Marci Miller named South Dakota NCAA Woman of the Year
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:23 pm
http://www.yankton.net/stories/090805/s ... 8001.shtml
USD's Miller Selected State Winner Of NCAA Woman Of Year Honor
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- For the second year in a row, a student-athlete from the University of South Dakota has been selected as the state winner (for South Dakota) of the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, according to an announcement by the NCAA. Marci Miller, a May 2005 graduate of USD, was selected the 2005 winner from South Dakota. A year ago, USD's Brianne Edwards of Spearfish was named the state winner.
"This is a humbling honor," said Miller, who is enrolled in the four-year doctoral (graduate) program in audiology at USD. "I give a lot of credit to my coach Lucky Huber, who has set high standards for the track program. I've learned hard work pays off and that you can excel while you have fun competing in track and field. You have to teach yourself to be disciplined in both athletics and academics," added Miller, who graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from USD's College of Arts and Sciences (communication disorders and psychology, 3.827 GPA) last spring.
The NCAA Woman of the Year honor is a prestigious award recognizing outstanding female student-athletes, who have excelled in academics, athletics and community leadership and have completed their collegiate athletics eligibility. Miller is one of 51 state winners who are candidates for the national NCAA Woman of the Year honor. The 2005 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced during the annual awards dinner October 29 in Indianapolis, Ind. ESPN personality Danielle Sargent and Kara Lawson, a former University of Tennessee women's basketball standout and a 2003 Woman of the Year top-10 finalist currently playing in the WNBA, will serve as emcees for the evening. As part of the Woman of the Year weekend of activities, honorees will be working with youth and the NCAA's character-building program, "Stay in Bounds," at the NCAA Hall of Champions.
"This is great news for Marci and USD," said Joel Nielsen, South Dakota Athletics Director. "It is another instance of the success attained by student-athletes at the University of South Dakota," said Nielsen. "It is a reflection of the outstanding teaching and learning environment provided by our faculty and staff," added Nielsen. "We are proud of the dedication and effort of the student-athletes, who continue to achieve at a high level, both academically and athletically. Marci's accomplishment fits into the academic mission of this institution," he said.
This is yet another honor picked up by Miller of Rapid City, who earlier this summer became the sixth USD student-athlete in the past two years (10th since 2000) to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship of $7,500.
In addition, Miller has been active on campus, including co-founding a memorial for deceased students at USD in cooperation with the USD Student Association. Miller, who was named the USD Female Scholar Athlete of the Year in May, also served as an academic captain of the track and field squad.
South Dakota Women's Head Track and Field Coach Lucky Huber said Miller is a great example of how USD student athletes excel. "I am very happy for her. Both Brianne (Edwards) and Marci (Miller) are examples of the past and current leaders of our programs. They are setting a precedent for our underclassmen. They show how success follows student-athletes with discipline and who are focused on their goals."
The state winners, representing 15 sports, were chosen by a committee of representatives from member institutions with 29 of the honorees from Division I while 16 represent Division II and six are from Division III. The NCAA's committee of institutional representatives also will select 10 finalists from the 51 state winners, based on grade point average, athletics achievement and community service. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will choose the national winner which will be announced on Sept. 26. The state winners were chosen from a pool of 352 nominations, which are 76 more than a year ago.
Miller noted that following up Brianne Edwards as a winner of the woman of the year honor is special. Both Miller and Edwards are from the Rapid City area and grew up competing in gymnastics together. "I was proud that she was named last year," said Miller. "We have known each other for a long time. We both understand that success comes from hard work and commitment to goals."
"I want to mention that my teammates play a big role in all the success we attain as a team and individually," said Miller.
Earlier, Miller was named to the ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All America Track & Field/Cross Country First Team, as selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Miller, who was the only repeat selection on the 16-member 2004-05 Academic All-North Central Conference Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team this past spring, earned her sixth career All-American honor with a sixth-place finish in the pole vault at the NCAA Division II Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May.
One of 14 NCC student-athletes selected as an Honor Athlete by the league office earlier this spring, Miller also was picked to the all-league academic squad for the third straight year. Miller was a key contributor for the USD women's team which captured its second consecutive NCC outdoor title this spring. By claiming the NCC outdoor title, USD won the "Triple Crown" in 2004-05 as the Coyotes also claimed women's conference championships in cross country and indoor track.
Miller, who had seven top-three finishes in the pole vault at NCC championship meets, was selected the NCC Women's Track and Field Athlete of the Week three times this spring. She owns USD's outdoor record in the pole vault (12-8.75).
