The NCAA recently released their list for their Top 30 finalists for the 2016 Woman of the Year.  Of the final 30, one is from New Jersey and that would be Tracey Balinskas (Edison High School class of 2012) who just recently graduated from Molloy College in Rockville Center NY (Long Island) where she played softball. She just began her first teaching job as a Kindergarten teacher in Far Rockaway and is pursuing her masters of education in educational technology.

The NCAA Woman of the Year award is given to one graduating senior who is nominated by their schools (all three divisions and all sports), which is then narrowed down to conference nominees, then further narrowed down to the final 30 nominees (10 from DI, 10 from DII, and 10 from DIII). The final 30 are honored at a ceremony in Indianapolis.  The committee will then select the final nine nominees (three from each division) where only one will be chosen to be the NCAA Woman of the Year. All of the honorees have demonstrated excellence not only in athletics, but also academics, leadership, and community service.

Click here for press release from Molloy College.