MELBOURNE, Fla. - Julia Ingram from the University of Tampa is honored as the 2020-21 Sunshine State Conference Woman of the Year. The Summa Cum Laude graduate with a double major becomes the first Spartan to win the award.
Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Athletic Communication Directors, and Faculty Athletic Representatives from each of the league's 11 member institutions chose Ingram from a pool of nominees. Candidates were scored based on the NCAA's Woman of the Year guidelines.
Ingram was a four-year letter winner and the captain of Tampa's women's basketball team. She started 40 games for the Spartans during her career, including all 27 the last two seasons, while also leading her team in minutes played per game. During her tenure, the Spartans compiled a 70-25 record and won an SSC regular-season title in 2019-20 and the 2020-21 conference tournament title.
The Clearwater, Florida native gave Tampa's Class of 2021 Commencement speech after graduating this Spring with a 4.0-grade point average and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and History. Tampa honored her with the Freddie Solomon Community Service Award, the Melissa Vanderhall Spartan Cape Award, and the Beiser Award for Outstanding Senior in History in 2020-21. She rounds out her time at UT as a four-time SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree and a two-time NACDA ADA Academic Achievement Award winner.
At UT, Ingram was a member of the Honors Program, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Alpha Theta National History Honors Society, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honors Society, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She served on the university's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for four years, eventually working as the group's president. Additionally, she worked as a Political Science Department Student Assistant and served in UT's student government.
Ingram is currently serving as a United States Congressional Intern and will attend Law School in Fall 2021. She will also represent the SSC and Tampa as the league's 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year nominee.
SSC Woman of the Year Award Winners
2020-21: Julia Ingram, University of Tampa
2019-20: Addison Cantor, Florida Southern College
2018-19: Kristina Ortiz, Lynn University
2017-18: Emily Santoli, Florida Southern College
2016-17: Marie Coors, Saint Leo University
2015-16: Rebecca Matthews, Lynn University
2014-15: Linda Fritschken, Barry University
2013-14: Ellen Chambers, Lynn University
2012-13: Lauren Boudreau, Nova Southeastern University
2011-12: Grace Collins, Barry University
2010-11: Barbara Pocza, Barry University
2009-10: Maria Garcia-Austt, Nova Southeastern University / Lydee Benoit, Eckerd College
2008-09: Shyla Rider, Barry University
2007-08: Virginia Davenport, Saint Leo University
2006-07: Kelly Morrisroe, Eckerd College
2005-06: Greta Trotman, Barry University