Woman of the Year | Division III Finalists

Hannah Baker, Wartburg College

Conference: Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 
Major: Biology 
Sports: Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field

Excerpt from personal statement: “…I have had the privilege of working alongside individuals with varying backgrounds and beliefs. This opportunity has shown me the value of diversity and challenge of utilizing various leadership styles toward a common goal.”

A three-year member of the conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee who served as president in 2009-10, Baker received an NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Award for co-leading, designing and organizing Kids' Day 'n Knight Multi-Sport Clinic.

Chosen as the Class of 2010 graduation speaker at Wartburg, Baker was a three-year team captain, represented her school at the NCAA Regional Leadership Conference and received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

She was a four-time national champion in the 4x400 meters, claiming the 2007, 2008 and 2009 outdoor championships and 2009 indoor championship in that event. Baker was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American First Team in 2009.
 

Melissa Mackley, Gustavus Adolphus College

Conference: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 
Major: Biology
Sport: Ice Hockey

Excerpt from personal statement: “Becoming an active student leader has propelled me to discover my passions. I have developed a sense of creativity and innovation, skills that I have used to aid others in finding their passions.”

A Habitat for Humanity volunteer and four-year member of Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society, Mackley is a recipient of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and made the Gustavus Adolphus dean's list every semester.

A member of Gustavus Adolphus' 2010 Division III women's ice hockey semifinals team (third-place game), Mackley was a two-time team captain, was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America First Team, and is a four-time MIAC conference champion. She was named to the All-Conference First Team in 2008-09 and 2009-10, was selected to the MIAC All-Rookie Team in 2006-07, and was awarded MIAC Player of the Week honors twice in 2008-09 and once in 2009-10.

The Gustavus Adolphus Student-Athlete of the Month for January 2009 and February 2010, Mackley was named to the American Hockey Coaches Association All-America First Team in 2008-09 and 2009-10 and received her team's Most Valuable Player Award in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
 

Ruth Westby, Emory University

Conference: University Athletic Association
Major: Environmental Science/Political Science
Sport: Swimming and Diving

Excerpt from personal statement: “The opportunity for a balanced experience at Emory appealed to me. I worked unconditionally in the pool but actually spent most of my time in the library, and while my teammates became my family, I loved meeting people who were dedicated in other ways.”

A five-time NCAA champion in the 50-meter freestyle in 2008, 200- and 800-meter freestyle relays in 2009, and 200- and 400-meter freestyle relays in 2010, Westby was also named a seven-time all-American in 2010 and was the most decorated swimmer in school history with 27 All-American certificates out of 28 possible events.

Westby was named to the dean's list four times and was twice selected a team captain. She received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and volunteered for the Special Olympics. She was also a 100 Senior honoree, awarded by the Emory Alumni Association for up to 100 students in the senior class for being excellent models of citizenship and leadership.

Among her other activities, she mentored incoming freshmen at Emory, participated in fund-raising for the Court-Appointed Special Advocate Association and Cystic Fibrosis, served on a committee for Relay for Life, took part in the Emory Ethics Department's Summer Servant Leadership program and studied community conservancies during a month-long trip to Africa.