BURNABY, B.C. -- One of the most academically decorated athletes Simon Fraser University and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference has seen, Emily Chilton capped off her standout career by earning the school's nomination for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year award. The athlete from New Westminster, B.C., was one of 10 nominees from GNAC schools, with two chosen by the conference to be part of its official nomination.
 
The NCAA Woman of the Year program was established in 1991 and honours the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college athletes from all three divisions. To be eligible, a nominee must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and must have earned her undergraduate degree by Summer 2023.
 
Chilton was an NCAA Division II All-American in 2022 as part of SFU's fourth-place distance medley relay team. She was All-West Region in the indoor mile and the DMR in 2022 and in the indoor 4x400-meter relay in 2018. Chilton made the All-GNAC Cross Country Team in 2021 and was all-conference in the DMR in 2022.
 
She was a part of GNAC-winning teams in cross country and indoor track and field during the 2021-22 school year. Chilton also helped SFU win the West Region in cross country the same season.
 

 
A history-maker, she is the only woman in history to win the GNAC Faculty Athletic Representative Scholar-Athlete Award six times, and earned 10 academic all-conference nods over her career in cross country and track and field.
 
In 2022, she was named a College Sports Communicators Div. II Third Team Academic All-American in women's track and field/cross country. She and teammate Alison Andrews-Paul became the first women to earn Academic All-American recognition in school history. Chilton made the CSC Div. II All-District Team in track and cross country this year.
 
"I came to SFU to grow among inspiring people, and in particular, inspiring women," said Chilton, a five-time USTFCCCA Div. II All-Academic Athlete and a member of seven USTFCCCA Div. II All-Academic Teams. "My coach, Brit Townsend, and my teammates have brought out my best. I am honoured to be recognized for my achievements, and also acknowledge I wouldn't be where I am without the strong female role models I met while at SFU. I sincerely hope that I set a strong example for others as well."
 

Chilton was SFU's Nadine Caron Top Scholar-Athlete and a member of the President's Honour Roll four years in a row (2019-22). In 2022, she won the school's Bill DeVries Top All-Around Senior Athlete award. Chilton completed her biomedical physiology degree with a 4.24 grade point average.
 
From September 2019 to May 2023, she served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was its Vice-President for the 2021-22 season. The SFU SAAC was twice named a finalist for the NCAA Award of Excellence (2021 and 2022) with Chilton as a member.
 
She was a Varsity Learning Coach for four years at SFU, and also volunteered in several other tutoring positions.  Since December 2018, Chilton has been an Athletics and Club Fit Volunteer/Coach with Special Olympics BC.
 
"Running for SFU has been an immense privilege," Chilton said. "Sport taught me courage and resiliency, while also bringing incredible happiness into my life. I leave SFU motivated to pay it forward, helping people with diverse abilities to enhance their health and quality of life. Movement is medicine for the mind, body, and spirit; it will continue to be a priority in my personal and professional life moving forward."
 
Chilton continues to dedicate her life to helping others. In the fall, she will begin medical school at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.
 
For the latest information on SFU Athletics, visit athletics.sfu.ca. You can also find us on social media at @SFU_Athletics.
 
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