Tayla Woods Earns Prestigious Honor
April 26, 2016 | Women's Volleyball
Former Oregon State University standout student-athlete Tayla Woods has been selected as one of three recipients of the National Association of Collegiate Women's Athletics Administrators' Rising Star honor.
Woods, who lettered from 2011-14 on the Beavers' volleyball team, is one of the most accomplished student-athletes academically in OSU history. She was twice selected to the Pac-12 Academic First Team, a 2013 Academic All-District selection and received the prestigious Tom Hansen Pac-12 Medal in 2014 for scholarship, athletics and leadership. She earned her master's in education from Oregon State in 2016 after graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2014.
She has served as an administrative intern in the Beavers' athletic department for the last two years.
“I am very thankful for all of the opportunities I was given while working at Oregon State that allowed me to experience the administrative side of athletics,” Woods said. “My goal is to pursue a career in life skills initiatives within an athletic department. I'm thankful for Marianne Vydra (Deputy Athletic Director) and Kimya Massey (Senior Associate Athletic Director) for being especially influential in my life and encouraging new learning opportunities.”
Woods, who helped guide the Beavers to a 2014 “Sweet 16” NCAA appearance, recently accepted an internship within the athletics' life skills department at Texas A&M.
“She is a special person in that her dedication and work ethic surpasses many young individuals,” Vydra said. “She will be a rock star wherever she lands.”
The Corvallis native and Santiam Christian High School graduate was the state's prep Player of the Year in volleyball and basketball as a senior, where she lettered in both sports all four years for the Eagles. She also earned the prestigious Johnny Carpenter Award for the state's top amateur female.
Woods is one of three individuals to receive the recognition, joining Julia Bell (Mount Holyoke College), and TaRonda Randall (NCAA).
“NACWAA is thrilled to honor these outstanding emerging and aspiring athletics administrators,” Patti Phillips, NACWAA chief executive officer, said. “Their passion and commitment is not only inspiring, but also contagious. We cannot wait to stand alongside these bright, young women as they grow and excel in their athletic careers.”
The Rising Star Award is presented to undergraduate or graduate students, interns or volunteers who aspire to a career in intercollegiate athletics. The award recognizes involvement and leadership roles on a campus, in a conference office or organization and in the community.
Award recipients will also receive scholarships to attend the 2016 NACWAA National Convention, October 9-11 in Kansas City, Mo. The National Convention is the premier conference for women working in intercollegiate athletics, offering unparalleled leadership and professional development, industry training and networking opportunities.
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