SUWANEE, Ga. -- In exclusive voting by the Senior Woman Administrators of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, Arden Neff of Southwestern University has been named 2025 SCAC Woman of the Year.
In addition to being recognized as SCAC Woman of the Year, she will be nominated for the 35th annual NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
"Arden showcases the best of what defines Division III athletics,” said Southwestern University Athletics Director Ken Ralph. “She is an outstanding student, talented athlete, and humble leader. It has been a true gift to be able to watch her grow and evolve during her time at Southwestern."
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, community service and leadership.
Neff becomes the third Southwestern University SCAC Woman of the Year honoree and first since 2014 when Lilly Duarte earned a share of the award. Neff joins Duarte and Rachel Thibodeau (2013 honoree) on the esteemed list.
A native of Lake Jackson, Texas, Neff graduated with a 3.98 cumulative grade-point average majoring in Computational Mathematics. She capped off her collegiate career as a First Team All-American in the 400 meter hurdles at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field National Championship in May.
"Arden exemplifies what it means to be a Pirate student-athlete and has been one of the greatest examples of what a student-athlete should be—relentless, tough, and determined both in the classroom and on the track", said Southwestern head track and field coach Kenneth Eboh. "Her leadership and talent have been such a positive influence on making this team what it is, and watching her develop as an athlete and leader throughout her four years has been remarkable."
Neff earned the opportunity to conclude her career on the highest stage after a stellar 2025 campaign including being named the 2025 SCAC Track Athlete of the Year. At the SCAC Championship, Neff defended her title in the 400 meter hurdles marking her fourth victory in the event with an SCAC record time of 1:01.17. Her four victories in the women's 400 meter hurdles make her the 13th woman to win an event four times in a career at the SCAC Track & Field Championships.
At the SCAC Championship, Neff was also part of a Southwestern school record time in the 4x100 relay and was the 2025 SCAC Women's Track and Field Elite 19 Award recipient. She was also named the 2025 Southwestern Female Athlete of the Year leaving the Pirates with seven program records to her name (Indoor/Outdoor 400 meter; I/O 4x400 Relay; 400 meter Hurdles; 60 meter Hurdles; 4x100 Relay).
Neff is a three-time U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region Honoree (2023, 2024, 2025) and was named a USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete in 2024. She balanced serving as a three-time team captain while being a computer science tutor and earning membership in several honor societies.
"This journey has been about more than accolades,” said Neff when describing her collegiate experience. “I’ve faced exclusion and insecurity in both academics and athletics, but I’ve emerged as a woman who builds systems of support where none exist. I occupied space in the field I love most, earning the Grogan Lord Award for top Computer Science student this year. I helped reactivate a dormant honor society and fostered a team culture that thrives on connection. Through hardship, I’ve learned to lead. And in doing so, I've become a woman who creates community.”
Neff was one of six outstanding nominees considered by the SCAC Woman of the Year Committee. The other candidates were:
Kenedie Lane, Women's Soccer, Austin College
Viviana Rivero, Softball, Centenary College
Healy Bledsoe, Women's Basketball/Women's Lacrosse, Colorado College
Linzee Leal, Softball, Texas Lutheran University
Michaela Bosco, Women's Soccer, Trinity University
As the SCAC winner, Neff will be nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, one of the most prestigious honors the NCAA bestows. The award recognizes senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
All conference nominees will be forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will choose the top 10 nominees in each division. From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. From the nine finalists, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics then selects the NCAA Woman of the Year, who will be named this fall.
In conjunction with the changes in the nomination process for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Woman of the Year award was established for the 2005-06 athletic season. Beginning in 2006, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) started receiving conference-designated nominees in lieu of the previous institution- and state-based nomination format.
From 1991 to 2005, each state had a woman of the year honoree and from that group 10 finalists were selected. From the top-10 finalists, the national winner was then chosen. Since 2006, each conference and independent school forwards nominations to the NCAA.
To read about past winners of the SCAC Woman-of-the-Year award, click here.
2024 - Kendall Accetta, cross country & outdoor track and field, Colorado College
2023 - Kate Brush, swimming, Colorado College
2022 - Kelly Jurden, softball, Texas Lutheran University
2018 - Britney Sullivan, outdoor track and field, Trinity University
2017 - Amanda Lochte, softball, Texas Lutheran University
2015 - Emily Jorgens, soccer, Trinity University
2013 - Rachel Thibodeau, volleyball, Southwestern University
