October 1, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Shanti Freitas In Final Nine for NCAA Woman of the Year

Northampton, MA: Smith graduate Shanti Freitas (Evanston, IL) is among the top nine finalists for the 18th annual NCAA Woman of the Year award. The award recognizes accomplished NCAA female student-athletes who have excelled in athletics, academics, service and leadership.

A 2008 graduate of Smith, Freitas was a sociology major with minor in Education and Child Study. She was a three-time academic all-American, New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Academic All Conference selection in 2006 and 2008, on the Dean's List 2005-06 and received the Seven Sisters Scholar-Athlete Award in her senior year.

During her career at Smith, Freitas was a three-time All American diver and also a three-time Seven Sisters diving champion.  She was a first team all-NEWMAC selection and served as captain her senior year.  She was voted the Smith College Rookie of the Year and Sophomore Athlete of the Year and she attended the NCAA Leadership Conference in 2005.

Coach Kim Bierwert is pleased and excited by Shanti's making the final nine."Shanti is certainly an outstanding diver and was an outstanding team member while at Smith and possesses the qualities that are deserving of this recognition.  She is currently the holder of all seven Smith diving records as well as two Seven Sisters diving records. As captain her senior year, she provided excellent leadership that was helpful in developing team chemistry and camaraderie among all team members."

Shanti's community involvement included serving as Associate Director of Smith's Best Buddies program and served as a student mentor at an after-school program.  She served on the Campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in 2005-06 and volunteered at La Case de la Mujer, a domestic violence project in Ecuador, while studying abroad.  She also served as an outreach intern for Engaging Latino Families in Education, 2007.

The NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at the annual dinner held in Indianapolis, Indiana on October 19th.  Other finalists include Susan Ackermann, Salisbury (lacrosse); Nkolika Anosike, Tennessee (basketball); Jennifer Artichuk, Delta State (swimming); Arianna Lambie, Stanford (cross country, track & field), Samantha Mitchell, Mount Olive (volleyball, track & field); Lindsey Ozimek, Charlotte (soccer); Sarah Schettle, Wisconsin-Oshkosh (track & field, cross country, swimming); and Heather Walker, Georgian Court (volleyball, softball).