ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – UCF Rowing alumna Julie Poulsen has been nominated for the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
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.
A two-time All-American, Poulsen was a standout for UCF Rowing during her tenure. She joined the team in January 2017 and rowed in UCF's Varsity Eight each season. She was a three-time conference champion, a four-time first team all-conference selection and a member of The American Boat of the Year in 2017.
A native of Odder, Denmark, Poulsen also excelled in the classroom. She was awarded the Order of Pegasus, recognizes exemplary performance by graduate and undergraduate students in the areas of academic achievement, outstanding university involvement, leadership and community service. Poulsen graduated with a degree in human communication and appeared on the President's Honor Roll or Dean's List every semester at UCF.
Poulsen is one of 10 American Athletic Conference candidates in consideration for the honor. She is in the running with 535 female college athletes representing multiple sports. The nominees represent all three NCAA divisions, including 251 nominees from Division I, 107 from Division II and 177 from Division III. Nominees competed in 24 sports, with multisport student-athletes accounting for 141 of the nominees.
From here, The American will select up to two nominees to continue on in the award selection process. The Woman of the Year selection committee will then choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division. The selection committee will determine the top three honorees from each division and announce the nine finalists. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will then choose the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year, who will be named this fall.
