Bates’ grad Colby now NCAA finalist> 10 students up for `Woman of the Year’

Amanda Colby, a 2000 graduate of Bates College in Lewiston, has been named one of 10 finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.

The award recognizes young women for their outstanding achievements in athletics, academics and community leadership.

Among this year’s finalists are three Olympians, a Rhodes Scholar finalist and the female winner of the Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship, the NCAA’s highest academic honor.

Colby, a middle hitter on the Bates volleyball team, was a second-team All-America selection last year as the Bobcats finished second in the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

A biochemistry major, Colbyas a second-team CoSIDA academic All-American and was a three-time academic all-conference pick. She had her work published in the research journal Chiralty.

She received a grant to conduct independent research and help organize a scientific lecture series as a Merck fellow.

Colby also served as a mentor for elementary school children, participated in several “read-ins” and served as a volunteer teacher’s assistant, tutoring chemistry students and coaching high school tennis.

The other nine finalists are: Carolin Bouchard, Boston College, basketball; Jessica Daily, University of Arkansas, track and cross country; Jayne Even, North Dakota State, basketball; Elia Fischer, Washington (Mo.) University cross country and track; Emily Haley, University of St. Thomas (Minn.), cross country and track; Anna Hallbergson, Barry (Fla.) University, Tennis; Kristy Kowal, University of Georgia, Swimming; Gabrielle Rose, Stanford University, swimming; Phylesha Whaley, University of Oklahoma, basketball.