three-time Academic all-MWC honoree, Tripp graduated in May, 2009 with a degree in mass communications.
Meade was a four-time letterwinner as an infielder on the Rebel softball squad. She served on the UNLV Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for five years, including two years each as the vice president and president. In addition, she was the UNLV representative on the MWC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for three years. The Tucson, Ariz., product was a four-time Academic all-MWC recipient, receiving an undergraduate degree in kinesiological sciences in May, 2008, before beginning graduate work in sports education leadership. Meade’s service projects included Sunrise Children’s Cancer Hospital, Santa Clothes Project, Las Vegas Childhaven and Nevada Reading Week.
The top 10 honorees per division will be announced in August, followed by the top 3 honorees per division in September. The top 10 honorees and the nine finalists from Divisions I, II and III will be honored and the 2009 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced at a dinner in Indianapolis on October 18.
To view the list of college and university nominees, click here.