CLAREMONT, Calif. - Cooper McKenna of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's water polo team was nominated by the SCIAC for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award for the Class of 2024 in a vote of the league's athletic directors, the conference announced today. 

McKenna is one of two nominees from the SCIAC, along with Alex Turvey of the Pomona-Pitzer swimming and diving team, who advance through to national consideration. The top 30 (10 from each division) will be chosen by a national committee before the nine finalists are announced later this year. 

McKenna graduated from Claremont McKenna in May with a perfect 4.0 GPA in biology and served as her class valedictorian. She was a three-time first-team All-American for the women's water polo team, while helping the Athenas to back-to-back appearances in the USA Water Polo Division III National Championship. 

Out of the pool, McKenna tutored local low-income high school students in math through the non-profit organization Uncommon Good, and served as a first-year guide at Claremont McKenna. She was also active in the ROTC program at CMC, serving as a Battalion Public Affairs Officer and in the ROTC's mentorship program. She also was involved with science research at the Keck Center and the Chandrangsu Lab, while interning at the UCSC Center for Agroecology.

The NCAA Woman of the Year was established in 1991 and honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college athletes from all three divisions.