General 7/31/2025 11:00:17 AM Seven UMAC Student-Athletes nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) has seven student-athletes nominated for the prestigious 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year award, it was announced Monday. Each year, NCAA member institutions from all three divisions are encouraged to nominate graduating female athletes who have distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service, and leadership throughout their collegiate careers. To be eligible, a nominee must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and must have earned her undergraduate degree by summer 2024. Eligible female student-athletes are nominated by their member school. The UMAC will announce in the coming weeks the conference's selection for the honor who will move on to the next pool of nominees from conferences. From there, the Woman of the Year selection committee will choose the top 30 honorees which includes 10 women from each division. From the top 30, three from each division will be announced as finalists. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics chooses the final winner that will be announced at the 2026 NCAA Convention in January. This year's UMAC institutional nominees include the following individuals: Jenna Anderson UW-Superior | Volleyball Academic & Athletic accomplishments: Summa Cum Laude Graduate Eight-time member of the Dean's List 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American Third Team Three-time CSC Academic All-District Team Four-time Upper Midwest Athletic All-Conference (UMAC) Academic All-Conference UMAC Scholar Athlete of the Year nominee 2024 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American 2024 AVCA All-Region First Team, Region 9 2024 UMAC Player of the Year 2024 UMAC Defensive Player of the Year Four-time All-Conference (two First-team selections) Community service involvements: Two-year UMAC SAAC President Four-year UMAC SAAC member Four-year UWS SAAC President and member Four-year Week of Giving member Two-year Yellowjacket for a Day volunteer Ruth Brueckner Crown | Cross Country and Track & Field Academic & Athletic accomplishments: Summa Cum Laude Graduate UMAC Scholar Athlete of the Year nominee Six-time Academic All-Conference Four-year member of the Dean’s List Nine-time UMAC conference champion Six-time All-Conference honors 2023 UMAC Cross Country Rookie of the Year Three-time NCCAA National Champion Three-time NCAA All-American Community service involvement: Crown worship team band member SALT Twin Cities campus leader Team lead for Crown Welcome Week Crown pep band member Volunteer Social media manager/graphic designer for Holy Family Catholic High School cross country team Crown Student Success advisory board member Two-year Crown SAAC member Two-year Church of Hope MN worship and tech team member Church of Hope youth leader Ashley Casper Bethany Lutheran | Soccer Academic & Athletic accomplishments: UMAC Scholar Athlete of the Year nominee Four-time Academic All-Conference Two-time CSC Academic All-District Eight-time member of the Dean’s List 2023 Second-team All-Region Four-time All-Conference (two First-team selections) Community service involvement: BLC Student Body President Four-year member of BLC student government Four-year member of BLC Mock Trial Two-year team captain for BLC Mock Trial Anna Deichert North Central | Soccer Academic & Athletic achievements: Three-time Academic All-Conference Six-time member of the Dean’s List Three-time NCCAA Scholar Athlete NCCAA North Region, Honorable Mention, 2025 Community service involvement Three-year volunteer interpreter for Deaf Blind Church members during worship service Night to Shine volunteer, event sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation Three-year housekeeping and decorating volunteer at Deaf Life Church Pancake breakfast volunteer for Metro School for the Deaf Three-year Youth Group volunteer interpreter at weekly meetings Two-year volunteer for NCU’s service week for a women’s safe house in Ohio Two-year interpreter at Edge Church for weekly worship services Completed two internships at ASL organizations Two-year Assistant Director for NCU’s ASL Alliance Student Organization Two-year student interpreter coordinator for NCU’s ASL department Two-year Director of the Alabaster Deaf Outreach Organization Maya Habben Martin Luther | Cross Country and Track & Field Academic & Athletic achievements: Cum Laude Graduate Eight-time member of the Honor’s List 10-time Academic All-Conference Won the 2022 UMAC Conference Championship in cross country Eight-time All-Conference (three First-team honors) Member of the 2021 and 2022 UMAC Championship cross country teams Member of the 2023 UMAC Championship women’s outdoor track and field team Community service involvements: Volunteer track coach at Manitowoc Lutheran High School Prom chaperone volunteer Five-year piano and organ accompanist at worship services Four-year member of the MLC social studies cohort Five-year preschool teacher’s aide/summer camp worker Founding board member of Fall 5K Finale Four-year food bank volunteer MLC history TA and tutor Four-year piano and organ accompanist for MLC Chapel service Study skills tutor and student mentor Elise Jarchow Northwestern | Tennis Academic & Athletic accomplishments: Magna Cum Laude graduate Four-time member of the Dean’s List Two-time CSC Academic All-District Three-time Academic All-Conference Two-time NCCAA Scholar Athlete 2023 ITA Scholar Athlete Two-time UMAC Tournament Champion Two-time All-Conference (one First-team selection) Community service involvement: Three-year member of the UNW Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) Served as the school mascot for three and a half years Three-year staff member at Shetek Baptist Bible Camp Member of the Dance Theatre Ensemble Living Rock Church youth intern Hannah Selig Minnesota-Morris | Golf Academic & Athletic achievements: Seven-time member of the Dean’s List Four-time Academic All-Conference Three-time Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team member Two-time First Team All-Conference UMAC Sportsmanship Award UMAC Rookie of the Year Community service involvement: Four-year Asian Student Association member Founding board member of the Hold My Root Beer student organization that hosts weekend events that are an alternative to drinking off campus Two-year campus relations secretary for the Morris Campus Student Assembly Two-year member as the student representative on the University’s planning committee Pi Sigma Alpha secretary First-year hall community advisor Two-year Hall Director Two-year community development assistant