Simpson's Jenna Taylor Selected as A-R-C's NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee

8/17/2021 11:15:40 AM

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has named former Simpson College women's basketball student-athlete Jenna Taylor (Creston, Iowa/Creston) as the conference's 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year nominee.

Now in its 31st year, the NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers. Nominees for the honor meet the four pillars of the Woman of the Year Award, which are academics, athletics, service and leadership.

Taylor graduated from Simpson College in 2021 with a degree in Accounting and Economics: Finance. Earlier this summer, Taylor received the honor of CoSIDA Division III Academic All-America of the Year. This is her second Academic All-America status after posting a 4.00 GPA. This summer, she was named the 2020-21 CoSIDA Division III Women's Basketball Academic All-America Team Member of the Year.

The Creston, Iowa native was a two-time A-R-C Honorable Mention (2017-18, 2019-20) , two-time A-R-C First-Team honoree (2018-19, 2020-21), and the 2020-21 A-R-C Most Valuable Player. She received 2020-21 D3hoops.com All-America First-Team honors and 2020-21 WBCA All-America Team honoree. 

From here, the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee identifies the Top 30 - 10 from each division - and from there selects three finalists from each division. The Committee on Women's Athletics then selects the winner from the nine finalists.

Taylor's Community Service, Campus Activities, and Leadership Positions
  • Community Advisor for Residence Life
  • Storm Speaks (Mental Health Organization for Athletes)
  • Peer Academic Leader
  • Academic Mentor for Women's Basketball
  • Meals from the Heartland Volunteer
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Taylor's Academic Accomplishments
  • Robert W. Feyerharm Award (2019)
  • Barborka Award Winner (2021)
  • CoSIDA Women's Basketball Academic All-America Team Member of the Year (2020-21)
  • CoSIDA Academic All-America of the Year (2020-21)
  • CoSIDA Academic All-America Second-Team (2018-19)
  • Four-Time A-R-C Academic All-Conference

Taylor's Athletic Accomplishments
  • WBCA All-America First-Team (2020-21)
  • D3hoops.com All-America First-Team (2020-21)
  • A-R-C Most Valuable Player (2020-21)
  • Two-Time A-R-C First-Team All-Conference (2020-21, 2018-19)
  • Two-Time A-R-C Honorable Mention (2017-18, 2019-20)
  • Seven-Time A-R-C Player of the Week
 
Don't forget to become a fan of the American Rivers Conference on Facebook @AmericanRiversConference, Twitter @AmerRiversConf, and Instagram @AmericanRiversConference.