ASTON, Pa. – Immaculata University softball player Holly Schell along with Centenary College's Jelena Markovic have been selected as the Colonial States Athletic Conference's (CSAC) nominees for the 2013 NCAA Woman of the Year award as voted on by the league's athletic directors. The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating student-athletes for their collegiate achievements in service, leadership, athletics and academics.

All conference nominees are forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will choose the top 10 honorees in each division. From among those 30 candidates, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will vote from among the top nine finalists to determine the 2013 NCAA Woman of the Year.
 
Schell becomes the second Immaculata student-athlete in three years to be chosen by the conference as its nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year honor. Immaculata women's basketball player Chelsea McTigue represented the CSAC during 2011.

The softball senior short stop from Sewell, N.J., led the Mighty Macs on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
 
Schell was named the 2013 CSAC Player of the Year along with earning First Team All-CSAC honors for the second-straight season. Schell was named to the Second Team All-CSAC in 2011. She started all 40 games for the Mighty Macs during the 2013 regular season, producing 48 hits, 22 RBI and 33 runs scored, all team highs. She led the team was the highest batting average at .356, while producing seven doubles, three triples and two home runs. She had a .496 slugging percentage and .417 on-base percentage, and was 12-for-14 on stolen base attempts.

Schell finished her standout career starting all 147 games with 186 hits, 80 RBI and 136 runs scored. She hit 27 doubles, 10 triples and seven home runs. She finished with a .497 slugging percentage and .410 on-base percentage. She was also 44-for-55 in stolen bases.
 
Schell earned numerous academic accolades over her career. The Sewell, N.J., native was selected Third Team Capital One Academic All-America Division III by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) this past May. Schell was named to the 2011 CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District 2 Third Team, 2013 Capital One Academic All-District 4 First Team, 2012 and 2011 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Softball Team, named a 2012 and 2011 NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete and is a four-time CSAC Spring All-Academic Team selection.
 
Schell captured the Athletic Department's Most Outstanding Senior Scholar-Athlete Award in 2013. She was a member of the Immaculata University Undergraduate Honor Society since her sophomore year, serving as President during 2011-12, and as Treasurer during 2012-13. She was also part of Who's Who in America's Colleges and Universities, Delta Epsilon Sigma, Kappa Gamma Pi and the Education Honor Society, as well as earned Immaculata Dean's List seven semesters.
 
Schell graduated in May with a degree in Elementary/Special Education with a concentration in English.
 
Off the field, Schell is involved in the following organizations on campus including Student Government Association, Executive President (2012-2013), Student Government Association, Executive Secretary (2011-2012), Programing Board (2009-2012) and Residence Council (2009-2012).
 
Schell is an active part of the community providing personal softball lessons, participating in softball clinics, working with the Cradles to Crayons Service trip for the Student Government Association and taking part in the FYE Service Trip to Philadelphia, Pa. Schell was a student-teacher at Pope John Paul II during the Fall 2012, did her pre-student teaching experience at Pope John Paul II Elementary School in West Brandywine, Pa. , and had field experience at Villa Maria Academy in Malvern, Pa., St. Williams in Philadelphia, Pa., and Owen J. Roberts Elementary School and St. Patrick's in Kennett Square, Pa. She also received special education experience at Devereux Middle School West Brandywine in Glenmoore, Pa.

The NCAA established the Woman of the Year Award in 1991 to celebrate the achievements of women in intercollegiate athletics. This year's award will be presented as part of the 2013 NCAA Woman of the Year event in October in Indianapolis, IN.