MONMOUTH, Ill. – Monmouth College’s Melissa Jones, is in the same
company as WNBA star Rebecca Lobo – both have been named finalists for the
NCAA Woman of the Year award.
Lobo actually won the national award in 1995 and Jones, who graduated
from Monmouth in May, has been named a Top 10 finalist for the 2003 award.
“It’s quite a surprise,” said Jones, who is pursuing her master’s
degree in adaptive physical education at Western Illinois University. “To
be named a finalist for the award is an honor, not only for me, but for
the faculty and staff at Monmouth College. The Woman of the Year
emphasizes the whole person through not only athletics, but academics and
community service. To be named a finalist from the field of outstanding
women is a credit to the life-lessons I learned while I was a student at
Monmouth.”
The
award recognizes women in intercollegiate athletics from Divisions I, II
and III for their outstanding achievements in athletics, academics and
community service.
The 10 finalists for the 2003 NCAA Woman of the Year award include two
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients, and eight of the 10 finalists
are or were involved with NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC)
on their campuses and in their conferences.
Their community service included work with Special Olympics, collecting
food and supplies for a sexual assault and domestic violence center,
mission trips to Mexico, tutoring children with special needs and more.
Of the finalists, five are from Division I member institutions, two
from Division II and three from Division III. They competed in a variety
of sports, including gymnastics, fencing, softball, volleyball,
basketball, rowing, tennis and indoor and outdoor track and field
Jones, who competed in volleyball, basketball and indoor and outdoor
track at Monmouth, is the only multi-sport athlete to be named a finalist.
The other finalists are: Kristin Sterner, Ala. (Univ. of Alabama);
Susan Churchwell, Calif. (Cal-Davis); Elia Burrill, Colo. (Air Force);
Victoria Courmes, Fla. (Barry); Tiffany Kyser, Ind. (Indiana-Purdue);
Joanna Hingle, N.C. (Duke); Ashley Rowatt, Ohio (Kenyon); Kara Lawson,
Tenn. (Tennessee); and Erika Proko, Va. (Washington and Lee).
The finalists were selected by a committee comprised of athletics
administrators from NCAA member colleges and universities from more than
340 entries. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics will select the 2003
NCAA Woman of the Year from among the 10 finalists. The national winner
will be announced at an awards dinner November 1 at the Indianapolis
Downtown Marriott in Indianapolis.
Jones, who graduated from United Township High School in East Moline is
the daughter of Marvin and Sandra Jones of Port Byron.
Jones is state winner of NCAA Woman of the Year
Academics
