August 21, 2007
(release courtesy of Larry Happel, Central College sports information director)

PELLA, IOWA . . . Central College’s Alicia Whisner of Adel (ADM HS) has been named one of 30 finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

Whisner, a volleyball and track and field standout who graduated in May with a 3.92 grade point average and an exercise science major, is among 10 finalists from Division III. She was earlier named the Iowa Conference’s nominee for the NCAA award.

It’s the fifth time in the past seven years that Central’s nominee has been Iowa’s representative and named a finalist for the award. Selection is based on service and leadership activities, academic achievement, athletics excellence and a personal statement.

The 30 finalists will attend an awards dinner in Indianapolis, Ind. Oct. 27. The finalists will narrowed to three per division in September with the Woman of the Year Award winner announced at the dinner.

Whisner is Central’s sixth finalist in the 14-year history of the award. Four of the six competed in volleyball and three also competed in track and field. Previous Central finalists were Emilie Hanson (women’s basketball, 1995), Candace Wilson (volleyball, 2001), Angie Nielsen (volleyball, 2002), Raegan Schultz (women’s track and field/volleyball, 2004) and Katie Pederson (women’s track and field/volleyball, 2006).

Earlier this summer Whisner was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. She’s among 20 student-athletes in Central history to receive that award.

National javelin champion – Whisner capped her track and field career with a national title in the javelin at the NCAA Division III championships in Oshkosh, Wis. May 26. A team captain and four-year letterwinner, Whisner was a four-time all-America selection in the javelin, placing seventh in 2004, fifth in 2005, and fourth in 2006 before her national title in 2007. Whisner was given the Most Valuable Field Event Performer for the Dutch in addition to her fourth varsity letter.

Whisner was also a four-time letterwinner in volleyball and twice named team co-captain. Her tenure at Central produced four conference championships and three NCAA playoff berths. In 2006, Whisner was awarded the team’s Academic Award and Leadership Award.

Whisner was a three-time academic all-Iowa Conference honoree on both sports.

“From a faculty point of view, it’s very exciting to see someone who excels both in the classroom and in the athletic arena,” said Dr. Lori Witt, a Central faculty athletic representative. “I’m so proud when a fine person like Alicia gets recognized. To not only win an NCAA postgraduate scholarship but to be in the top 30 in the nation for this award is amazing.”

Witt said she is delighted with the continued success of Central student-athletes in the Woman of the Year competition.

“We talk a lot about trying to ensure that everyone here gets a quality academic experience,” she said. “Athetes have so many demands on their time that that’s not always easy. But honors like this show that we’re turning out some very well-rounded individuals, which is what we want to do. This speaks highly both of Central and the Iowa Conference.”

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