HPU’s Christine Rickert named nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year

HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University track & field All-American Christine Rickert has been nominated for the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, the organization announced Tuesday.

Rickert is one of 517 honorees (the most ever in the history of the Woman of the Year program) and one of 231 Div. I selections for the accolade. From here, the 517 honorees will be trimmed to 30 finalists (10 from each NCAA Division) in late summer. That group then will be narrowed to nine in September, before a winner is crowned in October.

Now in its 26th year, the Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

“Christine is an outstanding candidate for this prestigious NCAA honor,” HPU assistant athletic director/Senior Woman Administrator April Wines said. “Throughout her four years at High Point University, Christine has proven to be an exceptional leader while contributing substantially in competition, academics and in the community. Her future is extremely bright and we are so thrilled she is an alumna of this institution.”

Rickert recently wrapped up an elite track & field career for the Panthers in 2016. One of the most decorated athletes in the school’s Div. I history, Rickert garnered second team All-America honors in 2016 after placing 12th in the javelin at the NCAA Championships in Eugene. She qualified for the event after garnering a third-place finish and earning all-region accolades at the NCAA preliminary in Jacksonville.

A three-time Big South javelin champion, Rickert claimed the league crown in May, set a new meet record (50.18m, 164-7) and became just the second javelin thrower in league history to win three-straight conference crowns. She broke her own league record at April’s VertKlasse Meeting with a mark of 52.47m (172-2) and won three javelin crowns during her senior campaign.

She was named the Big South Field Athlete of the Year in 2014 and is a six-time Big South Field Athlete of the Week. A four-time NCAA preliminary qualifier, Rickert was a three-time HPU team captain.

She is ranked in the top-24 in the United States as her HPU career comes to an end and will participate in the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials in July for a chance to qualify for the Rio Summer Games.

An outstanding student, Rickert graduated summa cum laude in May with a 3.94 GPA and a triple major in international relations, political science and Spanish. A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, she was named the Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year in May and is a three-time Big South All-Academic Team selection.

A four-time High Point University Presidential Scholar, four-time Millis Scholar-Athlete and four-time Big South Presidential Honor roll selection, Rickert is a member of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society, the Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society, the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society and the Sigma Iota Rho International Relations Honors Society. The Lancaster, Pa., native also is part of the HPU Order of the Lighted Lamp Honor Society for Leadership.

What’s more, she has an excellent chance to be named HPU’s third ever female Academic All-American when the list is announced later in June.

In addition to her well-rounded career at HPU, Rickert also has made a lasting impact on the High Point city community during her four years in the Purple & White. She is an active member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Society of America and has served as mentor to 10-year old High Point resident Brandasia for the past three years. The Lancaster, Pa., native also has volunteered at the Latino Family Center of Greater High Point and worked closely with the HPU ESL program to help the University’s international students improve conversational skills and adapt to life in America.

Also within High Point University, Rickert is the vice president of HPU’s Diversity Club and is a Spanish and writing tutor with the school’s academic services and writing center departments.