USD's Miller Selected State Winner Of NCAA Woman Of Year Honor
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- For the second year in a row, a student-athlete from the University of South Dakota has been selected as the state winner (for South Dakota) of the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, according to an announcement by the NCAA. Marci Miller, a May 2005 graduate of USD, was selected the 2005 winner from South Dakota. A year ago, USD's Brianne Edwards of Spearfish was named the state winner.
"This is a humbling honor," said Miller, who is enrolled in the four-year doctoral (graduate) program in audiology at USD. "I give a lot of credit to my coach Lucky Huber, who has set high standards for the track program. I've learned hard work pays off and that you can excel while you have fun competing in track and field. You have to teach yourself to be disciplined in both athletics and academics," added Miller, who graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from USD's College of Arts and Sciences (communication disorders and psychology, 3.827 GPA) last spring.
The NCAA Woman of the Year honor is a prestigious award recognizing outstanding female student-athletes, who have excelled in academics, athletics and community leadership and have completed their collegiate athletics eligibility. Miller is one of 51 state winners who are candidates for the national NCAA Woman of the Year honor. The 2005 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced during the annual awards dinner October 29 in Indianapolis, Ind. ESPN personality Danielle Sargent and Kara Lawson, a former University of Tennessee women's basketball standout and a 2003 Woman of the Year top-10 finalist currently playing in the WNBA, will serve as emcees for the evening. As part of the Woman of the Year weekend of activities, honorees will be working with youth and the NCAA's character-building program, "Stay in Bounds," at the NCAA Hall of Champions.
"This is great news for Marci and USD," said Joel Nielsen, South Dakota Athletics Director. "It is another instance of the success attained by student-athletes at the University of South Dakota," said Nielsen. "It is a reflection of the outstanding teaching and learning environment provided by our faculty and staff," added Nielsen. "We are proud of the dedication and effort of the student-athletes, who continue to achieve at a high level, both academically and athletically. Marci's accomplishment fits into the academic mission of this institution," he said.
This is yet another honor picked up by Miller of Rapid City, who earlier this summer became the sixth USD student-athlete in the past two years (10th since 2000) to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship of $7,500.
In addition, Miller has been active on campus, including co-founding a memorial for deceased students at USD in cooperation with the USD Student Association. Miller, who was named the USD Female Scholar Athlete of the Year in May, also served as an academic captain of the track and field squad.
South Dakota Women's Head Track and Field Coach Lucky Huber said Miller is a great example of how USD student athletes excel. "I am very happy for her. Both Brianne (Edwards) and Marci (Miller) are examples of the past and current leaders of our programs. They are setting a precedent for our underclassmen. They show how success follows student-athletes with discipline and who are focused on their goals."
The state winners, representing 15 sports, were chosen by a committee of representatives from member institutions with 29 of the honorees from Division I while 16 represent Division II and six are from Division III. The NCAA's committee of institutional representatives also will select 10 finalists from the 51 state winners, based on grade point average, athletics achievement and community service. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will choose the national winner which will be announced on Sept. 26. The state winners were chosen from a pool of 352 nominations, which are 76 more than a year ago.
Miller noted that following up Brianne Edwards as a winner of the woman of the year honor is special. Both Miller and Edwards are from the Rapid City area and grew up competing in gymnastics together. "I was proud that she was named last year," said Miller. "We have known each other for a long time. We both understand that success comes from hard work and commitment to goals."
"I want to mention that my teammates play a big role in all the success we attain as a team and individually," said Miller.
Earlier, Miller was named to the ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All America Track & Field/Cross Country First Team, as selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Miller, who was the only repeat selection on the 16-member 2004-05 Academic All-North Central Conference Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team this past spring, earned her sixth career All-American honor with a sixth-place finish in the pole vault at the NCAA Division II Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May.
One of 14 NCC student-athletes selected as an Honor Athlete by the league office earlier this spring, Miller also was picked to the all-league academic squad for the third straight year. Miller was a key contributor for the USD women's team which captured its second consecutive NCC outdoor title this spring. By claiming the NCC outdoor title, USD won the "Triple Crown" in 2004-05 as the Coyotes also claimed women's conference championships in cross country and indoor track.
Miller, who had seven top-three finishes in the pole vault at NCC championship meets, was selected the NCC Women's Track and Field Athlete of the Week three times this spring. She owns USD's outdoor record in the pole vault (12-8.75).