LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (June 11, 2009) – Lincoln University of Pennsylvania graduate and three-sport standout Jordean Matthews (Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) (Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) has been nominated for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award. (VIEW PHOTO GALLERY)
Matthews, who ran track, played volleyball and softball, received her degree in Mass Communications from Lincoln on May 3rd. Recently, Matthews became the first African-American female in the 54-year history of the ECAC-SIDA organization to receive an award during its annual banquet when she was presented with the distinguished Bill Esposito Award.
“I extend congratulations to Jordean on her accomplishments,” Lincoln University President Dr. Ivory V. Nelson said. “In achieving this distinguished award, Jordean demonstrates her commitment to excellence on the field of athletic competition and in the classroom. Her success brings recognition to Lincoln University's commitment to provide opportunities for students to reach their full potential.”
The NCAA Woman of The Year award honors senior student-athletes for their collegiate achievements in service, leadership, athletics and academics. Matthews best exemplifies these qualities and a commitment to each of the four areas. Matthews is the second Lincoln student-athlete in the last three years to be nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year. Ashley Parker, who is also from Pleasantville and a former teammate of Matthews, was the first female from a HBCU to be named a finalist for the award in 2007.
“It feels good to be nominated for this award,” Matthews said. “I am really excited to be blessed with the opportunity to even be considered for such an honor. Also knowing that someone I grew up with was in the same position I am in two years ago is a good feeling.”
Academically, Matthews won the award for the Highest GPA on the Volleyball team. Matthews also received the Frank DeCosta Endowed Scholarship Award for academic excellence.
A four-time track and field All-American, Matthews holds four school records: indoor long jump, outdoor triple jump, indoor and outdoor 4 x 400-meter relay teams. She was a member of Lincoln's national championship 4 x 400-meter indoor and outdoor relay teams in 2006. She was a member of the Lady Lions track team that finished fifth in the 2007 NCAA Division III championship meet.
“Being a multi-sport athlete gave me the opportunity to build character, manage my time, strive for excellence and become a team player,” Matthews said in her NCAA Woman of the Year statement. “I learned skills that I can carry with me off the athletic field and into the competitive world of journalism and sports management. I've had to overcome so many hurdles in life that I've learned to walk with permanent high knees.”
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Matthews made an immediate impact on the track as a freshman. She enjoyed a memorable ECAC Championship meet by winning the 400-meter dash, finishing second in the long jump and placing third in the triple jump.
In addition, Matthews played volleyball for four years and was team captain as a sophomore and a senior. Matthews was named volleyball team MVP as a sophomore and most outstanding defensive player as a junior. She played in every match this season, leading the Lady Lions with 53 blocks. Matthews was also second on the team in digs (143) and assists (17). Matthews finished her career with 196 blocks, which is believed to be a program mark. Matthews also played softball for two years.
Not only has Matthews excelled in the athletics arena, she has made a significant difference in the community and around campus. Matthews worked in the Sports Information office for four years as a student assistant. Matthews served as the first president of Lincoln's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Lincoln's SAAC chapter was established in 2007.
Among some of her accomplishments as SAAC president, Matthews successfully started a partnership with Brian's House, a non-profit organization that provides a broad range of human services to people with special needs and challenges, in which Lincoln student-athletes and some of the residents interact with each other at least once a semester on Lincoln's campus.
Matthews worked at Camp Joy, an affiliate of Brian House's in Schwenksville (Pa.). Lincoln student-athletes spent a weekend at Camp Joy from November 7-9, 2008. She organized clothing and can food drives during home basketball games.
She was the historian of the Caribbean Students' Association, a member of Higher and Better Movement, Big Sister Little Sister and the sports editor of Lincoln's student newspaper, the Lincolnian, her sophomore year. In addition to interning with NBC-40 in Linwood, NJ, Matthews also assisted at the NCAA Division I men's basketball championships in Philadelphia during March and worked at the Penn Relays.
“I am very delighted that Lincoln University's Athletics Department continues to 'Advance the Legacy' by mentoring young ladies like Jordean who meet the qualifications to be considered for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award,” Lincoln Director of Athletics Dianthia Ford-Kee said. “Throughout her tenure at Lincoln, Jordean has distinguished herself as a student scholar, a woman of service and an outstanding student athlete. Although Jordean will compete against many outstanding young ladies for this honor, she is Lincoln University's NCAA Woman of the Year.”
All nominees will be forwarded to the Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will choose the top 10 nominees in each division. From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the Committee on Women's Athletics (CWA) will vote from among the top nine to determine the 2009 NCAA Woman of the Year. The top 10 honorees and the nine finalists from Divisions I, II and III will be honored and the 2009 NCAA Woman of the Year winner announced at a dinner in Indianapolis on October 18, 2009.
Founded in 1854, Lincoln University is the first historically black institution of higher education and its graduates include such luminaries as Thurgood Marshall, the first African American justice of the United States Supreme Court, and acclaimed poet and author Langston Hughes. Lincoln University is nationally regarded for producing African Americans with undergraduate degrees in the physical sciences.
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