The following is a spotlight on Nora Anderson, St. Bonaventure University's 2023 nominees for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award. The Atlantic 10 institutions nominated a total of 17 outstanding student-athletes for the award (READ MORE). The A-10 will spotlight each of the institutional nominees.

Nora Anderson Profile

Nora Anderson was the 2023 St. Bonaventure Letter Winner Award recipient that is given to the top female student-athlete. She also was an A-10 Rookie of the Week selection as a freshman.

Anderson graduated suma cum laude and was a member o the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her four years in the brown and white. She also earned Dean's List accolades all eight semesters, was named to the 2022 A-10 women's lacrosse All-Academic team. He national honors include selection to the 2023 CSC Academic All-District At Large Team and earning IWLCA Academic Honors in 2022.

Anderson has volunteered, along with her family, to raise money for the Special Olympics. She also has helped fundraise for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease awareness and she joined her Bonnies teammates in a Walk for Cystic Fibrosis. She sent a portion of 2020 volunteering as a youth lacrosse coach at a summer camp at her high school.

What would you consider the top moment of your college career?

The top moment of my college career was making it to the A-10 tournament with my team this past season. It has been something we’ve been working towards all 4 years I’ve been at Bonaventure and to finally achieve that my senior year was amazing.

Who or what has been your biggest inspiration or motivation?

My biggest inspiration is definitely my mom. She has shown me what it’s like to be kind, hardworking, and overall, a great person. If it wasn’t for my mom guiding me and encouraging me to follow any aspirations I’ve had in life, I would not be the person I am today. She has been and always will be someone I look up to and strive to be like.

What hard goals have you set and/or accomplish?

One goal I have for myself at the moment is to complete my master’s program in one year. This means taking a full course load during this summer and next summer. Balancing that with my summer jobs, friends, and family is a tough thing to do but I am eager to complete my masters and start working towards a job in inclusive childhood education.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of graduating Summa Cum Laude from Sr. Bonaventure this year. It has not always been easy balancing school work and athletics the last 4 years, so being able to keep up with everything and still put focus into my schoolwork was a big accomplishment.

What Was your favorite class/professor and why?

My favorite professor is Dr. Andrews. She is an education professor at Bonaventure and has been my mentor throughout my undergraduate studies. As an education major, you have to complete student teaching along with other course work and she has always been someone I could turn to for advice and guidance. She has played a huge part in my success as a student and I am sure even throughout my career in the future, she will continue to be someone I can go to.

What are the top three things on your bucket list?

• One place I really want to visit is Amsterdam to see their famous tulip festival.
  
• I want to run a half marathon.
  
• I would love to see the Northern Lights in Norway.
  

What do you think is the most important issue for student-athletes today?

I think the most important issue for student-athletes today would be mental health. This has been focused on more in the past few years, but there is still a lot that can be done to improve this area. Balancing everything as a student-athlete is a lot on top of everything else in people’s lives. I think all the staff involved in athletics need to make their athlete’s mental health a priority.

Q & A