October 19, 2015
Clarion University鈥檚 Kristin Day named 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg 鈥� Proving again that she can compete at any level, Clarion University of Pennsylvania鈥檚
Kristin Day Sunday night was named the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year, only the fourth
Division II athlete to win the award and the first ever from a college or university
in Pennsylvania.
A three-time NCAA Division II national champion diver while in college, Day graduated
from Clarion University in May with a perfect 4.0 grade point average while majoring
in chemistry. She is currently enrolled in medical school at Lake Erie College of
Osteopathic Medicine on an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship.
鈥淜ristin Day鈥檚 accomplishments are truly remarkable,鈥� said Frank T. Brogan, chancellor
of Pennsylvania鈥檚 State System of Higher Education Chancellor. 鈥淎s a student, an athlete
and an individual, she has set a very high bar for all of us. All of the awards and
honors she has received are well deserved, and make us very proud.鈥�
Day was presented her latest award by ESPN color analyst and former USA softball Gold
Medal winner Jessica Mendoza, who served as emcee for the 25th annual ceremony.
The Woman of the Year program honors the 鈥渁cademic achievements, athletics excellence,
community service and leadership鈥� of graduating female college athletes from among
all three divisions within the NCAA. Only one winner is selected each year. Last year鈥檚
honoree was Elizabeth Tucker from the University of Notre Dame.
"What a great night for Kristin Day 鈥� and for Clarion University," said Clarion University
President Karen M. Whitney. "Her accomplishments in the classroom, in community service
and as a national champion diver show Kristin's commitment to personal excellence
in everything she does. We congratulate her on this great honor and know she is the
epitome of Courageous. Confident. Clarion."
Day racked up a host of awards and honors during her collegiate career. In addition
to her three national championships, she was an eight-time all American. She was named
Capital One NCAA Division II Academic All-America of the Year in July and was a two
time At-Large Academic All-America of the Year. She also won the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference鈥檚 Pete Nevins Scholar Athlete of the Year award and was the NCAA
Division II "Elite 89" award winner at swimming and diving nationals.
Day won the NCAA Division II one meter dive at this year鈥檚 national championships.
She won both the 1- and 3-meter events in 2014, setting an NCAA record in the latter.
The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania鈥檚 State System of Higher Education recognized
Day for her athletic and academic accomplishments with a special resolution at its
meeting in July.
Pennsylvania鈥檚 State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher
education in the Commonwealth, with about 107,000 degree-seeking students and thousands
more who are enrolled in certificate and other career-development programs. Collectively,
the 14 universities that comprise the State System offer more than 2,300 degree and
certificate programs in more than 530 academic areas. Nearly 520,000 State System
university alumni live in Pennsylvania.
The State System universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg,
Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery
Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The universities also operate
branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP), and Clearfield
(Lock Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including
the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.