ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Laura Persico, a recent Nazareth graduate and a member of the volleyball and softball teams, has been named the 2009 Empire 8 Conference Woman of the Year.  Persico will represent the conference in national balloting for the NCAA Woman of the Year.  The honor is given to a student-athlete who excels in academics, athletics, leadership and service.

“Laura is a tremendous representative of the 'student-athlete',” said Nazareth Athletic Director Pete Bothner.  “She was a very successful two-sport athlete, a tremendous student, and was involved in other areas of the college as well.  Her presence at Nazareth over the past four years has made us a better community.”

“It's an incredible honor to be selected as the Empire 8 Woman of the Year,” Persico said.  “This conference is filled with unbelievably talented student-athletes and to receive this award is very exciting.  Nazareth College and the Empire 8 have given me an opportunity to excel and succeed as a student-athlete, a leader, and an active participant in the community.”

In volleyball, Persico led the Golden Flyers in kills each of the past three seasons and earned all-conference honors each time, while adding first-team all-region and honorable mention All-America honors in 2007.  She ranks among the all-time leaders in kills (third with 1,655), digs (seventh with 1,116), and service aces (10th with 155) and led the team to back-to-back NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship appearances in 2006 and 2007.

Persico holds virtually all of the school's hitting records in softball with a .373 career batting average, 17 home runs, and 87 runs batted in over three years.  A two-time all-conference selection, Persico added 30 doubles, 10 triples, and 75 runs scored.

She excelled off the playing surface as well and was honored with the 2009 Robert A. Kidera Scholar-Athlete Award, given to the top graduating senior.  Persico, who represented Nazareth at the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Conference, was also the recipient of the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) Scholar-Athlete Award in 2008.  The Communication and Rhetoric major carried a 3.75 grade point average and served as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative on the Empire 8/NCAA Division III Strategic Initiatives Grant Committee.

“Laura embodies all facets of this honor,” said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano.  “In addition to her accomplishments as a student-athlete and in the classroom, she has been a great leader and role model for her peers.  Laura is a shining representative of Nazareth College and Empire 8 and is incredibly deserving of this recognition.”

The top 10 honorees per NCAA division will be announced in August followed by the top three honorees per division in September. The top 10 honorees and the nine finalists from Divisions I, II, and III will be honored and the 2009 NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced at a dinner in Indianapolis on Oct. 18.

Five other student-athletes were recognized for their commitment to academics, athletics, leadership, and service and were nominated for Empire 8 Woman of the Year consideration: Ashley Brinkman of Hartwick College, Frances Ente of Ithaca College, Andrea Gunsalus of St. John Fisher College, Jessica LeClerc of Utica College, and Melanie Volk of Stevens Institute of Technology.