From Emory University Athletics
Former Emory softball All-American Megan Light (Atlanta, GA) has been named one of the top 30 honorees from 446 school nominees for the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year Award that will be presented in October.
The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors senior women student-athletes who have excelled in the areas of academic achievement, athletics, service and leadership.
Light enjoyed an outstanding career for the Eagles, capturing All-America honors on three occasions and becoming the first player in program history to earn two first-team berths. A four-time selection to the All-University Athletic Association First Team, she was tabbed as the conference's Most Outstanding Player three times. Career-wise, she hung up her Emory uniform ranked among the program's all-time top 10 in 12 offensive categories including first in home runs (47), hits (230), doubles (60) RBIs (224), total bases (435) and slugging percentage (.812). As a senior, she established five school seasonal records, including 19 homers (second nationally in D-III) and 65 RBIs, in helping the Eagles to an overall record of 39-9. In her four years with the program, she helped the Eagles to an overall record of 156-23-1 that included four league crowns and four trips to the NCAA Tournament. Light also shined in the academic realm as she was chosen as the Capital One Division III Academic All-American of the Year in softball, while also receiving the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award.
A committee composed of representatives from NCAA member schools and conferences selected the top 30 honorees - 10 from each division - from a pool of more than 120 conference nominees, representing all three NCAA divisions and multiple sports. By division, 52 honorees competed in Division I conferences, 25 competed in Division II, and 49 competed in Division III.
"These women are perfect examples of NCAA student-athletes succeeding on the field, in the classroom and in life," said Gloria Nevarez, NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee chair and senior associate commissioner for the Pac-12 Conference. "We are impressed by their outstanding achievements, and no matter the paths they take after college, we are confident that they will continue to lead their peers for many years to come."
The top 30 will be trimmed to nine finalists - three from each division – later this month. The recipient of the 24th annual award will be announced during the 2014 Woman of the Year awards dinner on Oct. 19 in Indianapolis.