June 11, 2008

Boston, Mass. - Senior Dana Hastie (Wellington, New Zealand) has been named a finalist for the America East Woman of the Year award, according to an announcement made by conference commissioner Patrick Nero on Wednesday. Hastie is one of three finalists, with Binghamton University's Jacqueline Kane (volleyball) and Boston University's Sarah Hudak (field hockey) also being named.

Hastie, a multidisciplinary studies major with a 3.78 GPA, earned All-Northeast Region honors in cross country each of past two seasons and helped the Seawolves capture the 2007 team title. She placed third and sixth at the 2006 and 2005 meets, respectively, to earn all-conference recognition. In track & field, Hastie placed second in the 5,000-meter run at both the America East Indoor and Outdoor Championships to garner all-league honors. She will also compete in the 10,000-meter run at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday.

In addition to her athletic achievements, Hastie has been named to the USTFCCCA and America East All-Academic teams, has been on the Commissioner's Honor Roll every semester and is a two-time recipient of the SUNY Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete Award. Additionally, she served as an executive board member for SAAC and was a student commencement speaker, the first Stony Brook student-athlete in school history to gain the honor. Hastie, who received the Society of Distinguished Student-Athlete Award, also served as President of Brothers and Sisters in Christ (BASIC) and has been active with Read Across America.

The three finalists were selected from a pool of the nine America East institutional nominations, which were announced on Tuesday, May 20. To be nominated, student-athletes must have earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and competed during the 2007-08 academic year, completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2008 spring season or received her undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the spring 2008 term and have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).

The 2008 America East Woman of the Year will be announced via release on the conference website on Wednesday, June 18.

The America East Woman of the Year will then be forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will select the top 10 winners in each NCAA division (I, II and III). From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the CWA will vote from among the top nine to determine the 2008 NCAA Woman of the Year.