Indianapolis, Ind. --- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently announced the school nominees for the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year and Mount Holyoke College graduates Hannah Arbach and Madi Mendiola were among the 480 female student-athletes to be nominated by their institution. Now in its 25th year, the Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
NCAA member colleges and universities nominated 480 female student-athletes – the most ever in the history of the program – for the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year award. Of the nominees, 207 competed in Division I, 93 competed in Division II and 180 competed in Division III athletics.
Arbach, who is a native of Springfield, Va., was a member of the Mount Holyoke College rowing team for four years. A two-year captain, she helped the Lyons program continue to flourish. Among the many team accolades in which Arbach helped earn include four consecutive Seven Sisters runner-up finishes, along with two top-five placings at the NEWMAC Championships. Arbach was a three-time NEWMAC All-Conference selection, including First Team honors as a sophomore, while also being named an ECAC/NIRC All-Star twice.
An honoree on the Seven Sisters Regatta All-Varsity Team in 2013, Arbach was a recipient of the rowing team's Metcalf Cup, awarded to a team member dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in rowing, and also the O'Malley Cup, given to a member of the team who exemplifies team spirit, sportsmanship, support of teammates and willingness to take responsibility of organizing team activities and tasks.
Academically, Arbach was a Presidential Leadership Scholarship recipient and a Merrill Award winner. A three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference selection, Arbach was also the Laurie Priest Scholar Athlete recipient, a three-time ECAC/NIRC Stewards' All-Academic, while also being a two-time selection as a CRCA Scholar Athlete.
One of the most decorated golfers in Mount Holyoke history, Mendiola was a three-time Liberty League All-Conference selection, including two nods on the First Team. A two-time Liberty League All-Academic, she owns the school record for scoring average with a 79.88. An 11-time Performer of the Week selection, she was also tabbed for ECAC Golfer of the Month honors in April of 2014.
Mendiola, who is a native of San Diego, Calif., helped lead the Lyons to its first-ever conference title, winning the 2014 Liberty League Championship by a 21-stroke margin. She posted a second-place finish - one stroke out of first - earning All-League First Team honors for the second straight season.
During her sophomore campaign, the Rancho Bernardo High School graduate posted a 78.99 scoring average, finishing eighth or better in six of eight meets. She helped lead the Lyons to a fifth-place finish at the Liberty League Championship, earning fifth overall for All-League First Team recognition. As a first year, Mendiola played in eight tournaments, posting a scoring average of 81.27. She was eighth or better in five of eight meets and finished the season ranked 12th in the region.
The NCAA encourages member schools to honor its top graduating female student-athletes each year by submitting their names for consideration for the Woman of the Year award.
Conferences will then assess each nominee's eligibility and select up to two conference nominees. All conference nominees are forwarded to the Woman of the Year selection committee, which then chooses the top 30 honorees – 10 from each division.
From the top 30, the selection committee determines the top three nominees from each division and announces the top nine finalists in September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will then choose from among those nine to determine the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year.
The 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced, and the Top 30 honorees celebrated, at the annual award ceremony Oct. 18 in Indianapolis.
