Glastonbury's Jo Clair Nominated for 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year Award

A news release from Tufts University:

Johanna (Jo) Clair of Glastonbury, a 2014 graduate of Tufts University, has been nominated by the NESCAC for the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership. The award has been given annually since 1991.

The 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced on October 19 in Indianapolis, Indiana. More information on the award and a list of previous winners can be found here.

Clair has established herself as the one of the top players in a storied Tufts softball program, while excelling in the classroom and in the community. Graduating with a degree in psychology, she earned the title of CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-American after being named to the Academic All-District First Team this spring.

Clair, a two-year captain, played on two NCAA Division III softball championship teams and three NESCAC championship teams that went 134-14 over the last three seasons.

The three-time All-American and four-time First Team All-NESCAC selection earned NESCAC Player of the Year recognition this past spring during one of the most prolific performances in school and conference history.

Clair capped off her stellar career by pacing the league in runs (59), hits (68), home runs (24), RBI (69), total bases (156) and slugging percentage (1.006).

This season, she also led the NCAA in home runs, ranked among the top players in the country in several other statistical categories and was named the Co-Most Outstanding Player at the 2104 NCAA Championship.

She owns nearly every Tufts single-season and career batting record, including a .866 career slugging percentage, 219 RBI, 178 runs and 67 home runs, which ranks third all-time among Division III players.

On campus, Clair served as Tufts Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Vice President for two years and was an important contributor to Tufts' Fan the Fire initiative, which strives to integrate the athletic department in the campus and surrounding communities through outreach events.

During the 2013-14 academic year, she coordinated events that raised awareness and funds for the Alzheimer's Association, Step Up!, the American Heart Association and Coaches vs. Cancer.

Clair was a member of Tufts' Relay for Life Team Development Committee for two years and a three-time participant in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, which supports Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, raising funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research.

In 2011, she raised $1,100 for the event. Clair served as a head and peer leader for the Tufts' pre-orientation program for incoming first-year students. She participated in service trips to Louisiana and Mississippi over her collegiate career.

This year she took part in the NESCAC Women's Coaching Symposium. Clair also served as the athlete representative for the Tufts Board of Advisors.

Recognized for her extensive leadership and service on campus and in the greater community, she received the 2014 Tufts Alumni Senior Award.

Clair was awarded the Tufts Presidential Award for Citizenship and Public Service, which recognizes students who have shown an exemplary commitment to active citizenship and civic engagement, and the Alex Elias Memorial Prize Scholarship, which is awarded to the junior or senior who displays high standards in community service activities and in athletic and scholarship pursuits.

She was also selected as a member of the Tufts Honos Civicus Society for Active Citizens.

Editor's note: Although the NESCAC announced the nomination last month, this news release from Tufts University has a lot of information in it that Glastonbury Patch readers might want to know.