MEAC Media Relations

DSU?s Hefflefinger Among Top 30 NCAA Woman Of Year Honorees

 

Delaware State University's Jazmyne Hefflefinger has advanced to the round of 30 in the 2012 NCAA Woman of the Year selection process.

Hefflefinger is among 30 women, selected from a group of nearly 430 nominees, still in the running for the prestigious award. The top 30 women are composed of 10 honorees from each NCAA division and span various NCAA sports. In September, three finalists will be chosen from each division to form nine finalists for the award. The 2012 Woman of Year will be announced and the top 30 women will be honored during an Oct. 14 ceremony in Indianapolis, Ind., home of the NCAA headquarters.

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

  • Cumulatively, the top 30 earned a 3.87 grade-point average and more than 90 Academic All-America honors.
  • The top 30 earned nearly 20 national championships (individual and team) and nearly 110 All-America honors.
  • The top 30 volunteered for more than 375 organizations during their college careers.
  • Many served as team captains and held leadership positions in various campus and community organizations.

Alecia Shields-Gadson of Coppin State, NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee chair, described the extraordinary commitment to academics and athletics by each of the top 30 honorees.

"Being an NCAA student-athlete takes dedication to both academic and athletic excellence," said Shields-Gadson, who will chair the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee starting next month. "These women rose to that challenge and became leaders on the court, in the classroom and in their communities. The Woman of the Year honorees are excellent role models and will most certainly continue to make a positive impact on the world."

Hefflefinger, a 2012 DSU graduate and four-year member of the Hornets' bowling team, qualified for the NCAA award by virtue of her selection as this year 's MEAC Woman of the Year.

Hefflefinger helped lead the Hornets to consecutive MEAC championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010. A three-time All-MEAC selection, she also earned two MEAC All-Tournament (2009, '10) honors and NCAA All-Tournament recognition in 2009.

As a senior this past season, Hefflefinger averaged 187.5 in 52 regular team games for the Hornets. She rolled a season-high 255 en route to earn all-tournament honors at the season opening Bethune-Cookman Wildcat Invitational last fall.

The 2012 Delaware State University Scholar-Athlete of the Year spent time off the lanes volunteering to build ramps for disabled persons, walking to raise awareness for the American Heart Association and AIDS research, and serving as a Tournament Official and Group Guide Facilitator for Special Olympics. Hefflefinger also donated her time to the DSU Community Park and Boys and Girls Club.

In addition, Hefflefinger served as a member of the Delaware State University and MEAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Fellowship for Christian Athletes, of which she was group leader during the 2011-12 academic year. She is also a former DSU bowling team captain.

Hefflefinger earned an undergraduate degree from Delaware State University last month with a 4.0 grade-point-average in Movement Science with a concentration in Pre-Health. She was presented the Presidential Academic Excellence Award during the university's May 20 commencement ceremony. Additional academic achievements include DSU President's List (2008-12), department Scholar-of-the-Year (2010-11; 2011-12), Dean's List (2008-12), MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team (2009-12) and U.S. Achievement Academy All-American Scholar (2007-08).

She has also been inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma National Athletic Honor Society (2011) and National Society of Collegiate Scholars (2009).

Hefflefinger is the second Delaware State University student-athlete to earn the MEAC Women-of-the-Year award, joining former teammate Kalyn Washburn who was the 2010 honoree.

For the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com.