Kenai's Audrey Coon, who led Western Washington to three consecutive Division II national rowing titles, is among 30 finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.
The award, established in 1991, honors senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
Coon was among a record 452 nominees, a group that included UAA basketball player Tamar Gruwell, who isn't among the finalists.
As a finalist, Coon receives an all-expenses paid trip to Indianapolis to attend the Oct. 17 awards dinner. Before the dinner, the list will be paired to nine, three each from Divisions I, II and III.
Coon led Western Washington to three consecutive NCAA Division II National Championships between 2007 and 2009 and was a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-American her final season.
During her three years seated in the varsity eight shell, the Vikings did not lose to a non-Division I school.
Academically, Coon maintained a 3.96 (4.0 scale) grade-point average, earning a degree in Spanish and elementary education and graduating magna cum laude in December.
Coon was recently named novice rowing coach at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore. She also is working part-time with special-needs children at the Park and Recreation Department's adaptive recreation program.