Troy University Athletics
Elsisi Nominated for NCAA Woman of Year
6/2/2009 2:00:00 PM | Tennis (W)
TROY, Ala. - Rawia Elsisi, who completed her eligibility for the Troy University tennis team this spring, has been nominated for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year by the Sun Belt Conference to be awarded later this season.
"This is a great honor for Rawia," Troy tennis coach Eric Hayes said. "It just speaks volumes for what she has done for the past four years, both athletically and academically. This is the first athlete I have ever coached that has been nominated for this type of award, and I have been doing this for 20 years. It is important she gets recognized for this award because she does more than just hit a tennis ball, she does so much in the way of community service - she is a giver."
Elsisi completed her eligibility for the Trojans in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in April, and is currently pursuing her Master's Degree from the University.
"I am extremely excited about being nominated for such a great honor," Elsisi said. "It really means a lot to be one of only two females to be chosen by the Sun Belt Conference, because there are so many other eligible student-athletes for this award."
The graduate student has been a member of the Troy University 3.0-GPA Recognition Club since her arrival on campus, an academic award recipient from the Sun Belt Conference and a nominee for CoSIDA Academic All-America.
"I always strive to do my best in the classroom and on the tennis courts," Elsisi said. "It takes time, hard work and a strong commitment to accomplish what I have done throughout my college career. I am truly thankful for the opportunity to represent Troy University and the Sun Belt Conference."
The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
"Community service makes a huge impact in my life," Elsisi said. "I make sure to give my time for it. As a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), I participate with other student-athletes from different sports in many projects."
Elsisi is the epitome of community service on the campus of Troy University. She has volunteered her time with Read Across America, the Pike County Canned Food Drive, Relay for Life and the Habitat for Humanity.
"Each year we have new projects," Elsisi said. "This year, for instance, we had a new project called ?Trojan for Baby Bella.' This project aimed to help the family of young Bella, who was diagnosed with leukemia last August."
In addition to all the aforementioned projects, Elsisi - who is also the number one singles and doubles player for the Trojans - volunteers her time for young children by assisting with free local tennis clinics and the Alabama Summer Special Olympics held on the Troy campus.
Nominees for the award represent all three divisions of the NCAA. The top 10 honorees in each division will be announced later this year followed by the selection of the top three honorees per division. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will choose the winner from the top nine honorees, and the 2009 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at an awards dinner in Indianapolis in October.
To be eligible for the this award, the female student-athlete must have earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and competed in the 2008-09 academic year. In addition, each individual must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2009 spring season and must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.5.
Past winners of the award include Nkolika Anoiske (Tennessee), Whitney Myers (Arizona), Anne Bersagel (Wake Forest), Lauryn McCalley (Tennessee), Kelly Albin (UC-Davis), Ashley Jo Rowatt (Kenyon College), Tanisha Silas (UC-Davis), Kim Black (Georgia), Kristy Kowal (Georgia), Jamila Demby (UC-Davis), Peggy Boutilier (Virginia), Lisa Ann Coole (Georgia), Billie Winsett-Fletcher (Nebraska), Rebecca Lobo (Connecticut), Tanya Jones (Arizona), Nenna Lynch (Villanova), Catherine Byrne (Tennessee), Mary Beth Riley (Canisius College).
