LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - In
exclusive voting by the Senior Woman Administrators of the Southern
Collegiate Athletic Conference, Lilly Duarte of Southwestern
University and Shelby Eaves of Austin College have been selected
SCAC Co-Woman of the Year.
In addition to being recognized as SCAC Woman of the Year, both
will be nominated for the 24th annual NCAA Woman of the Year
Award.
The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating
student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their
collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics
excellence, community service and leadership.
Duarte gives Southwestern back-to-back SCAC Woman of the Year
honors as Rachel Thibodeau was recognized with the honor in
2013.
A captain for both the cross country and track and field teams,
Duarte was a three-time All-SCAC performer in cross country and
earned All-Region honors as a junior and a senior. This past season
she qualified to compete in the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
On the track, Duarte was a six-time All-SCAC performer, culminating
with a individual win in the 1,500 at this past year's championship
meet.
She holds the fastest times in school history for both the 5K and
the 6K (cross country) and is also the Southwestern record holder
in both the 800 and 1,500 (track and field) as well as having been
a member of the record-setting 4x400 relay team.
Away from the track, Duarte was equally impressive, graduating
this past May with a 3.86 in Physics. She earned Academic Honor
roll honors all four years at Southwestern and recently was honored
with the Pirate Anchor Award. This award symbolizes the
individual who keeps the seas calm in times of turmoil and strife
and is presented annually by the Student Athletic Advisory
Committee (SAAC) to the male and female athlete who best display a
number of traits that embody the spirit and character of the SU
community.
Duarte's provided a unique perspective when asked about her
experiences at Southwestern - a perspective traced back to a visit
to the Williamson County Juvenile Detention Center where she
encountered kids not unlike herself.
"Once the stoic silence was shattered, I realized they were just
like any other kid; funny, energetic, competitive, and thoughtful,"
said Duarte as she recalled the visit. "Most notably, I sensed the
waning flicker of hope in their eyes. I was too familiar with that
look. I saw that in the eyes of the homeless senior I was mentoring
at Georgetown High School and in myself years ago. Coming from a
socioeconomic background similiar to theirs, all I ever hoped for
was a chance. For me, Southwestern University was that chance.
Every moment on the track or in the classroom was an opportunity
for me to excel and become a better version of myself; and now I
have others to do it for. Seeing myself in those kids motivates me
to pursue my goal of becoming a successful petroleum engineer, but
more importantly, creating a program or scholarship fund for kids
needing that small chance."
And at the end of the day, Duarte knows what is really
important.
"As a Southwestern Pirate, I've learned that the medals and
plaques eanred will never supersede the importance of loving and
serving others," continued Duarte. "That's what matters most."
Eaves is the first student-athlete from Austin College to earn the
SCAC Woman-of-the-Year honor. A four-year letter winner and
starter for the volleyball team, Eaves broke the Austin College
record for kills in a career and finished among the national
leaders in kills-per-set and total kills this past season. She was
a two-time First Team All-SCAC selection, an All-Region pick, and
was an Honorable Mention All-America selection.
An outside hitter from Farmersville, Eaves led the SCAC and ranked seventh in the nation in kills-per-set on the year, averaging 4.57 with 704 total kills this season. That number is the second highest single season kill total in Austin College volleyball history. She also set a new program record for career kills this season, and finished her career with the fourth best career kill total in SCAC history.
Eaves, who graduated this past May with 3.85 in Psychology and
was honored as a First Team Academic All-Region selection,
appreciates the experiences that being a student-athlete has
provided.
"Although I felt like a defined individual before I came to
college, I have completely grown as an individual while at Austin
College," said Eaves. "In the classroom, I was challenged to be a
well-rounded student and more importantly, an individual. As an
athlete, I was challenged each and every day to never settle. As a
leader, especially in volleyball, I was challenged to lead by more
than example and I slowly learned to embrace that throughout my
career."
Service away from campus was equally important to Eaves.
"My church encouraged me to engage those around me and serve them
daily, continued Eaves. "My school encouraged me to serve the
community around me through helping out at a women's shelter, after
school programs for students, Special Olympics and more and I found
so much joy in loving those around me. These experiences and more
importantly these people, have taught me to go beyond my little
bubble, embrace opportunities given everyday, and most importantly
love and serve those around me."
In May, Eaves received the Gene Day Female Athlete of the
Year award - the highest honor bestowed upon an Austin College
senior female student-athlete.
Duarte and Eaves were two of five outstanding nominees considered
by the SCAC Woman of the Year Committee. The other candidates
were:
- Ashley Meadows, cross country/track & field, Texas Lutheran University
- Jaime Burns, volleyball, Schreiner University
- Caila Criss, tennis, Colorado College
As SCAC co-winners, Duarte and Eaves will both be nominated for
the NCAA Woman of the Year award, one of the most prestigious
honors the NCAA bestows. The award recognizes senior
student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their
collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics
excellence, service and leadership.
All conference nominees will be forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the
Year selection committee. The selection committee will choose the
top 10 nominees in each division. From among those 30 honorees, the
selection committee will determine the top three in each division.
Finally, the members of the NCAA Committee on Women’s
Athletics will vote from among the top nine finalists to
determine the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year.
The top 10 honorees and the nine finalists from Divisions I, II
and III will be honored and the 2014 NCAA Woman of the
Year winner will be announced at a dinner in Indianapolis, on
October 19, 2014.
In conjunction with the changes in the nomination process for the
NCAA Woman of the Year award, the Southern Collegiate Athletic
Conference Woman of the Year award was established for the 2005-06
athletic season. Beginning in 2006, the NCAA Committee on
Women’s Athletics (CWA) started receiving
conference-designated nominees in lieu of the previous institution-
and state-based nomination format.
From 1991 to 2005, each state had a woman of the year honoree and
from that group 10 finalists were selected. From the top-10
finalists, the national winner was then chosen. Since 2006, each
conference and independent school forwards nominations to the
NCAA.
To read about past winners of the SCAC Woman-of-the-Year award,
click here.
2013 - Rachel Thibodeau, volleyball, Southwestern University
