June 25, 2008

NEWMAC Nominates Shanti Freitas of Smith College and Doria Holbrook of MIT for NCAA Woman of the Year Award

Jenna Harvey of Wellesley College, Melissa Nelson of Springfield College, Lynn Worobey of WPI, and Grace Zeigler of Mount Holyoke College also recognized

BABSON PARK, MA - Shanti Freitas, a 2008 graduate of Smith College and member of Smith's Swimming and Diving team, and Doria Holbrook, a 2008 graduate of MIT and member of MIT's Swimming and Diving team, will represent the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in national balloting for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.

Freitas graduated from Smith in May where she majored in Sociology and minored in Education. Freitas was named to the NCAA Academic All-American team three times during her illustrious career. Freitas also participated in multiple community service and campus activities, including the Best Buddies program for four years, where she served as Treasurer and Associate Director.

Freitas, who served as Smith's Swimming and Diving captain her senior year, was a three-time NCAA Division III Diving All-American and a three-time NEWMAC All-Conference recipient. While at Smith, she broke and reset every diving record at the college. She was the Smith College representative to the NCAA Leadership Conference in 2005.

Holbrook graduated from MIT in June with a Mechanical Engineering Degree. She was a three-time NCAA Academic All-American and was twice named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American Team. Holbrook also supplemented her education through extensive community and campus involvement. In 2008, she volunteered with The Boston Home, a not-for-profit specialized care residence for adults with advanced Multiple Sclerosis and other progressive neurological diseases, where she assisted by designing and manufacturing adaptive devices intended to improve living conditions.

Holbrook was selected as the NCAA Diver of the Year in 2005. She was also an eight-time NCAA All-American selection earning honors in both the 3-meter diving and 1-meter diving events. She was the only Division III diver to attend the U.S. National Spring Diving Championships. She was a two-time NCAA National Champion in the 3-meter diving event and she established the highest 3-meter score in NCAA Division III Diving history.

The NEWMAC also recognized Jenna Harvey of Wellesley College, Melissa Nelson of Springfield College, Lynn Worobey of WPI, and Grace Zeigler of Mount Holyoke College.

Jenna Harvey graduated from Wellesley with Degrees in French and Spanish. Harvey led her team to the 2007 NEWMAC Softball Championship, and earned NEWMAC Player and Pitcher of the Year honors in 2007 and 2008. She was a four-time NFCA Academic All-American, a three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference Selection, and a two-time NFCA All-American. In 2008, Harvey was nominated for the prestigious NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship. She was a member of the Wellesley College Canadian for four years, serving as co-President and Secretary during her tenure.

Melissa Nelson, an eight-time Dean's List honoree, graduated from Springfield in May with a Degree in Physical Therapy. She excelled on Springfield's Swimming and Diving team and was a two-time Academic All-American Honorable Mention. She also earned NEWMAC Academic All-Conference status three times. In 2008, she was recognized in the 2008 edition of "Who's Who Among College Students in American Universities and Colleges."

Lynn Worobey graduated from WPI in May with a Degree in a Biomedical Engineering. Through her participation on WPI's women's soccer team, she was honored by ESPN the Magazine as an Academic All-American following her senior year campaign. A Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, she was a three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference selection. She received the 2008 Salisbury Prize which is awarded to highly meritorious members of the graduating class of WPI who have faithfully, industriously, and with distinguished attainment completed all requirements for the Bachelor degree. Worobey participated in numerous activities on the WPI campus and in the Worcester community, including four years of service as a Friendly House volunteer.

Grace Zeigler, a commended National Achievement Scholar and a two-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar, graduated from Mount Holyoke in May with Degrees in English and Sociology. She was Mount Holyoke's Track and Field MVP three times, and also was a three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference selection and a Mount Holyoke College Leadership Scholar Recipient.

The 2008 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced on October 19 in Indianapolis, Ind. More information on the award and a list of previous winners can be found at www.ncaa.org/awards/woty.