INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—University of Hawai'i softball player Kelly Majam has been selected as the Big West Conference's nominee for the 2013 NCAA Woman of the Year award. NCAA schools from all three of its divisions nominated 455 individuals for the prestigious national award which honors graduating female senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves during their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership. Majam was one of a quarter of these nominees who was then selected as their conference's representative.
 
In August, the Top 30 honorees will be announced—10 from each division—on the NCAA.org website. From among those 30 candidates, the selection committee determines the top three in each division and will announce the top nine finalists in September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will then vote from among the finalists to determine the 2013 NCAA Woman of the Year. All of the top 30 will be honored and the 2013 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced, at the annual ceremony in Indianapolis on Oct. 20.
 
Majam finished her softball career this past spring as UH's all-time leader in home runs, doubles, runs scored and walks. She was a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American in 2010 and was named an NFCA all-Region player in three of her four years. Majam earned all-conference honors every season and was the 2010 Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and the 2013 Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. She finished her decorated career ranked in the Top 25 in the NCAA DI in home runs and runs scored.
 
Majam has not only performed well on the field, but she has also been an exceptional student at UH as well. She has been the team's top scholar-athlete since her redshirt freshman season and has been recognized by the WAC and Big West as a scholar-athlete all four years. This past season, she also became just the third UH softball player to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
 
Majam not only rebounded after a season-ending injury that held her out of her true freshman season but she also is a survivor of thyroid cancer that she was diagnosed with a month after returning from UH's amazing run to the 2010 Women's College World Series. Through it all, she never missed a start in her four seasons at UH. Majam has also unselfishly given her time to several community service projects. She has participated in numerous projects not only with her team, but also through her church and individually and has taken her life experiences to inspire others through numerous guest speaker appearances throughout the island. Her faith has remained a strong constant through all of her success and tribulations during her time at the University of Hawai'i.