Virginia Aguilar, a Waimea High School and Hardin-Simmons University graduate, was one of 30 semifinalists named Monday for the NCAA's annual Woman of the Year Award.

The award goes to an athlete who has graduated after excelling on the field, in the classroom and in their community. The list will be pared to nine finalists next month and the winner will be announced Oct. 27.

Aguilar was a nominee from Division III's American Southwest Conference. The 2003 Waimea graduate is a two-time ASC West Division Volleyball Player of the Year and ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American with a 4.0 grade point average and a degree in computer science. She plans to return to the Texas school for her MBA.

Aguilar holds Hardin-Simmons' records for kills, blocks, service aces and total points scored.

Other nominees include Wisconsin ice hockey player Sara Bauer, who played on back-to-back national championship teams; Georgia swimmer Claire Maust, part of the Bulldogs' 2005 NCAA championship team; Tennessee's Felicia Guliford, a member of the 2005 national champions in indoor track and field; and pole vaulter Angela Aguilar of Abilene Christian, who was on the Division II national champions in indoor and outdoor track.

Ten nominees were academic All-Americans and 12 competed in more than one sport. None had a GPA lower than 3.83 and at least three graduated with double majors.

Amanda Weinmann of Division III St. Mary's University in Minnesota earned degrees in biophysics and engineering physics, while Jamie Wolf of Clarion University in Pennsylvania majored in molecular biology and biotechnology. Indiana cross country and track star Jessica Gall earned her degrees in political science and journalism.

Last year's national winner was Anne Bersagel, who competed in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field at Wake Forest.

Georgia swimmers have won the award a record three times. Kristy Kowal and Kimberly A. Black won it in 2000 and 2001, respectively, while the late Lisa Ann Coole, won the award in 1997.