University of Richmond Athletics
Ross Selected As Atlantic 10 Nominee for NCAA Woman Of The Year
07/27/2016 | Women's Swimming & Diving
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Being a part of a program that has won 14 of the past 15 Atlantic 10 Championships is just a small part of what makes the members of the Richmond Swimming & Diving team truly special.
The student-athletes who put their talent on display year after year in the pool for the Spiders continually prove to be outstanding people and that was once again on display on Wednesday when Melissa Ross was selected as one of the Atlantic 10 nominees for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, one of collegiate athletics' most prestigious awards.
Ross, a graduated senior who will start a scholastic career at Duke Medical School next month, was one of just two student-athletes chosen out of all the senior female student-athletes from the A-10's 14 institutions.
“We're proud to nominate Melissa as one of our A-10's Woman of the Year candidates,” stated Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade.”She has excelled in competition, flourished as an academic leader and been model citizen with a commitment to her community.”
Ross was a part of four Atlantic 10 Championships as a member of the swimming and diving program, which has won 14 of the last 15 A-10 titles. In 2015, she won gold in the 200 fly. She has numerous academic accolades including Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society member, the 2015 Scholar Athlete of the Year for the School of Arts and Sciences, a University of Richmond Presidential Scholar, and a three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. Most recently, Ross was the recipient of the Duke University School of Medicine Dean's Scholarship.
In addition to her excellence in the pool and the classroom, Ross was active in the community. She volunteered at St. Mary's Hospital, was involved in the Alpha Phi Omega community service fraternity, campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and Youth Life Foundation of Richmond. She also founded the annual Swim A Lap, Save a Life Swimathon, which has raised nearly $200,000 for local pediatric medical causes including the CHOP Oncology Center and Center for Autism, Doylestown Hospital, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The NCAA will select the top 30 (10 per division) in early September, and then will narrow the list to the top nine (three per division) in late September. The 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced Sunday, Oct. 16 at the awards dinner Indianapolis.
Players Mentioned
