Sept. 5, 2002

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - Katie Willett (Biddeford, Maine), a four-year member of the field hockey team and 2002 graduate of Providence College, has been named NCAA Woman of the Year for the state of Rhode Island. The announcement was made by the NCAA on Wednesday, September 4.

This prestigious award honors outstanding female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics and community leadership, and have completed their collegiate athletics eligibility. More than 340 student-athletes were nominated for this year's award by their colleges and universities.

The state-level winners include 27 student-athletes from Division I, 12 student-athletes from Division II and 11 student-athletes from Division III. These student-athletes participated in 16 of the 19 sports in which women compete for NCAA championships, including basketball, field hockey, rowing and soccer.

A national winner - the NCAA Woman of the Year - will be selected by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics from among 10 finalists. The finalists will be announced in mid-September. The national winner will be announced at the 2002 NCAA Woman of the Year dinner November 2 at the Westin Hotel in Indianapolis. This is the 12th year that this award, one of the top honors the NCAA bestows, will be given.

Willett, registered a career high in goals (two), assists (three) and points (seven) during her senior season, as the Friars' starting centerback and team captain. Willett was named 2001 STX/NFHCA First Team Regional All-American and First-Team All-BIG EAST for her efforts. Willett also earned NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad honors for the third time in her career. She also earned BIG EAST Academic All-Star recognition for the fourth time in her career, and was named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District I Women's At-Large Team.. In 1999-00 she earned GTE Academic All-District Fall/Winter At-Large Second Team honors, and was a Second Team All-BIG EAST selection during her sophomore and junior seasons. In 1998, Willett was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team.

"As a student-athlete I always strived to find a balance between academics, athletics and community involvement," Willett said. "It is a great honor to receive this award because it recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in these areas. I am grateful to the people around me, especially those at Providence College who helped me to succeed and taught me the importance of finding this balance."

Willett graduated from Providence College in 2002, Tau Pi Phi, with a bachelor's degree in marketing. She currently works as an intern with the NCAA. A native of Biddeford, Maine, she is the daughter of Kathleen and Michael Willett.