SALISBURY, Md. -
Carrie Jacoby, a standout senior athlete from the Salisbury University softball program, has been nominated for the prestigious 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year award. This nomination celebrates the exceptional contributions and achievements of graduating female college athletes across academic, athletic, and community service dimensions.
The NCAA Woman of the Year program, established in 1991, recognizes the academic achievements, athletic excellence, community service, and leadership of graduating female college athletes from all three divisions. To be eligible, nominees must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport, maintained a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.50, and earned their undergraduate degree by summer 2025.
Jacoby, hailing from Lusby, Maryland, has demonstrated excellence both on and off the field. As a key player for the Salisbury University Sea Gulls, she posted a remarkable .438 batting average, leading her team in several statistical categories, including batting average, hits, doubles, and slugging percentage. Her contributions were instrumental in guiding the Sea Gulls to 36 wins and clinching their fifth consecutive NCAA regional championship. Over her collegiate career, Jacoby amassed 164 hits, 18 home runs, and 122 RBIs, reflecting her consistent performance and dedication to her sport.
While the majority of teams' service projects focus on doing the most good for the most amount of people, sometimes, when teams do an extraordinary amount of good for one person, the impact is felt throughout the community. How appropriate it is, then, that through an organization known as Team IMPACT, the Sea Gull softball team and leaders like Jacoby have done for 8-year-old
Emerson Thomas.
"[Team IMPACT] is an organization that brings people together," said Jacoby. "Coach [
Lacey Lord] really wanted to have someone extra for the team to play for; in the past, it's been [late former head coach
Margie Knight], but we wanted to bring on an honorary teammate from the community."
Launched in 2011, Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit that "connects children with serious illnesses or disabilities with college athletic teams." On Mother's Day that year, the organization's founders matched the St. Anselm's College men's hockey team with a 9-year-old boy named Ben, who was battling cancer. The purpose of these multiyear program matches is to "guide children and teams alike in a mutually beneficial relationship of belonging, empowerment, and resilience."
"Science, sports, and service have been the three pillars that have shaped me into the person I am today," Jacoby said. "These pillars have influenced me in numerous meaningful ways, and together, they have instilled in me a desire to leave a positive impact on the world."
Being nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year is a significant honor that highlights Jacoby's multifaceted talents and her impact as a student-athlete. Her accomplishments in science, sports, and service have collectively shaped her into a leader who aspires to make a positive impact in the world. This nomination not only recognizes her personal achievements but also shines a light on the Salisbury University athletic program's commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals.
As a conference-level nominee, Jacoby's candidacy will be reviewed by a selection committee, which will choose the top 10 honorees in each division. From these 30 distinguished individuals, the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year will be selected. The honorees will be celebrated at the Woman of the Year Award Presentation during the 2026 NCAA Convention in Washington, D.C.
Jacoby's nomination for this prestigious award underscores her dedication and achievements, serving as an inspiration to her peers and future generations of student-athletes.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 205 conference championships, and have produced 53 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
