2017 NCAA Woman of the Year School Nominees

INDIANAPOLIS -- Following their graduation from Academy of Art University this past year, two highly decorated Urban Knights have been nominated for the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year award. This year, Michelle Dandik Zaale (women's tennis) and Jasmin Guinn (women's basketball/track & field) serve as ART U's dual nominees for one of the most prestigious annual honors the NCAA has to offer. 

Now in its 27th installment, the Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership. Previous Academy of Art nominees include women's tennis players Nina Gajdosikova (2016) and Jenny Johansson (2015), softball outfielders Haily MacDonald (2016) and Elyse Cordova (2015), along with women's golfers Crystal Superal (2013) and Andrea Nieto (a top finalist in 2014).

Dandik Zaale, who completed her career with a cumulative 3.45 GPA in the School of Fashion Design, goes out as ART U tennis' winningest athlete ever in the No. 3 position. Academy of Art Tennis never finished below fifth in the PacWest Conference in her four years as an Urban Knight and she was contributing member of the team's historic 2015 run that saw them upset No. 7 Hawaii Pacific before hosting NCAA Regionals for the first time.

"Tennis is a sport I played since I was three years old and has taught me so much, but Academy of Art University taught me even more," said Dandik Zaale. "Through my studies at ART U, I have honed my professional skills as a fashion designer. I learned the technical, creative, and inspirational process from the initial inspiration of a collection all the way to the finishing touches of the garments. I am grateful to have had instructors who drilled every bit of knowledge into me until the last day of class and I take that knowledge with me now in the professional industry."

Twice All-PacWest Team in singles and a two-time team Most Valuable Player, Dandik Zaale was Academic All-PacWest all four years, helped Academy of Art earn its first ITA All-Academic Team award in 2014, and followed by becoming the third ITA Scholar-Athlete in program history. In addition to her achievements on the court, Dandik Zaale a regular coordinator with the Academy of Art Annual Fashion Show and offered nearly 30 hours of community service per year.

"My experience these past five years showed me the true value of hard work, leadership, and being a team player," said Dandik Zaale. "But most importantly, I am grateful to have created a circle of friends, teammates, mentors, and colleagues whom I will treasure for the rest of my life."

Guinn, owner of a 3.44 cumulative GPA in the School of Animation & Visual Effects over her four years of competition, was the first Urban Knight to earn All-PacWest First Team in two different sports. She assumed the honor twice on the basketball court (2014-15, 2015-16) and once in track & field as a long jumper (2014). Guinn was the PacWest Defender of the Year two of the award's first three years in existence, was twice voted the Most Valuable Player by her head coach, and helped Academy of Art win the first two PacWest Conference Tournament titles (2012-13, 2013-14).

"Striving for academic excellence, being a dual-sport athlete, and emerging as a leader has taught me so many things, but among them diligence, patience, and integrity," said Guinn. "I came into college as a shy 17-year-old who was afraid to be heard. Fast forward to five years later and I've emerged a woman with a concrete view of what I want to give to others and a voice that seeks to empower. I now see a world where I can use my experience as a student-athlete and the wisdom that my mentors have given me to hopefully pass that on to someone else."

In her senior year with ART U Women's Basketball, Guinn captained the winningest team in program history, was fourth in NCAA Division II in steals per game, and D2CCA All-West Region First Team, while solidifying herself as Academy of Art's all-time career leader in points, rebounds, and steals. Beyond her statistical achievements, Guinn was a semi-finalist for the prestigious Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup in 2016, the only student-athlete to be voted ARTYs Urban Knight of the Year twice (2014, 2016), a four-time Academic All-PacWest honoree plus USTFCCCA All-Academic Team in 2014, and she turned in more than 35 hours of community service per year in her career.

"My lifelong goal is to inspire and encourage underprivileged youth through film," said Guinn. "I want to be able to tell stories that may result in a positive influence in their lives by showing them that no matter their circumstance, they can surpass any expectation and through hope, anything is possible."

The NCAA Woman of the Year nominations are now under review by each school's conference office and two individuals will be submitted as the conference nominee to the NCAA. A selection committee then selects the Top 30 – 10 from each division and, lastly, three finalists from each division. The Committee on Women's Athletics selects the winner from the Top 9. The 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced, and the Top 30 honorees celebrated, at the annual award ceremony Oct. 22 in Indianapolis.