Illinois Wesleyan University soccer player Lauren Knaack was named the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin's (CCIW) 2012 "Woman of the Year" for 2011-12 on Monday (June 25) and will represent the CCIW as a nominee for the 2012 NCAA "Woman of the Year" award.

Knaack was chosen through a voting process conducted by the CCIW senior woman administrators and faculty athletics representatives. She was chosen among a group of five other nominees including North Central's Mallory Carr (golf), Wheaton's Jaime Orewiler (soccer/track & field), Augustana's Kayla Radloff (soccer), Carthage's Sarah Thompson (track & field) and North Park's Sarah Wilson (soccer).

Knaack, who will be honored by the CCIW with a plaque to commemorate this recognition, is the fourth straight Illinois Wesleyan female athlete to earn the league's disctinction and the fifth Titan winner in the seven years of the award.

The NCAA "Woman of the Year" award honors senior female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
Knaack's nomination will be forwarded to the NCAA selection committee, which will pick the top 10 winners in each of the three NCAA divisions. From among those 30 honorees, the committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the Committee on Women's Athletics will vote from among the top nine to determine the 2012 NCAA "Woman of the Year". The top 10 honorees and the nine finalists from Divisions I, II and III will be honored and the 2012 NCAA "Woman of the Year" winner will be announced at a dinner in Indianapolis Oct. 14.

A biology (pre-medicine) major from McHenry, Ill. (McHenry West HS), Knaack graduated magna cum laude in April with a 3.75 grade-point average and is an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient. She was a member of the Beta Beta Beta Honor Society, the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and a member of the Dean's List all four years.
She was an active member of the community, working as an Emergency Department volunteer at OSF St. Joseph Hospital, as well as volunteering for the Public Health Brigade, Global Medical Brigade and the McLean County Habitat for Humanity.
She also took part in several campus activities including the Illinois Wesleyan Habitat for Humanity, Trick-or-Treat for canned goods and the Making a Difference with a Dollar Campaign that helped raise awareness
and fundraised for the Lamu Center of Preventative Health in Lamu, Kenya.

A first-team all-conference performer as a senior, Knaack was a team captain in 2010 and 2011 and an NSCAA All-Region performer. She was also a member of the Titans' first CCIW regular season title in 2008 and their first CCIW tournament title in 2010. She was also named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's (NSCAA) All-Academic Team, and was a CCIW Academic All-Conference member. In addition, Knaack received academic all-district honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

CCIW "Woman of the Year" Winners

2011-12 – Lauren Knaack – Illinois Wesleyan (Soccer)
2010-11 – Elizabeth Ave Maria – Illinois Wesleyan (Cross Country/Track & Field)
2009-10 – Lindsey Haines – Illinois Wesleyan (Golf)
2008-09 – Nicole Spear – Illinois Wesleyan (Golf)
2007-08 – Sarah Richardson – Wheaton (Soccer)
2006-07 – Meghan Voiland – Augustana (Track & Field)
2005-06 – Melinda Sprague – Illinois Wesleyan (Cross Country/Track & Field)