Rogers is MAC Nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year
August 25, 2025 | Track & Field
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference (MAC) is proud to announce that Ball State University's Jenelle Rogers (Track & Field) and the University of Akron's Grace Nuhfer (Swimming) have been selected as the league's nominees for the prestigious 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Both student-athletes were chosen by the MAC's Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs) in recognition of their exceptional achievements in athletics, academics, leadership, and community service.
A four-time All-American and 2025 MAC Medal of Excellence winner as the top female student-athlete at Ball State, Rogers won four consecutive MAC multi titles – two pentathlon indoors and two heptathlon outdoors – and advanced to the NCAA championships each time. Over four years at Ball State, she compiled a 3.949 cumulative GPA in interior design. She is one of just three four-time All-Americans in Ball State track history.
Nuhfer graduated from the University of Akron in May 2025 with a 3.77 GPA. The four-year member of the Zips Swimming and Diving program was named to the All-MAC Academic Team the past three seasons while being named to the CSC Academic All-District Team in 2025.
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Nuhfer, a native of Greenwood, Ind., was born with Brittle Cornea Syndrome, a type of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome characterized by corneal thinning and loose ligaments in joints. An active child who loved sports, Nuhfer began swimming competitively at the age of seven. She was a valuable member for the Akron swimming and diving program and continued to make her mark in the sport by earning a spot on the United States Paralympic team.
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At the Paris Paralympics, Nuhfer took Silver in the 100 Fly with a time of 1:03.88, finishing just .61 seconds behind the top time. She also competed in the 100 Back, 50 Free and 200 IM for Team USA. She became the first Paralympian to represent the Akron Blue and Gold, and just the third American to compete in any Olympic event for Akron.
Since its establishment in 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year program has celebrated the holistic excellence of graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves both on and off the field of play. To be eligible, nominees must have earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and completed their undergraduate degree by Summer 2024.
The selection process begins with each member school submitting nominees before conferences may forward up to two candidates, provided at least one nominee is a woman of color or an international student-athlete. From there, the NCAA Woman of the Year Selection Committee will select the Top 30 honorees—10 from each NCAA division—which will be announced in October.
The committee will then narrow the field to the top three honorees in each division, announced in November, before the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics determines the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year. The winner will be honored at the 2026 NCAA Convention in January.
Other MAC institutional candidates considered were as follows:
Emily Paupore, Central Michigan, Cross Country / Track & Field
Bridget Dunn, Kent State, Women's Basketball
Claire Danahy, Massachusetts, Field Hockey
Taja Booker, Ohio, Track & Field
CiCi Keidel, Ohio, Softball
Taylor Alt, Toledo, Volleyball
Laura Nicholson, Toledo, Cross Country / Track & Field
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A four-time All-American and 2025 MAC Medal of Excellence winner as the top female student-athlete at Ball State, Rogers won four consecutive MAC multi titles – two pentathlon indoors and two heptathlon outdoors – and advanced to the NCAA championships each time. Over four years at Ball State, she compiled a 3.949 cumulative GPA in interior design. She is one of just three four-time All-Americans in Ball State track history.
Nuhfer graduated from the University of Akron in May 2025 with a 3.77 GPA. The four-year member of the Zips Swimming and Diving program was named to the All-MAC Academic Team the past three seasons while being named to the CSC Academic All-District Team in 2025.
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Nuhfer, a native of Greenwood, Ind., was born with Brittle Cornea Syndrome, a type of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome characterized by corneal thinning and loose ligaments in joints. An active child who loved sports, Nuhfer began swimming competitively at the age of seven. She was a valuable member for the Akron swimming and diving program and continued to make her mark in the sport by earning a spot on the United States Paralympic team.
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At the Paris Paralympics, Nuhfer took Silver in the 100 Fly with a time of 1:03.88, finishing just .61 seconds behind the top time. She also competed in the 100 Back, 50 Free and 200 IM for Team USA. She became the first Paralympian to represent the Akron Blue and Gold, and just the third American to compete in any Olympic event for Akron.
Since its establishment in 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year program has celebrated the holistic excellence of graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves both on and off the field of play. To be eligible, nominees must have earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and completed their undergraduate degree by Summer 2024.
The selection process begins with each member school submitting nominees before conferences may forward up to two candidates, provided at least one nominee is a woman of color or an international student-athlete. From there, the NCAA Woman of the Year Selection Committee will select the Top 30 honorees—10 from each NCAA division—which will be announced in October.
The committee will then narrow the field to the top three honorees in each division, announced in November, before the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics determines the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year. The winner will be honored at the 2026 NCAA Convention in January.
Other MAC institutional candidates considered were as follows:
Emily Paupore, Central Michigan, Cross Country / Track & Field
Bridget Dunn, Kent State, Women's Basketball
Claire Danahy, Massachusetts, Field Hockey
Taja Booker, Ohio, Track & Field
CiCi Keidel, Ohio, Softball
Taylor Alt, Toledo, Volleyball
Laura Nicholson, Toledo, Cross Country / Track & Field
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