By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

 SALEM, Ore. -- Hope Duenas (Sr., Covina, CA/Covina HS), a track and field discus and hammer thrower, was nominated by Willamette University for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Willamette also nominated swimmer Niki Kates (Sr., Truckee, CA/Forest Charter School) for the award (see separate story). Willamette was the only member of the Northwest Conference with two nominees. George Fox University women's lacrosse player Jennifer Burke was named NWC Woman of the Year.

The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating college student-athletes who have completed their eligibility and have distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service, and leadership. This year, a record total of 605 student-athletes were nominated for the award. There were 259 nominees from NCAA Division I, with 126 nominees from NCAA Division II and 220 nominees from NCAA Division III. Willamette competes in Division III.

Each nominee submitted a statement about her life as a student-athlete. Portions of the statement from Duenas are included in this article as quotes.

Duenas placed 11th in the discus at the 2019 NCAA Championships and finished 20th at the 2018 championships. She won Northwest Conference discus titles in 2018 and 2019 and was third in 2017. Duenas was third in the hammer at the 2019 NWC Championships.

"Growing up I never understood what it really took to apply, attend, and graduate college," Duenas said. "I didn't know how I was going to do it but I knew I was going to get there. I am a first-generation college graduate. My father immigrated from Mexico and my mother received a high school diploma.

"I want to emphasize that the term first-generation college student is not just a buzzword. There are so many things that we have to figure out all on our own because we are the first to do it," Duenas explained.

In the only meet of the 2020 season, Duenas had an NCAA Division III leading mark of 138' 3". She was All-West Region three times and ranks second all-time at Willamette in the discus with a throw of 148' 11. Overall, she was All-NWC five times.

Duenas recently graduated from Willamette with a major in Biology. In addition to being nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, she also was nominated for the Honda Inspiration Award, which goes to a student-athlete who has overcome obstacles and succeeded. Duenas is the daughter of Alberto Duenas and Janette Wallace.

"In the time that I attended Willamette University, I wasn't just a student-athlete, I was a trailblazer," Duenas said. "I didn't realize the impact I was already making on the world until it registered in my mind that my niece, Alyssa Marie Martinez, was following in my footsteps. She went to the same middle and high schools as me, played the same sports as me, and was mentored by one of the most important people in my life, Nick Masi. She broke school records, graduated with district honors, and this fall she will be attending the University of La Verne. I raised her on account of her mother suffering from a methamphetamine addiction and her father not being in her life.

"My bravery to attend college and accomplish something my parents didn't have the opportunity to do empowered me to have a positive impact on the world before I ever even knew it," Duenas added.

Duenas gained a lot from her years at Willamette. She also gave a lot back through her involvement as a student and an athlete. Along the way, she served as a member of the executive board of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

"The four years I spent at Willamette University opened my eyes and mind to so many new experiences and opportunities that I never even knew were an option for me," Duenas said. "I didn't know I had the ability to be the second-farthest discus-throwing female in the 178-year history of my institution or have the potential to challenge for a DIII national championship.

"I never knew I had the accolades that would qualify me to earn an internship as a lab assistant at Michigan State University or be invited to serve as a science teacher to high school students in the Peace Corps," Duenas commented. "My experience at Willamette University wasn't just about the time that I spent there, but also the people I met along the way. It took me a while to understand my own potential and capability in life, but thanks to people like Soren Sorenson, Emma Coddington, Matt McGuirk, Leslie Shevlin, and Karen Wood, among many others, I was able to become my own individual."

Assistant Coach Sorensen noted that Hope improved more than anybody he has ever coached, primarily because she has a drive that few people possess. He said that Duenas is a humble, hard-working, and extremely caring person who can overcome anything.

"I have faced challenges in my life that have made me angry and bitter, but I think the most empowering thing that my experience as an individual at Willamette University taught me was the ability to love myself and therefore show love to others," Duenas noted. "Because of my experience, I want to make a difference ... I want to be kind, I want to show compassion. I want to intentionally show others the potential they have because at a certain point in my life I couldn't see mine."