ATLANTA, Ga. (July 9, 2025) - The Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) has announced nominees for the prestigious Woman of the Year award.
This award recognizes the top female student-athlete for their athletic, academic, service, and leadership involvement during the academic year.
Nominees for the Woman of the Year Award
Paige Kluba, Women’s Soccer, Piedmont University
I remember walking onto Piedmont University's campus on my first day, nervous about who I would become over the next four years. Too quickly I played three years of collegiate soccer and graduated with a double major. As I prepare for my final season competing as a soccer player and graduate student, I have realized the impact soccer has had on my identity. I am ambitious, driven, responsible, hardworking, efficient, considerate, and passionate, none of which I would have become without the trials and tribulations that come with playing a competitive team sport. College taught me the importance of community, dedication, and stepping out of my comfort zone.
My freshman year, there were many options for how to get involved on campus and I did not know what was right for me. From going to a school just over an hour away from home, I knew one thing: I wanted to travel for an internship. After my first collegiate soccer season concluded, I began applying for internships all over the country, landing one in Missoula, Montana. I had never traveled alone before, and I decided to move across the country to a place where I did not know anyone for the entire summer. Taking that risk was the best decision of my life. I returned to school with a deeper passion for pursuing a career in sports and a new confidence in myself and my abilities. I was no longer timid to get involved on campus and immediately got involved in the school newspaper.
One year later, I accepted the position of Editor-in-Chief, being the voice for student concerns across campus. I was then nominated to be the conference representative on the Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where I learned about the world of collegiate athletics while serving my institution and eight others in the Collegiate Conference of the South at the national level. In this role I served as co-chair of the sport ethics and fan behavior subcommittee, focused on creating a positive competitive environment at all Division III sporting events, and attended the NCAA Convention, where I got to be a part of real change in collegiate athletics.
The following summer I accepted another internship across the country, taking yet another chance. I returned to Piedmont with a love for collegiate athletics and a desire to make an impact on the lives of student-athletes. Serving my community by sharing their stories through the student newspaper and sharing concerns and ideas across my conference to Division III SAAC was beyond fulfilling, and I am blessed to be able to continue to serve in both capacities. I look back at my freshman year, and how terrified I was to take a risk. Now I know the value of being willing to take a risk to make a difference on a campus, conference, and national level. My experiences in collegiate athletics made me confident and more than capable, and I cannot wait to continue to face the unexpected.
Caroline Preston, Women’s Soccer, Asbury University
Throughout my time at Asbury, I was challenged in many ways, both athletically and in my community. As a young student, I was ambitious and drawn to leadership roles. I worked hard, and by my sophomore year, I was named captain of the women’s soccer team and had accepted a resident assistant position. I dove into both sides of campus life, eager to learn and to grow.
Getting to know and lead the women living in my residence hall allowed me to grow in my leadership, problem-solving, and listening skills. It taught me the value of deep connection and how meaningful relationships shape our lives when we walk alongside others.
As a three-year captain on the women’s soccer team, I was challenged to be positive in tough environments, give 100% daily, and lead with humility. Over time, my mindset shifted to reflect that good leadership often looks like service to others. Through team mission trips devoted to service in Puerto Rico, service projects building furniture for young single mothers, team mentorship groups, team Bible study, and hosting team events, I learned its significance. Watching the program grow, witnessing the many accomplishments throughout my last season, and knowing that I was a part of that story is so meaningful to me.
After 7 semesters, I graduated from Asbury, but I was left feeling that I had more to give to Asbury Athletics and that God had more in His plan for me there. I started my MBA at AU and signed on for a 5th year competing with Asbury Women’s Soccer, and (for the first season since high school) competed on Asbury?s Women’s Track and Field in the spring. After competing nationally at the NCCAA tournament with the Women’s Soccer Team in Orlando, Florida, I had finally played my last college soccer game. After a lifetime of loving the game, I felt so many emotions. My 5th college season renewed my relationship with the game as well as with many of my teammates. I concluded feeling content, knowing that God wasn't done using soccer in my life.
My training didn’t stop there. I found myself in a leadership position once again as I competed with Asbury Track & Field. I qualified for nationals in the 4x1, 4x4, and triple jump, earned all-conference honors, and set several school records. However, I will cherish the relationships and connections that were strengthened throughout these last two seasons, the joy of competing and the opportunity to mentor young athletes in more than one sport, more than any of the recognition I’ve received.
