Humboldt State University women’s crew member, Amelia Wagoner, is the university’s nominee for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.  Wagoner is one of a record 605 female college athletes nominated for this prestigious award.

Rooted in Title IX, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award was established in 1991 to recognize graduating female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers. 

The nominees represent all three NCAA divisions, including 259 nominees from Division I, 126 from Division II and 220 from Division III.  Nominees competed in 24 sports, with multisport student-athletes accounting for 128 of the nominees.

 Conference offices will select up to two nominees each from their pool of member school nominees.  All nominees who compete in a sport not sponsored by their school’s primary conference, as well as associate conference nominees and independent nominees, will be considered by a selection committee.  Then, the Woman of the selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees---- 10 from each division.

From the Top 30, the Woman of the Year selection committee will determine the top three honorees in each division and announce nine finalists.  The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics will choose the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year, who will be named this fall.

 Wagoner graduated this past May from Humboldt State with a Bachelor’s Degree in History Education and a minor in Geography.  The Coalinga, Calif., native was a four-year letter-winner for the Lumberjacks’ nationally ranked women’s rowing team. 

 During her intercollegiate career, Wagoner volunteered at many community service activities and leadership positions including the following:  Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Sexual Assault Prevention Committee, Women’s Rowing Varsity Co-Captain, Beach Clean-up Days, History Day Mentor, Volunteering at local elementary schools, webinar with the State of California students about State Bill 493 and promoting it on their campuses, Survive and Thrive Support Group and Promoting ENOUGH a free legal aid hotline for student survivors of sexual assault.

 Wagoner also received numerous honors during her time at Humboldt State University (HSU) including 2020 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) All-Academic Team, Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholar Athlete, Presidential Scholar, HSU Female Character Award, Dean’s List and Equal Rights Advocates 2019 Gender Justice Honoree:  Emerging Leaders of Courage Award.

 She was a member of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 WIRA Championship Teams.  In 2018, Wagoner was the Hammer Award recipient given by the Humboldt State Women’s Rowing Team.