William Smith College senior swimmer Caroline Conboy is one of a record 543 nominees for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The annual award recognizes the nation's top senior female student-athlete for her achievements in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
 
In May, Conboy graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in psychology. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, she was a two-time CSCAA Scholar All-American and a 2017 third team CoSIDA Academic All-American. Conboy was a three-time Liberty League All-Academic Team pick and a three-time UNYSCSA All-Academic selection.
 
In the pool, Conboy finished 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke and 12th in the 200 breaststroke at the 2017 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships, earning All-America honorable mention in both events. She successfully defended her titles in the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the UNYSCSA Championships. Conboy was named the UNYSCSA Swimmer of the Meet and also received the UNYSCSA's Barbara Radef Award. At the Liberty League Championships, she earned her third consecutive championship in the 200 breaststroke while winning her second straight title in the 200 individual medley.
 
In 2016, Conboy was a first team All-American in the 100 breaststroke (8th place) and an honorable mention All-American in the 200 breaststroke (16th).
 
During her collegiate career, Conboy produced 35 record-breaking swims, graduating with the program standards in the 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke, and the 100 and 200 IM. Her name also appears on the school's record board for the 200 and 400 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Conboy won eight Liberty League Championships and four UNYSCSA Championships.
 
In the community, Conboy sought out volunteer and internship opportunities in special education classrooms at grade schools here in the Finger Lakes and in her hometown of Saratoga Springs. She has been a volunteer swim coach with the Geneva YMCA Special Olympics team and was active in the HWS College Experience Outreach Club, serving as that group's president in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
 
Now in its 27th year, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award draws nominees from each of the three divisions. Conboy is one of seven nominees from Liberty League institutions and one of 197 from Division III schools.
 
Now that the nomination process is complete, each conference will select up to two nominees to advance in the process. Then the NCAA will select the top 30 honorees, 10 from each division. In September, the NCAA will announce the nine finalists for the award (three from each division), revealing the NCAA Woman of the Year on Oct. 22 in Indianapolis.
 
William Smith has had four alumnae honored above the conference level. In 1993, Cynthia Olyer Teerlink '93 was one of 10 finalists for the award. In 1999, Lisa Krug '99 was named the NCAA New York Woman of the Year. The NCAA previously announced 52 state-level winners, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, before narrowing the field to 10 finalists. Under the current selection process, Olivia Zitoli '14 and Madeline Buckley '15 were Top 30 selections in 2014 and 2015, respectively.