CANTON, Ga. - University of Rochester women's track & field recent graduate Megan Bell `25 was named the Region III Female Student-Athlete of the Year by the Division III Commissioners Association (D3CA), as announced on Wednesday.
This prestigious award, now in its fourth year, recognizes graduating seniors who have demonstrated excellence in athletics, academics, leadership, and service throughout their collegiate careers. Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society, serves as the presenting sponsor of these awards.
Earlier this summer, Bell was named the Liberty League Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, adding to a growing list of accolades that includes a multitude of All-America, Academic All-America, All-Region and All-Conference honors. She is also the conference's NCAA Woman of the Year nominee.
Bell graduated from Rochester as a two-time National Champion in the indoor 4x400-meter relay, a 10-time United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTCCCA) First-Team All-American, an 18-time USTFCCCA All-Niagara Region selection and a 17-time All-Liberty League honoree.
This past year, Bell added four All-America honors to her tally, finishing in the top three in the 800 meters at both the indoor and outdoor championships, while helping the 'Jackets to top-eight finishes in both the indoor and outdoor 4x400-meter relay.
One of the most decorated runners in UR program history, Bell holds eight school records, four Liberty League records, four Liberty League Championship records and two All-Atlantic Region Championship meet records, in addition to ranking in the top 15 on the USTFCCCA All-Time NCAA Division III Top-25 Individual Event Rankings in six events, holding the DIII National Record in the indoor 4x400-meter relay.
Bell became just the fourth three-time College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA) in school history earlier this summer, notching her second-straight First-Team nod. In addition to being a three-time CSC Academic All-American, Bell is also a four-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree and a three-time Liberty League All-Academic selection, and was selected as the department's Merle Spurrier Award winner, awarded to the University's top female senior student-athlete each year.
Each NCAA DIII conference is permitted to submit up to two nominees for each gendered award, provided at least one was an international student or from an ethnic minority background. Selection was based on four key areas: academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership, and a personal statement. Voting took place among commissioners within each of the 10 Division III regions.
Regional winners now advance to the national ballot for the D3CA Men's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year and D3CA Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year awards, which will be announced next month.