THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Jessica Diaz of California Lutheran University has been nominated to represent the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) for the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year.
The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service, and leadership. The award has been given annually since 1991.
Diaz was an integral member of the Cal Lutheran women's water polo team during her time with the Regals, helping the squad to the SCIAC Postseason Tournament championship in 2019 and again in 2021. She is also a two-time ACWPC Honorable Mention All-American (2020 and 2021).
In the classroom, Diaz completed her undergraduate degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and was named to the SCIAC All-Academic Team as well as the ACWPC All-Academic Team in 2020. At Cal Lutheran, she is a four-year recipient of the President's Award, and a Dean's List honoree in 2021.
In the community, Diaz has extended her skills in the water to those around her as a lifeguard responsible for the safety of children, as well as teaching them and adults how to swim. Additionally, Diaz was part of a Pen Pals for Kindergartners program from 2018-2020. During that time, she helped kindergartners write letters and helped encourage those children to want to go to college. Also, in 2020, she completed a coroner internship where she was responsible for clean-up, in charge of supply refilling, and general aid to the coroner.
"My time at Cal Lutheran has been the best time of my life," Diaz noted. "It taught me how to grow on a team, as well as individually.
Despite a senior year altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Diaz was quick to find the positives in a difficult situation.
"All my time at CLU was phenomenal, but senior year was by far the best. I was able to achieve higher grades and make the Dean's List. This Spring, our team won its second SCIAC Postseason Tournament and make another appearance at the NCAA Championship.
Diaz, a native of Madera, Calif., also took the opportunity to bring her experiences to her hometown community where she encouraged young student-athletes of all ages to attend college and continue to play the sports they love.
"I wanted to convey to them that despite being from a little town where water polo (for example) is not a big thing, we are able to make a change in the world of sports," she explained. "All the awards and successes are rewarding, but it does not compare to the reward of giving hope and faith to many young athletes who do go on to play in college."
In reflecting back on her time at Cal Lutheran, Diaz also credited the COVID-19 pandemic as a turning point in her collegiate career, and it has helped her set a clear course for the future.
"When COVID-19 hit, I had to go home and I had no idea when I would be able to be with, or see my team. It was devastating," Diaz explained. "Even though that was a very hard time in my life, it taught me a very important lesson - appreciate what you have and be grateful.
I was lucky enough to be voted in as captain this year, and this alone empowered me to influence and help anyone I could. My team pushed me to be a better leader, friend, and person. They helped me gain knowledge and skills that I will use for the rest of my life."
Diaz continued, "I want to change the world by becoming a sheriff deputy and I would not be where I am without CLU, my team, and my family. They have taught me everything that I need in life to excel, empower, and impact the world."
Rooted in Title IX and directed by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics, the NCAA Woman of the Year program celebrates the accomplishments of female college athletes across all three NCAA divisions. Over 220,000 women are competing in college sports, and the NCAA received 535 nominations for this prestigious award.
Conference nominations are forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year Selection Committee, which identifies the top 10 honorees in each of the three NCAA divisions. From those 30 honorees, the selection committee then determines the three finalists in each division for a total of nine finalists.
The Committee on Women's Athletics will select the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year from the nine finalists. At an award ceremony Oct. 17 in Indianapolis, the Top 30 honorees will be celebrated, and the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year will be named.
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director
