Megan Parker nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Westminster College track and field thrower graduate Megan Parker (Mercer, PA / Mercer Area) was selected by the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) as its nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year for her outstanding achievements. 

As a senior, Parker helped lead the Titans to win the 2021 PAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship as she was named the Most Outstanding Performer in the Field (the second of her career). She won both the discus and the shot put - her throw in the shot (13.45m) was a new PAC Championship and school record (the previous school mark stood 16 years). Parker also helped lead Westminster to a pair of Indoor PAC Titles (2019 and 2020). At the 2020 PACs, Parker won both the shot put and weight throw, the school's first champion for both events (she also holds the program record in both). She finished her historic career at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships qualifying in the shot put, the first Titan (female or male) in program history to compete in the event at Nationals. During her successful senior season, Parker worked full-time as a registered nurse and went to school full time.  

Parker, who graduated cum laude in nursing, made the Dean's List on multiple occasions, received several academic scholarships, and held leadership positions - including the president of the Student Government Association (SGA) and First-Year Orientation leader. Parker was the student representative on the Westminster Board of Trustees and the Vice President of Philanthropic Service. She was also a member of the Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society, Lamda Sigma Honor Society, UPMC Jameson Student Council, National Social Sorority, and Black Student Union. Additionally, Parker was an American Red Cross volunteer and earned the Rising Titan Award.  

Nationally, 152 conference-level honorees were nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year. Conference nominations are forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year Selection Committee, which identifies the top 10 honorees in each of the three NCAA divisions. From those 30 honorees, the selection committee then determines the three finalists in each division for a total of nine finalists. The Committee on Women's Athletics will select the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year from the nine finalists. At an award ceremony on Oct. 17 in Indianapolis, the Top 30 honorees will be celebrated, and the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year will be named, according to the NCAA. 

For more Westminster Athletics news, go to westminster.edu/athletics.

Written by Nathan LaRiccia, Sports Information Director

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