Castleton's Courtney Chadburn Named NAC Woman of the Year
The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) is pleased to announce that Courtney Chadburn of Castleton State College has been selected as the winner of its inaugural Woman of the Year award in a vote of the league's athletic directors. A four-year standout women's soccer player at Castleton, Chadburn will be honored at a home event during the 2012-13 academic year.
"Rarely do we see an athlete who achieves what Courtney has throughout the past four years within our conference," said NAC Commissioner Julie Muller. "To begin her career as Rookie of the Year and go on to be recognized as Player of the Year in each of the next three seasons is remarkable. Paired with her commitment to service in her community and her outstanding academic record, Courtney was the top pick of the NAC Athletic Directors."
Chadburn is a four-time NAC All-Conference first team honoree in addition to her Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year accolades and her teams appeared in each of the last three NAC finals, earning back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. She set program records in points (213), goals (86) and assists (41), leading the conference in points and goals in each of her four seasons, while owning the top spot in assists in 2008 and 2011.
"Courtney is the perfect role model and has been the face of our program," said Castleton Head Coach Chris Chapdelaine. "Not only was she a great player, teammate and student, but she was also the smartest player I have ever had the privilege of coaching. She elevated the way we played by out-thinking the competition. She put our program on the map and set the bar for future players. I am extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her and am very excited to have her join our coaching staff next fall. We are constantly looking for players like her but truth be told I don't know if we will ever find one that has impacted our program and Castleton the way she did, and continues to do."
Chadburn's list of accolades is long, and includes a NSCAA All-American Third team selection, as well as an ECAC New England Offensive Player of the Year honor in 2011. She is a three-time ECAC All-Region selection, as well as a four-time NAC All-Tournament selection and 2011 Tournament MVP. On campus she has twice earned Castleton's Sharon Brown Memorial Award given annually to the female athlete who relates well to peers and coach, shows desire to learn and excel, demonstrates dedication, persistence, and team leadership. And, in her final year was named the winner of the inaugural Castleton Female Athlete of the Year award.
"Courtney is truly one of the most talented athletes, male or female, to compete in the history of Castleton's athletic program," said Castleton Director of Athletics Deanna Tyson. "With her athleticism, academic gifts, and commitment to community service she is the perfect role model for all of our female student athletes. Castleton will be very fortunate to keep her on board next year as a graduate assistant as she will be a tremendous asset to the future of the women's soccer program."
In addition to her on-field accomplishments Chadburn graduated with honors and was lauded as the NCAA Division III CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-American of the Year in women's soccer in addition to spending three years on the NAC All-Academic team. Her time at Castleton was marked by four Dean's List (3.50 GPA or better) designations as well as six President's List (4.0 GPA) accolades in her ten semesters. Her continued work with the Special Olympics and Girls on the Run gained her distinction as a positive female role model on campus, and in the community.
Chadburn will be put forward as one of two conference representatives in the NCAA's Woman of the Year award. The NAC Woman of the Year award is modeled after the NCAA program, which honors graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
New England College's Amanda Naimie, who finished second in the conference voting, will also be nominated for the national award as the NCAA allows conferences to recognize two nominees if at least one of the nominees is a woman of color or international student-athlete. Naimie was a two-sport standout at NEC earning all-conference honors in both field hockey and women's lacrosse this past year, and was named the NAC's Women's Lacrosse Player of the Year.
"It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to send forward two nominees for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award this Year," Muller said. Both Courtney and Amanda have accomplished much during their tenure at Castleton and NEC. Recognized for their accomplishments on the field of play and in the classroom, they are the epitome of what is good in college sport."