Alva Review-Courier -

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Southern Arkansas University outgoing senior golfer Helle Leed has been chosen as one of two nominees from the Great American Conference (GAC) to continue on in the selection process for the 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year Award as it was announced by the NCAA on Thursday. The other GAC nominee is Ouachita's Kori Bullard (Volleyball and Basketball).

The NCAA Woman of the Year Award is an annual award now in its 28th year and honors graduating female college athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academics, athletics, service and leadership.

A native of Vallda Halland, Sweden, Leed was one of two female student-athletes from Southern Arkansas to be initially nominated and was among a record number of 581 nominees across all three NCAA divisions. In advancing in the processes, Leed is now among a list of 154 total women vying for the prestigious award.

Next up in the award selection process, the Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership will choose the Top-30 honorees – 10 from each division at some point in September.

From there, the selection committee will narrow the pool to nine finalists — with three from each division — in early October. One of those finalists will then be named the 2018 Woman of the Year by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics.

The Top 30 honorees will be celebrated and the 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year will be named at the annual banquet Oct. 28 in Indianapolis.