Former Longhorn basketball standout Jamie Carey was chosen as the state of Texas nominee for the 2004-2005 NCAA "Woman of the Year" Award last week. Carey was one of 51 finalists chosen from 355 student-athlete nominees from Division I, II and III athletics. This year's award also coincides with the NCAA's celebration of sponsoring 25 years of women's collegiate championships.
The "Woman of the Year" Award, started in 1991, is one of the most prestigious acknowledgements of outstanding involvement not only in women's sports, but in the classroom and community. Nominees who have completed their athletic eligibility during the 2004-05 academic year are nominated by their colleges and evaluated based on their community service and leadership, cumulative GPA, athletic achievements and a personal statement written by the nominee.
Though Carey was not chosen as one of the 10 finalists announced yesterday, the nomination is unique in that Carey is only the third Longhorn to recieve one. Carey received her undergraduate degree in sociology and social work from the university in 2003 and is currently a education graduate student.
Carey garnished nearly as many awards for her participation on the court as in the classroom, earning Academic All-American honors, two Academic All-Big 12 awards, two nominations for National Player of the Year, the Big 12 conference/ Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarship and the Texas Exes Lifetime award, among others.
Carey could not be reached because she is currently playing in the WNBA for the Connecticut Suns, but told Texassports.com she was greatly honored to be nominated for the award and thanked her parents, teammates, coaches and the university.
"I am humbled by this great recognition, as there have been, and will continue to be great female athletes who impact the state of Texas," Carey said.
Chris Plonsky, women's athletic director, said even though Carey didn't make the final selection, it is a great honor to have her chosen among all of the universities in Texas.
"For any young person to use athletics as a mean to higher education, compete at the highest level and achieve academic success and go on to be a productive citizen is outstanding," Plonsky said. "This tells Jamie she is in an extraordinary class of people."
Plonsky said part of the success of Texas women athletes is in the basis that Longhorn athletics focuses on all of the points emphasized by the NCAA.
"We don't pay lip-service to the academic part," she said.
Along with athletic ability, Plonsky said student-athletes are encouraged to serve the community and focus on academics.
The 10 finalists had an average grade point average of 3.76, seven served on their Student-Athlete Advisory Committees, and volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics and Big Brothers/Big Sisters among others. The winner of the award will be announced at the annual Woman of the Year Awards dinner Oct. 29 in Indianapolis. The finalists were chosen by athletic administrators at NCAA member colleges around the country and the final winner will be chosen by NCAA officials said Crissy Schluep, NCAA spokeswoman.
The NCAA is also beginning their celebration of 25 years of sponsoring women's championships in 11 sports. The association, which will also be celebrating its 100th anniversary in January 2006, first adopted women's championships in 1981, nine years after the passage of Title IX.
Plonsky said the University has always been one of the forerunners for women's involvement in collegiate sports. She said Texas hired a women's athletic director during the 1970s and was well-prepared to participate in championships when the NCAA picked-up sponsorship in the 1980s.
"Austin is well-known to be warm and welcoming to women who compete at the collegiate level," Plonsky said. "Based on the program history, we've done a lot to bring the program to a very high level and we're going to celebrate right along with them."
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