Stefansson Fellow Wins NCAA Award

HANOVER, N.H.— Courtney Hammond, a member of the Dartmouth Class of 2011, and a 2011 Dickey Center Institute of Arctic Studies Stefansson Research Fellow, was selected by the NCAA as one of the top 30 honorees for the Woman of the Year Award. Just 10 women from each NCAA membership division make up the top 30, all of whom have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academic achievement, athletics excellence, community service and leadership. Hammond is currently working in Barrow, Alaska, with the Inupiat comunity on science education and the impact on climate change on the community.

To be eligible for the NCAA award, a student-athlete must have completed her intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2011 spring season, graduated no later than the end of the summer 2011 term and achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.5. Last year’s winner, Justine Schluntz, was an NCAA swimming champion and 2010 Rhodes Scholar from the University of Arizona.

Sharon Beverly, NCAA Woman of the Year selection chair and director of athletics and physical education at Vassar College, described the award as one of the most prestigious honors presented to a female student-athlete each year.

“This award catapults the recipient into the next phase of her life and paves the way for a successful future in any chosen profession,” Beverly said. “When you consider the academic and athletic accomplishments of each of the candidates for this award and the ways they have given back to society, the Woman of the Year honorees are the top echelon of NCAA role models.”

Hammond, a native of Mercer Island, Wash., culminated her alpine career by earning All-America status for the fifth time as she placed 10th in the giant slalom for a spot on the second team. Ranked third in the East on the slopes, the senior had seven top-10 finishes at the various carnivals this past winter, including a victory in the giant slalom on her home course.

A psychology major with a 3.87 GPA, Hammond was an All-American in each of her four years on the team, garnering the honor twice as a sophomore in both the slalom and the giant slalom. She was also a Capital One Academic All-District I University Division second-team selection for the women’s at-large category.

Three finalists will be chosen from each division to form the nine finalists for the Woman of the Year award. The national winner will be chosen by the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics and will be announced in an Oct. 16 ceremony in Indianapolis.

For a complete list of the top 30, please visit the NCAA site.