BOSTON—Northeastern University women's ice hockey standout
Kelly Wallace has been selected as the Women's Hockey East Association (WHEA) nominee for the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
The Woman of the Year award honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service, and leadership. NCAA-member institutions nominated 446 female student-athletes for the 2014 award. View the complete list of nominees
here. Of the nominees, 205 competed at the Division I level, 75 competed in Division II, and 166 competed in Division III.
Wallace was named the Hockey East Player of the Year Runner-Up in 2013-14 after a stellar senior season. The Libertyville, Illinois, native played in 34 games and led the Huskies with 19 goals—including three game-winning goals—and 32 points. She registered at least one point in 13 of Northeastern's final 15 games, leading the team to a 12-3-0 record to close the season.
NU averaged better than 20 wins per season during Wallace's four years on the ice, winning two Beanpot titles (2012, 2013) and the Hockey East regular-season championship in 2011-12. She appeared in 128 games during her Northeastern career and tallied 79 points on 43 goals and 36 assists.
Off the ice, Wallace gave generously of her time to the Boston community and to her fellow student-athletes. She was a member of the university's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee during each of her years on campus, serving as president for one year and vice president for two. She was the Northeastern ambassador with Team IMPACT, an organization committed to improving the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses by partnering them with college athletic teams. Wallace also volunteered with Playworks Boston, the Mandi Schwartz Foundation, Rosie's Place, and the Youth Fitness Challenge under former Boston Mayor Tom Menino.
On campus, Wallace welcomed new students to Huntington Avenue by serving as an orientation volunteer and speaker for two summers. She played a leading role in Northeastern Athletics' partnership with the You Can Play Project, providing a visible example of the department's core value of appreciation of difference. She also was a nominee for the university's Student Conduct Board.
Wallace graduated from Northeastern with a degree in criminal justice. She currently is pursing a master's degree at the university in leadership with a concentration in non-profit management.
Each conference selects up to two women from the nominees to represent the conference. The Woman of the Year selection committee then selects the top 30 honorees—10 from each division—from the conference nominees. From among those 30 candidates, the selection committee determines the top three in each division and announces the top nine finalists in September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will then vote from among the finalists to determine the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year. The top 30 honorees will be honored, and the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced, at the annual ceremony in Indianapolis on Sunday, Oct. 19.
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