FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University rowing alumna Lauren Boudreau has been named one of 30 nominees for the 2013 NCAA Woman of the Year award, as announced by the NCAA on Tuesday.

"It is such an honor to be among these nominees," said Boudreau. "There are former NCAA athletes that have gone on to be Olympians and accomplished great things, I am so proud that my hard work has brought me to where I am today. I am most proud that I get to continue to represent NSU athletics and my team after the amazing year we have had."

Boudreau was selected among 10 NCAA Division II candidates from a pool of more than 450 student-athletes across the nation. Boudreau made her mark on the 2013 NSU rowing team, which won the first NCAA Division II Rowing Championship in Sunshine State Conference history. A biology major, she graduated with a 3.65 grade point average and has been admitted to the Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Among her numerous athletic accomplishments, Boudreau also helped raise the bar for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She served as president during her senior year and helped NSU's SAAC raise $5,544.72 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. It was several hundred dollars above their initial goal and set the tone for SAAC for years to come.

"Lauren is the consummate student-athlete and represents our university with integrity and pride," said director of athletics Michael Mominey. "She is a leader through and through, whether that being the captain of the crew winning a national championship or organizing a community engagement event. Lauren certainly deserves this honor and she will carry the banner of NSU and the Sunshine State Conference to Indianapolis in October for the recognition banquet. In either case just to be considered in this final pool is a great honor for her and Nova Southeastern University."

Boudreau was a three-time All-Sunshine State Conference selection and served as a co-captain of her squad each of those three seasons. NSU claimed a pair of conference titles during her four-year career, winning consecutive championships in 2011 and 2012.

Boudreau rowed in the stroke seat of the Sharks' varsity-8 boat that won the grand final at the 2013 NCAA Division II Rowing National Championship. She was one of two rowers on the team selected as a College Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) First-Team All-American.

"I am delighted to hear of Lauren Boudreau's nomination for this award," said head coach Stephen Frazier-Wong. "The NCAA Woman of the Year award honors the best aspects of collegiate athletics. Each of the 30 finalists and the 450 plus nominees for this award should be humbled by the amazing group of student-athletes that they represent. Lauren's commitment to academic excellence, integrity and community service during her undergraduate career here at Nova Southeastern University serves as a model for all of our student-athletes. I am extremely proud to have Lauren as the ambassador for our team, our university and for the sport of rowing."

Ten women from each of the three divisions make up the top 30, spanning various NCAA sports. Boudreau will look to become the first semifinalist in NSU history and the eighth semifinalist from the SSC since 1996.

In September, three finalists from each division will be selected to form the nine finalists for the award. The 2013 Woman of the Year will be announced at the annual ceremony in Indianapolis on Oct. 20.

The top 30 honorees reflect the pillars of the Woman of the Year award, with outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.

• Cumulatively, the top 30 earned a 3.79 grade-point average and nearly 50 Academic All-America honors.
• The top 30 earned 12 national championships (individual and team) and more than 80 All-America honors.
• The top 30 volunteered for 365 organizations during their college careers.
• Many served as team captains and held leadership positions in various campus and community organizations.

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