HAMPTON, Va. -- Recent Hampton University graduate Jakari Harris was nominated for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award announced on Tuesday.

"Congratulations to Jakari Harris for her nomination to the NCAA Woman of the Year Award," said Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey.  "Her overall body of work, in the classroom and on the course, made her a strong candidate for this honor."

Rooted in Title IX, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award was established in 1991 to recognize graduating female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

The nominees represent all three NCAA divisions, including 259 nominees from Division I, 126 from Division II and 220 from Division III. Nominees competed in 24 sports, with multisport student-athletes accounting for 128 of the nominees.

Harris earned the Big South Conference George A. Christenberry Award in May of 2019 and just graduated with a degree in chemical engineering.  She finished her golf career with a 79.5 stroke average this past fall season and carded a 74 in the first round of the Hampton University Invitational.  Her stroke average dropped in each of her four years on the team.

Conference offices will select up to two nominees each from their pool of member school nominees. Then, the Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division.

From the Top 30, the Woman of the Year selection committee will determine the top three honorees in each division and announce nine finalists. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then will choose the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year, who will be named this fall.

For more information on Hampton University Athletics, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.