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UC Davis Athletics Trans* and Nonbinary Inclusion Policy 

Editor's Note: UC Davis Athletics would like to apologize for using the incorrect pronouns in the original version of this release. Although Hailey is nonbinary, they accepted this nomination because of their life-long participation in women's sports. Athletics would like to thank Hailey for their help in updating this announcement, creating an opportunity for growth and education for everyone.


DAVIS, Calif. — Soccer alum Hailey Rittershofer is one of the Big West Conference's eight nominees for the Woman of the Year award, as announced by the NCAA on Tuesday.

Now in its 30th year, this award honors graduating student-athletes who played women's sports, exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

"I am grateful that UC Davis Athletics nominated me for this award. Although I am nonbinary, and do not identify as a woman, I have played for and grown within women's sports — particularly soccer — my entire life. I am appreciative of the acceptance and steps being made by UC Davis Athletics for trans* and nonbinary athlete inclusion in sports, and hope to see the NCAA adopt more "All Gender" sports so athletes of all identities can be their full selves on and off the pitch," said Rittershofer.
 
"It is always a challenge to nominate just one outstanding student-athlete from a school that is fortunate to have so many extraordinary people exemplifying the best of both academics and athletics. This year it was a clear choice when it came time to select a Woman of the Year candidate," said senior associate athletics director Michael Lorenzen.
 
"Hailey has been an inspirational leader on their team and within the athletic department on every front."
 
Throughout their career, Rittershofer started nearly every game, was named team captain and earned Big West All-Academic Team accolades three times. In addition to becoming UC Davis Athletics' student-athlete liaison with UC Davis' LGBTQIA+ Resource Center, the San Diego native founded Davis Athlete Ally —  one of the department's first student-athlete resource groups that focuses its efforts on LGBTQIA+ inclusion in athletics.

Athlete Ally's most important achievement, through its collaboration with Athletics, was creating the department's transgender inclusion and non-binary policy.
 
"Hailey's contributions to education and advocacy through DAA will leave an indelible impact on our community. By graduating with a degree in biomedical engineering, they are a testament to UC Davis' excellence in scholarship and athletics," Lorenzen added.
 
As an undergraduate researcher, Rittershofer helped design, develop and analyze an optogenetic system for cartilage tissue engineering.

Conference offices will select up to two nominees each from their pool of member school nominees for consideration by the Woman of the Year selection committee. This group, comprised by representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose 10 honorees from each division.

From the Top 30, the Woman of the Year selection committee will determine the top three honorees in each division and announce nine finalists. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will announce the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year this fall.

In 1999, Jamila Demby (outdoor track and field) became the first Aggie to receive this prestigious award. The NCAA bestowed this honor to another two UC Davis student-athletes when the committee selected Tanisha Silas (indoor and outdoor track and field) and Kelly Albin (lacrosse) in 2002 and 2004.
 

 
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley.
 
The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.