CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Graduated senior Ellie Shahbo of Harvard field hockey was named one of thirty finalists for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award, the NCAA announced today. 

Selected from a record-breaking 619 nominees, and then narrowed down to 164 - 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.

Shahbo, an Academic All-America and Academic All-Ivy honoree, volunteered her time at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter since she arrived on campus in 2018, and more recently worked with the American Red Cross. One of the most decorated players in program history, Shahbo was a team captain and a standout goalkeeper for the Crimson – the first Harvard player to record 50-plus wins in net (52 in her career). She was a Second Team All-American and four-time all-Ivy League selection while leading the Crimson to the national semifinals of the 2021 NCAA Championships. Shahbo is one of two Ivy League representatives. 
The NCAA encourages member schools to honor its top graduating female student-athletes each year by submitting their names for consideration for the Woman of the Year award.

Then, conferences assess each nominee's eligibility and select up to two conference nominees. All conference nominees are forwarded to the Woman of the Year selection committee, which chooses the top 30 honorees – 10 from each division, with nine finalists announced in September. From those nine finalists, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will then choose the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year.