University of Mount Olive women's soccer and softball student-athlete Kristin Power is the Conference Carolinas nominee for the 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, which recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and service and leadership. Power's selection marks the 11th time in the last 13 years at least one Mount Olive student-athlete has represented Conference Carolinas for the award. Power is also the first Trojan women's soccer and softball and second dual sport student-athlete to be nominated by Conference Carolinas for the award.
"Kristin is an exemplary representative for the woman of the year award. I am pleased that she not only has the opportunity to represent Mount Olive, but also to represent Conference Carolinas," said Dr. LaToya Lindsey Associate Director of Athletics/SWA.
As a Trojan student-athlete, Power played in 59 career matches for the women's soccer team as a defender, scoring one goal and collecting three assists. During her softball career, she batted .306 with 23 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 47 RBI, and 169 hits for the Trojans and was a captain during her senior year. She was also named to the Conference Carolinas All-Conference First Team. She was also a five-time Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll honoree and a four-time member of the Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference Team.
In the community, Power has been a girl scout since 2001 and has participated in many community service activities. She has been a Be the Match Volunteer, recruiting people to validate whether they could donate bone marrow, a Relay for Life advocate since 2015 helping to raise money for cancer research, a Special Olympics volunteer, National Girls and Women in Sports Day participate, and an Alter server for her church.
Power graduated in May of 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.
In early September, the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee will name the Top 30 honorees, which include 10 women from each division. At the end of September, the selection committee will select and announce nine finalists, with three from each division. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will select the 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year from those finalists.
The Top 30 honorees will be celebrated and the 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year awards dinner in Indianapolis on Sunday, October 28, 2018.
Click here for the full NCAA release.
Below is a list of Mount Olive's Conference Carolinas Nominees for NCAA Woman of the Year:
2018: Kristin Power - Soccer and Softball
2017: Gina Fader -Lacrosse & Alexis McNeil - Track and Field
2015: Francesca Ceppi - Tennis
2014: Jasmine McDonald - Basketball
2012: Shae Garner – Track and Field
2011: Camila Kurebayashi – Tennis
2010: Jessica Souza - Tennis
2009: Tomeka Prichard – Basketball
2008: *Samantha Mitchell – Volleyball/Track and Field
2007: Kate Somek – Golf
2006: Lindsey Snyder – Golf
*NCAA Woman of the Year Finalist