Charlotte, NC– The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is proud to announce that Alexus Elliot and Varvara Papakonstantinou, both exceptional individuals representing Elizabeth City State University and Livingstone College, have been named as finalists for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award. These remarkable athletes have demonstrated outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, leadership, and community service throughout their collegiate careers.
The NCAA Woman of the Year award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics, leadership, and community engagement during their time in college. Finalists for this prestigious award epitomize the values of the NCAA and serve as role models for aspiring student-athletes.
Alexus Elliot is a 2022 graduate of Elizabeth City State University, where she achieved remarkable success both in the classroom and on the court. On the court, she was a key part of the mighty Lady Vikings 2022 conference championship team. Off the field, Alexus demonstrated her commitment to academic excellence by graduating with a degree in Biology and maintaining an impressive GPA of 3.89. She also dedicated her time to serving the community through volunteer work by starting her own college admissions mentoring program on Instagram.
Varvara Papakonstantinou is another remarkable individual from Livingstone College who has made significant contributions to both her team and the community. As a basketball and Track and Field athlete, she is a two-time Academic Player of The Year Award for both basketball and track, a 2023 Coach's Award Recipient, a 2023 Female Athlete of The Year Award Recipient, and a team Captain. In the classroom, Varvara graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Management and earned a commendable GPA of 4.0. Her commitment to community service was evident through her involvement with Interfaith America COVID Ambassadors.
Both Alexus Elliot and Varvara Papakonstantinou are shining examples of the values promoted by the NCAA, embodying excellence in athletics, academics, leadership, and service. Their dedication to their respective sports, their commitment to academic success, and their contributions to the community have left an indelible mark on the CIAA and the NCAA as a whole.
About the NCAA Woman of the Year Award:
The NCAA Woman of the Year award is an annual honor bestowed upon a female student-athlete who has excelled in athletics, academics, leadership, and community service during her collegiate career. The award celebrates the remarkable achievements of student-athletes who serve as inspirations and role models for others.
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.