INDIANAPOLIS (csssaints.com) – College of St. Scholastica graduate Taylor Gibson (La Crescent, Minn./La Crescent HS) is among 543 nominees for the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year award; it was announced on Tuesday.
 
Gibson is one of 197 nominees from NCAA Division III. The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
 
Gibson competed in indoor and outdoor track & field for the Saints the last two years. She also competed in cross country in her first two seasons as a Saint. Gibson graduated in May with a degree in Biology carrying a perfect 4.0 grade-point-average. She was recently named a Second Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). She made the Dean's List all eight semesters and was a six-time Academic All-UMAC choice. She was also a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honoree in 2014.
 
On the track, Gibson had her best year as a Saint in 2017. She earned All-Region accolades from the USTFCCCA in the 800m run. She also was named Track Athlete of the Meet following the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Indoor Championships after capturing three event titles. She went on to win three more conference titles at the outdoor championships.
 
Off the track, Gibson was a teaching assistant for the genetics class/lab this past year where she held office hours, tutored students and helped with various lab activities. She has also volunteered at a variety of road races and spent time as an elementary school volunteer during her time as a college athlete.
 
The NCAA encourages member schools to honor its top graduating female student-athletes each year by submitting their names for consideration for the Woman of the Year award.
 
Then, conferences assess each nominee's eligibility and select up to two conference nominees. All conference nominees are forwarded to the Woman of the Year selection committee, which chooses the top 30 honorees – 10 from each division.
 
From the top 30, the selection committee determines the top three nominees from each division and announces the top nine finalists in September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then chooses from among those nine to determine the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year.
 
The 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced, and the Top 30 honorees celebrated, at the annual award ceremony October 22 in Indianapolis.