The Fulbright Program is known throughout the world for recognizing and honoring academic achievement, but Fulbright grantees are just as likely to excel in other areas.

Anne Bersagel, a former cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field student-athlete at Wake Forest University, is the 2006 NCAA Woman of the Year. Ms. Bersagel received a Bachelor degree from Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC, majoring in Political Science and Economics. She is currently studying Political Science at the University of Oslo, Norway.

Bersagel received the award -- one of the most prestigious that the NCAA bestows --; at the 16th annual NCAA Woman of the Year Awards Dinner on October 28. The award honors female student-athletes who have completed their eligibility and demonstrated academic and athletics excellence, as well as community service and leadership.

An economics and political science double-major who graduated with honors in December 2005, Bersagel received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and was named an NCAA Walter Byers Scholar in 2006. As a Colorado state finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, Bersagel was a four-time Edwin G. Wilson Wake Forest Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Bersagel also received the Weaver-James-Corrigan ACC Postgraduate Scholarship and the ACC Award for Excellence in Academics and Athletics. She was a decorated student at Wake Forest, receiving numerous honors including being named the Most Outstanding Political Science Student and the Judicial Student of the Year in 2005.

In addition to excelling in the classroom, Bersagel was often a winner on the cross country course and the track. A three-time ACC cross country performer of the week recipient, she holds school records in outdoor track in three events -- 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. She was also named the national female athlete of the week by the US Track Coaches Association.

When Bersagel took a break from studying and competition, she found time to serve in leadership positions in the Wake Forest University Chapter of Amnesty International, was the Vice President of the Tassel Chapter of Mortar Board and served on the Editorial Board for the Wake Forest University Philomathesian. She was an intern for the Faith in Action national office and the United States Department Embassy in Oslo. Bersagel served as the Wake Forest political science representative for the Student Conference on United States Affairs and was the U.S. representative to the Danish Atlantic Youth Seminar.

Additionally, Bersagel was the U.S. representative on the global economics trade panel at the NATO Youth Summit on Anti-Terrorism. She also served as a Headstart volunteer and a volunteer tutor for the Forsyth County public schools.

"As female student-athletes, we owe a tremendous debt to the women who came before us and paved the way for participation in collegiate athletics," Bersagel said in her personal statement on her nomination form. "While at Wake Forest, I was fortunate to work with Coach Annie Bennett, a former NCAA champion and currently one of the few female head coaches of both a men's and women's NCAA Division I track and field program. Through her example, I learned to be more assertive in my racing tactics and approach each competition with calm confidence. That sense of empowerment could not help but spill into the rest of my life as well."

For more information about the NCAA Woman of the Year award and past winners, go to http://www.ncaa.org/awards/woty/.

Anne Bersagel most recently competed in the  World Road Running Championships 20K in Debrecen Hungary, on October 8. The 20 km course ran through the streets of Debrecen, which is known as home to one of the oldest universities in Europe. Summing up the women's race, Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands was pushed hard by Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania before pulling away from the 2005 World Half Marathon champion in the last 5 km. Kiplagat was timed in 1:03:21 for a two second win over Tomescu-Dita as they both bettered the World record for 20 km.

Team USA's Annie Bersagel (Minneapolis, Minn.) led the U.S. to a tenth-place team finish, running 1:11:25 for 40th-place. Teammate Ann Alyanak (Bellbrook, Ohio) quickly followed running 1:11:48 for 41st and Erin Nehus (Indianapolis, Ind.) completed the team scoring in 42nd, running 1:11:51.
Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.) finished 43rd in 1:11:56 and Sonja Friend-Uhl (West Palm Beach, Fla.) was 48th in 1:12:41. Kenya won the women's team title with a cumulative time of 3:15:55.