INDIANAPOLIS--- Finalists vying for the 2011 NCAA Women of the Year award will join local youth and other participants to complete a legacy garden outreach project this Saturday, Oct. 15 at 3 p.m. in White River State Park. The NCAA will announce its 2011 Woman of the Year at an awards dinner on Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Indiana Convention Center.

Hosted by the NCAA, the outreach project features seven finalists for the award; additional female student-athletes who were named Top 30 honorees in Sept.; youth representing Girls Inc. of Franklin/Johnson County, Harvest Girls International, Inc.  and Kids’ Voice of Indiana; and members of the Indianapolis Police Athletic League. Participants will mulch gardens, plant flowers and restore specific areas of White River State Park to an attractive condition.  

The legacy garden project allows the finalists and Top 30 honorees an opportunity to interact with Indianapolis youth and be role models to them while working to beautify the park. The NCAA hosts a community activity in Indianapolis with the Woman of the Year finalists and Top 30 honorees prior to the awards dinner each year.  

The NCAA’s Woman of the Year Award, now in its 21st year, honors female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academic achievement, athletic excellence, community service and leadership.  Every NCAA member institution is encouraged to honor its top graduating female student-athlete by submitting her name for consideration. Each conference assesses the eligibility of its members’ nominees and selects at least one student-athlete to represent the conference.  The NCAA recognizes the conference honorees in August, then narrows the selections to a Top 30 list and a Top 9 list before announcing the NCAA Woman of the Year at the annual awards dinner.