Thirty women were recently recognized by the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee, including Cassandra Clayborne, a member of Rockville, Maryland, Church of the Nazarene. The softball student-athlete is a Bowie State University graduate.

From a submission of 480 school nominees, the committee selected 10 women representing each of the three NCAA divisions and 12 different sports. The top 30 honorees reflect the pillars of the Woman of the Year Award, demonstrating excellence in academics, athletics, community service, and leadership.

“This year marks the 25th celebration of the Woman of the Year program, and these women continue the tradition of being the best and brightest in college sports,” said Shantey Hill, chair of the Selection Committee and assistant vice president and senior director of Athletics of St. Joseph’s College (Long Island). “This year’s top 30 honorees are outstanding examples for women competing in sports at any level, and we are confident that they will continue to make a difference in the world for many years to come.”

Clayborne, a 2015 summa cum laude graduate, was a three-time All-CIAA Softball First Teamer (2012, 2013, 2015) and hopes to become a rheumatologist. She is a two-time Capital One Academic All-District II (2013, 2015) recipient and was selected to the 2015 CIAA All-Tournament Team. She was also the 2015 Lady Bulldogs Most Valuable Player and 2012 CIAA Rookie of the Year. In addition to team MVP, Clayborne was the 2015 CIAA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and CIAA Woman of the Year.

“My experiences as a scholar, an athlete, and a leader have strengthened my abilities as a future professional and have given me the confidence to pursue my dream of becoming a physician,” Clayborne said. “I have learned to be more focused, to persevere, to push my mental boundaries, to ask for help when I need it, to manage my time effectively, to communicate efficiently, to work well with others, and to understand that failure is simply another step towards success.”

--NCN News submissions

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