America East Woman of Year Finalists Announced - AmericaEast.com
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The America East Conference announced today that University of Maine’s Lisa Bijman (soccer), Stony Brook University’s Olivia Burne (cross country/track & field) and University of Vermont’s Kirsten Weberg (track & field) have been named finalists for the 2014 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.
The three finalists were selected from a pool of the nine America East institutional nominations, which were announced on May 6. To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2014 spring season, received her undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2014 term and had a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale). The 2014 America East Woman of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, June 3 at the conference’s annual awards dinner in Bretton Woods, N.H., the site of the conference’s Annual Meeting, as well as via a news release on www.AmericaEast.com.
Lisa Bijman, Maine - Soccer
• Has a 3.96 GPA as a kinesiology and physical education major and pre-med and chemistry minor.
• First-team All-America East midfielder.
• Member of the America East All-Academic team and the Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
• Named to Dean’s List and also named a Presidential Scholar for having a perfect 4.0 semester GPA five times.
• Spent hundreds of hours volunteering in the Orono community. including serving as R.E.A.C.H. (Respect Education Action Community Hope) president and an organic chemistry teaching assistant.
Olivia Burne, Stony Brook - Cross Country/Track & Field
• Holds a 3.64 GPA in journalism.
• Crowned an America East individual champion three times in 2013-14 (cross country, indoor 1,000-meter run, outdoor 1,500-meter run.
• Earned second-team All-America honors in the indoor mile.
• Twice named an America East Scholar-Athlete already this year (cross country, indoor track & field).
• Two-time America East All-Academic choice this year.
• Serves as campus president for The Supply, an orgination devoted to transforming urban slums.
Kirsten Weberg, Vermont - Track & Field
• Carries a 3.93 GPA as an animal science major.
• Won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the America East Outdoor Track & Field Championship for the second-straight year.
• Earned all-conference recognition in cross country with an eighth-place individual finish at the 2013 conference championship.
• Three-time America East All-Academic selection in cross country.
• Volunteered for numerous organizations, including the Buffalo Zoo and Orchard Park Veterinary Clinic.
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 America East Woman of the Year will 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 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year.
Year-by-Year America East Woman of the Year Honorees
2013 Katie Matthews, Boston University (cross country/track & field)
2012 Lucy Van Dalen, Stony Brook (cross country/track & field)
2011 Nikki Branchini, Albany (lacrosse)
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)
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.