Seven student-athletes from the CIAA were nominated for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, as announced by the NCAA on Thursday.

Five member institutions of the CIAA were represented among the seven CIAA student-athletes. Bryanna Brown (Lincoln [PA]), Hailey Gipson (Winston-Salem State), Bethany Henry (Virginia State), Da’Nesha Miller (Fayetteville State), Andrea Nevola Alvarado (Elizabeth City State), Azhante Rodgers (Elizabeth City State), Jalynn Spaulding (Virginia State) were among a total of 577 graduating student-athletes who were nominated for the award.

This year's nominees represent all three NCAA divisions, including 248 from Division I, 127 from Division II, and 202 from Division III. Of the 577 nominations, 23 sports are represented, with 125 student-athletes competing in multiple sports. 

Established in 1991, the award recognizes female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in their community, in athletics, and in academics throughout their college careers. 2022 also marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, in which this award is rooted.

Member schools are encouraged to honor their top graduating female college athletes each year by submitting their names for consideration for the Woman of the Year Award. Schools can recognize two nominees if at least one is a woman of color or international student-athlete.

Conference offices will select up to two nominees each from their pool of member school nominees. All nominees who compete in a sport not sponsored by their school’s primary conference, as well as associate conference nominees and independent nominees, will be considered by a selection committee. Then, the Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division.

From the Top 30, the Woman of the Year selection committee will determine the top three honorees in each division and announce nine finalists. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics then will choose the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year, who will be named this fall.

CIAA 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year Nominees

Name	Institution	Sport(s)
Bryanna Brown	Lincoln University (PA)	Basketball
Hailey Gipson	Winston-Salem State University	Basketball
Bethany Henry	Virginia State University	Volleyball
Da'Nesha Miller	Fayetteville State University	Indoor Track & Field, Volleyball
Andrea Nevola Alvarado	Elizabeth City State University	Tennis
Azhante Rodgers	Elizabeth City State University	Basketball
Jalynn Spaulding	Virginia State University	Basketball

For the past five years, the CIAA has had a student-athlete advance into the top 30. Last year, Nazirah Purcell of Lincoln (PA) was a top 30 honoree, joining Faith McKee of Claflin in 2020, Shaw's Christine Evette-Ngeve in 2019, Trissy Fairweather (Claflin) in 2018, and 2017's Morgan Hasty (Johnson C. Smith).