INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA announced North Carolina Central University women’s tennis senior Olesya Palko, an All-MEAC performer who graduated with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, as a nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.
Palko is one of 214 NCAA Division I nominees for the award that honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
A native of Kyiv, Ukraine, Palko wrapped up her NCCU tennis career (2010-13) with an overall singles record of 52-31 (.627 winning percentage) and a doubles record of 48-31 (.608 winning percentage). She was named to the All-MEAC Second Team and MEAC All-Tournament Team during her junior season in 2012. As a senior this past season, she helped lead the Lady Eagles to the most match victories in program history.
Palko also shined academically as a biology/pre-med major with a minor in chemistry, graduating in May with an unblemished 4.0 GPA. Among numerous awards, she received the university’s second-highest honor, the University Award for Academic Excellence, along with the Award for the Highest Academic Performance by a Senior in the NCCU Department of Biology.
During her college career she performed internships as a research assistant at both NCCU and Duke University with a focus on cancer research.
Palko also found time to make a difference in the community by volunteering to aid animals, the homeless and health issues. From NCAA
