CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The America East Conference announced today that University at Albany’s Nikki Branchini (lacrosse), Boston University’s April Setterlund (softball) and University of Hartford’s Mary Silvia (basketball) have been named finalists for the 2011 America East Woman of the Year award. The honor recognizes the conference’s senior female student-athlete who has best distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.
Branchini (Guilderland, N.Y.) captained Albany’s women’s lacrosse team to its best season in program history in 2011 while earning America East Co-Player of the Year honors. The America East Player of the Year and an All-America selection last season, Branchini led the Great Danes to their first-ever conference title and a win in the NCAA tournament in 2011. A four-time first-team All-America East choice, she ranks second nationally in draw controls (5.26 pg) and also scored 21 goals and added three assists from her defensive midfield position this season.
In the classroom, Branchini recorded a 3.83 GPA in history with a minor in education and was a three-time America East All-Academic selection. She was named to the Capital One/CoSIDA District I All-Academic At-Large First Team for the second straight year and also received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence and received an ECAC Merit Medal, given to a senior for excellence in the classroom and on the field. Additionally, Branchini has been on the America East Commissioner’s and IWCLA Honor Rolls and is a member of the Phi Alpha Theta History, Phi Alpha Delta Pre Law and Presidential Honor Societies.
In the community, Branchini has volunteered her time in various organizations. She has participated in many projects aimed at raising money for cancer research, including the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and Breast Cancer Walk, Adopt-A-Family and Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, which raises money for pediatric brain tumor patients. Branchini also organized an area lacrosse tournament to raise money for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma research. Additionally, she volunteered at the Albany County District Attorney’s Office and at the Albany City School District as a tutor for special education students and served on the Great Danes’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Setterlund (Torrance, Calif.) finished her career as one of the most accomplished players in Boston University softball history. In 2011, she earned her second straight Player of the Year award and became the 11th player in league history to earn first-team all-conference honors all four years of her career. She ranks sixth nationally in on-base percentage (.574) and is 19th in hitting (.434). A first-team All-America selection last season, Setterlund concludes her career as the Terriers’ all-time leader in batting average, RBIs, runs scored and doubles.
Setterlund earned a 3.30 GPA in business administration with a concentration in management information systems. A three-time member of Boston University’s Dean’s List, she was a finalist for the prestigious Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, which honors senior student-athletes who excel in community, classroom, character and competition. Setterlund was also named to the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll twice and was tabbed a Boston University Scholar-Athlete in 2011.
A team captain, Setterlund led the way in the community as well. She devoted time to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Special Olympics of Massachusetts and Triad Trust, a non-profit organization that works to reduce the transmission of HIV & AIDS in the most affected regions in the world. Setterlund also served as treasurer of Boston U.’s SAAC, participated in the athletic department’s Teddy Bear toss, was involved with College For Every Student and helped collect money for a fellow student-athlete fighting cancer.
Silvia (Reading, Mass.) served as a team captain for Hartford’s women’s basketball team each of the last two years. She helped the Hawks win a pair of conference titles in her four years, including in 2011 when she led the team in scoring despite coming off the bench. Silvia’s team also made three NCAA tournament appearances in her tenure and won a first-round contest against Syracuse in 2009.
In the classroom, Silvia registered a 3.93 GPA in economics/finance & entrepreneurial studies while earning America East All-Academic each of the last two years. Named to the DI-AAA Athletic Director’s Association Scholar-Athlete Team in April, Silvia received Capital One/CoSIDA District I All-Academic first-team honors this year as well. She also received Hartford’s NCAA Leadership Award in 2010 and the athletic department’s Ed Weinswig Highest GPA-Female Athlete Award this year. Silvia is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Alpha Chi Honor Societies.
Community wise, Silvia set an example by volunteering at St. Francis Hospital, Mount Sinai Psych Center for Children, Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and a local YMCA. A member of Hartford’s SAAC, she served as a mentor through CFES and competed in multiple competitions aimed at developing sustainability in the business sector. Silvia also participated in Hartford SAAC’s Coat Drive, Sneaker Collection and helped run Howie’s Sportsmanship Academy.
The three finalists were selected from a pool of the nine America East institutional nominations, which were announced on May 10. To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2011 spring season, received her undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2011 term and had a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).
In conjunction with the changes in the nomination process for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, the America East 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.
The 2011 America East Woman of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, June 7 at the conference’s annual awards dinner in Portsmouth, N.H., site of the conference’s Annual Meeting, as well as via a news release on www.AmericaEast.com.
The America East Woman of the Year will then be forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will select the top 10 winners in each NCAA division (I, II and III). From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the CWA will vote from among the top nine to determine the 2011 NCAA Woman of the Year.
Year-by-Year America East Woman of the Year Honorees
2010 Emily Pallotta, Boston U. (soccer)
2009 Kristen Millar, Vermont (lacrosse)
2008 Sarah Hudak, Boston U. (field hockey)
2007 Marisa Ryan, Boston U. (cross country/track & field)
2006 Ashlee Reed, Albany (volleyball)