MILWAUKEE, Wis. (naccsports.org) --- Dominican University basketball player Timiya Ray has been named the recipient of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Woman of the Year award for the 2019-20 academic year, as chosen by the league's Senior Woman Administrators Standing Committee (SWASC).
Each of the NACC's 13 members may nominate up to two female student-athletes for the annual award, provided at least one of the institution's nominees is a woman of color or international student-athlete. The SWASC uses a combination of the following criteria in the selection of the award -- athletic excellence, academic achievement, service and leadership, and personal statement -- and moves the award winner forward as the NACC's honoree for the NCAA's Woman of the Year award.
"The motivation to continue the standard of excellence that I set out for myself was the most difficult part of college for me," noted Ray in her personal statement. "When it is all said and done, no one will remember your 4.0 GPA or how decorated your resume was. What you have done for society and the legacy you are leaving behind is what the masses will memorialize...I knew as an adolescent that I held some type of purpose beyond myself because of my innate desire to want to help others succeed.
"Everything I have put my mind to has been to serve a greater purpose. The music and art I create, the business plans I have, the people I surround myself, the school I graduated from, the food I eat, the products I buy, etc. are all selectively constructed to serve the greater community. I buy from Black businesses because statistically the Black dollar is spent the least amount of time in its community compared to other ethnic communities. I decided to play basketball at a Division III school to exemplify to the ones who look up to me that you can play professionally without going Division I. I am currently initiating discussions with my town's city council to establish Juneteenth as a citywide celebration because it matters to black lives. I advocate for sexual assault and molestation survivors because it is one of the most marginalized crimes to defend in court.
"The ultimate goal in life is to find your purpose and serve it. Therefore, I intend on living every day embodying my purpose. It is humbling to be nominated for a Woman of the Year award based on my character because I do not feel like I am even remotely close to the change I want to see in the world."
The Hammond, Indiana, native was a four-year member of Dominican's women's basketball team, helping lead a Stars program that had gone 3-72 in the three seasons prior to her arrival to a pair of fourth-place regular-season finishes (2019, 2020) and a NACC tournament semifinal appearance (2020).
After being selected to the NACC All-Freshman Team as a rookie, Ray - a team captain and three-time team MVP - finished her career with three consecutive All-NACC First Team honors.
Capping her career as a 2020 WBCA All-America honorable mention, she graduated as Dominican's all-time leader in scoring, rebounds, and blocked shots. Ray also surpassed 1,000 points during her career and ranks fifth on the NACC's career rebounding list.
"We are extremely proud of Timiya," noted Dominican head coach Amanda Parker. "She has made the most of her four years on campus, getting involved in so many different groups and projects. She is well-respected across campus as a leader. Timiya has truly embodied the Division III experience.
"I am excited to see what endeavors lie ahead for Timiya. We wish her nothing but the absolute best. She will truly be missed and is simply irreplaceable."
Ray graduated this spring, accumulating a 3.77 grade-point average while majoring in graphic design with a minor in social media. A three-time Dean's List and four-time Honors List selection, she was also named the recipient of the Dorothy Reiner Mulroy Award given annually to Dominican's senior student of the year. Additionally, Ray was a 2018-2019 ExcEL Scholar and a member of Dominican's chapter of Lambda Pi Eta - the official honor society of the National Communications Association.
Extremely active within the Dominican campus community, Ray was a resident assistant as a senior and a four-year member of both the DU Diversity Council and the campus' Black Student Union, serving as the BSU's social media manager for two years. She also helped coordinate a mental wellness event in conjunction with Dominican's Campus Wellness Center in an effort to build a connection between the Center and the student population, and - during her final two years, served as a mentor coach for The Village - Dominican's leadership development program.
As a junior, she produced a documentary in conjunction with Dominican's Chief Diversity Officer highlighting DU students who are survivors of sexual assault and/or molestation. Ray put her graphic design expertise to further use, both as a freelance designer and as an intern for the Dominican Department of Athletics.
Ray's impact was not limited to the Dominican campus, though. She helped coordinate a Special Olympics event through Gigi's Playhouse in each of her four years, assisted with the women's basketball team's "Bright Pink" breast cancer awareness events, and served as a volunteer coordinator and team member for Jumpstart, which provides an educational curriculum for students in low-income areas.
