INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Radford University's Chelsea Kelley, a graduated senior softball player, has been recognized by the NCAA as a Woman of the Year nominee. The 2011 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award winner was one of 142 female student-athletes across Divisions I, II and III to be selected by their athletic conferences and independent institutions.

The Woman of the Year Award honors female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academic achievement, athletic excellence, community service and leadership. 2010 Woman of the Year Justine Schluntz was an NCAA swimming champion and 2010 Rhodes Scholar from the University of Arizona.

Recently named the Big South Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, a first for a Radford female student-athlete, Kelley maintained a 3.94 grade point average and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in sports medicine. She was accepted into Radford's physical therapy doctoral program and has already begun classes towards her post-graduate degree.

In June, Kelley was named the 2011 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award winner and was presented the trophy in front of a packed house at the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. In garnering that accolade, she earned the distinction of the first Big South student-athlete to garner this award after being the conference's very first finalist in any sport.

A member of Radford's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Kelley has represented the school at the Big South's leadership conference and is involved in numerous charitable activities, including Special Olympics and the Ronald McDonald House.

Kelley's exploits on the softball field played a major role in the Highlanders winning three consecutive regular-season championships as well as their first two Big South Tournament Championships in 2009 and 2010. In doing so, the lefty twirler also helped Radford reach its first two NCAA tournaments, including an appearance in the 2010 NCAA Regional Final against eventual national semi-finalist Georgia.

The 2009 Big South Pitcher of the Year and first-team all-region selection, Kelley concluded her career ranked among the top six in Radford history including saves (T-2nd – 7), wins (3rd – 58), appearances (4th – 125), starts (4th – 85), strikeouts (5th – 292), innings pitched (5th – 498.2), ERA (5th – 3.03), complete games (6th – 31) and shutouts (T-6th – 6).