IRVING, Texas – Charlotte All-American pole vaulter Riley Felts has been named as one of 30 athletes in consideration for the NCAA Woman of the Year.
Established in 1991, the award is rooted in Title IX and recognizes female student-athletes who have completed their undergraduate studies and distinguished themselves in their community, in athletics and in academics throughout their college careers.
Selected from a record-breaking 627 nominees submitted by member schools — a group that was then narrowed to 168 nominees at the conference level — the Top 30 honorees include 10 from each of the three NCAA divisions. Each honoree has demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. The honorees represent 15 sports, including three student-athletes representing NCAA Emerging Sports for Women. They have a variety of majors, including cell and molecular biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, civil engineering, sociology, nursing, computer science, sport management and more.
Felts set school and conference records in both indoor and outdoor track and field in pole vault during the 2024 season. She was the NCAA Runner-Up in the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships and 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship.
Serving on Charlotte’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Felts graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree and completed a master’s degree in geoenvironmental engineering. The 2024 American Athletic Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Felts earned multiple College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American and All-District honors during her time on campus.
Outside of campus, Felts participated in a variety of volunteer opportunities, including for the Down Syndrome Association of Charlotte’s Buddy Walk and for Samaritan’s Feet, which works to provide shoes to those in need.
In addition, Temple fencing alumna and a 2023 American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Margherita Calderaro was announced as a Top 30 honoree. Calderaro is a four-time NCAA Regional qualifier, an NCAA Championship qualifier, a three-time USFCA All-Region, a USFCA All-American, and a NCAA All-American.
The selection committee will determine three honorees from each NCAA division, for a total of nine finalists. From those finalists, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics will choose the 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year.
At the NCAA Convention in January, the NCAA Woman of the Year will be named, and the Top 30 will be celebrated.