Now, I work full-time as the Assistant Director of Strategic Communications at Asbury University, run my own photography business, and assistant coach for LCA High School Women’s Soccer. I am thrilled to pour into young athletes and mentor them as they prepare for the college soccer scene. I am excited to see how God will use my story to impact others and lead how He desires for me to.
Ellie Jones, Softball, Belhaven University
My experiences as a student, athlete, and leader have shaped the way I approach service to my community and beyond. Through years of dedication to excellence in academics, high-level competition, and consistent service, I have grown into a woman who embodies ideals of a student-athlete such as discipline, drive, and compassion.
Many of my most meaningful opportunities to impact others have grown from my passion for science. At Belhaven University, I served as a mathematics and physics tutor, helped lead our American Chemical Society student chapter, and volunteered at the Mississippi Children’s Museum. These roles allowed me to share my love for the fields of science and mathematics and promote access to quality education. As a Chemistry Research Fellow, I presented research across the southeastern United States, deepening my appreciation for academic opportunity. These experiences reinforced for me what a privilege it is to be an educated woman, in science particularly, and inspired my continued commitment to mentoring and educating young girls.
My athletic career has been one of the greatest opportunities for growth in my leadership capabilities. As a two-year captain of the Belhaven University volleyball team, I stepped into a position that required emotional intelligence,
responsibility, and humility. It was on the softball field however, where I played in four NCAA tournaments, advanced to three Super Regionals, and competed in a national championship where I truly came to understand leadership without a title. Surrounded by strong, self-led women, I witnessed many styles of leadership and learned to lead in my own way. This environment empowered me to grow at my own pace, fostering a deep respect for servant leadership and team-first mentality.
Volunteering as a coach for the Illusions softball organization offered a new perspective on competition. It taught me that sport can be a powerful tool for growth, especially for young girls. Coaching challenged me to demonstrate what it means to compete with class, to lead with character, and to help young athletes discover confidence in themselves. As a coach, I aimed to teach compassion and gratitude in addition to technical skills. Watching their growth has been as fulfilling as any of my personal accomplishments.
Beyond these roles, I’ve also invested in my local Jackson community through food pantry outreach and early literacy work with elementary-aged girls. Each of these service efforts has shown me how to apply my passions for the greater good of a community that has given me so much. I look forward to pouring myself into the community in new ways as I study to become a dentist. I am confident that my experiences as an NCAA athlete will stay near to my heart as I pursue these future endeavors.
These diverse experiences have shaped me into a leader who values excellence, equity, and empathy. Whether I’m in the classroom, on the field, or in the community, I strive to use my platform to empower others, especially young women, to lead with confidence, pursue education, and know that their voice and purpose matter.
Brecca Williams, Softball, Maryville College
From the moment I stepped onto the Maryville College campus, I’ve embraced every opportunity to grow as a scholar, a softball player, and a leader. Each of these roles has shaped how I see the world and how I hope to leave it better than I found it.
I’ve always been drawn to the science of living well. In my academic career, my senior thesis focused on the concept of Blue Zones regions of the world where people live the longest and healthiest lives and explored how these principles can be applied to promote a healthier way of life and improve the American culture. This project deepened my understanding of public health, social, and environmental factors that influence well-being. It also reinforced my goal of becoming a registered dietitian. I hope to work in my community, leading people to live longer, healthier lives through education, access, and support.
Being a collegiate softball player has been one of the most defining parts of my college experience. The game has taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of teamwork. As a senior leader of our team, I worked to build a culture of trust, accountability, and support both on and off the field. I’ve learned how to lead through adversity, how to bring out the best in others, and how to stay grounded in both wins and losses.
Outside of my playing career, I’ve found a passion in coaching a youth travel softball team. It means a lot for me to be able to help lead the next generation of girls as they pursue their dream of playing college softball. Coaching allows me to not only share the technical skills of the game but also to mentor these young athletes through the ups and downs of competition, confidence, and growth. Watching them chase their goals and helping them believe those goals are attainable has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey so far.
Each piece of my journey as a student, athlete, and community leader has shaped my mission to be a force for health, community, and empowerment. I hope to carry what I’ve learned forward into a career where I can make a meaningful, lasting impact, helping people not just live longer, but live better.
ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH (CCS)
The CCS is an NCAA Division III athletic conference that began play during the 2022-23 academic year. The conference features nine member institutions (Agnes Scott College, Asbury University, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University, and Wesleyan College) and sponsors championships across 14 sports. In addition to sharing the member institutions' geographic identity, the name 'Collegiate Conference of the South' is indicative of a shared commitment to academic excellence, which is commensurate with the NCAA Division III philosophy.
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