The NJCAA contributed to this release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 30, 2023) - Indian River State College swimming & diving student-athlete Gina Miller has been named the 2022-23 Betty Jo Graber Female Student-Athlete of the Year by the National Junior College Athletic Association.
A native of South Africa, Miller excelled as a member of the Pioneers' women's swimming & diving program for two seasons. Miller found great success both in the classroom and in the pool. During her career as a Pioneer, Miller established new NJCAA records in the 500 and 1000 Yard Freestyle. She was a member of six NJCAA national championship relay teams and won seven individual titles in the NJCAA Swimming & Diving Championships over the course of two seasons.
Miller received Co-Swimmer of the Meet at the 2022-23 NJCAA Swimming & Diving Championships and placed first in the 200, 500, and 1000 Yard Freestyle events. As a freshman, Miller was the Freestyle national champion in the 200, 500, and 1000 Yard Freestyle events. Miller was also a strong performer in the classroom during her time at Indian River State, maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout her career as a Pioneer.
Miller will continue her academic and athletic career at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she will continue to pursue her studies in Psychology.
"Indian River State College is extremely excited and honored that Gina Miller, a member of our women's program, has been selected as the 2023 Betty Jo Graber award winner," stated Scott Kimmelman, Indian State River College Athletic Director. "To have an Indian River athlete honored by the NJCAA selection committee for such a prestigious award validates not only Gina's efforts to excel at the highest levels academically and athletically but our mission as a department to instill core values of excellence both on the playing field, or in this case, the swimming pool, and in the classroom. We are proud of her accomplishments and take pride in knowing we have been a part of her growth as a student-athlete."
NJCAA Athletic Accomplishments
- 2022 & 2023 NJCAA Female Swimmer of the Year
- 13x NJCAA All-American
- 13x NJCAA College Swim Coaches' Association of America (CSCAA) All-American
- 13x NJCAA National Champion
- Broke the NJCAA National Record in the 500 Freestyle in 2022
- Broke the NJCAA National Record in the 1000 Freestyle in 2022
- NJCAA First Team All-Academic
- 2022 and 2023 Southern Conference All-Academic Team honors
- 2022 and 2023 FCSAA / Region VIII All-Academic
- CSCAA Academic All-American
- IRSC President's List honoree
Miller is the eighth FCSAA student-athlete to receive the Betty Jo Graber Award. Previous recipients include:
- 2018: Amy Woodham, Chipola College, softball
- 2013: Vanessa Benke, College of Central Florida, volleyball
- 2012: Tyryshia Centeno, Indian River State College, swimming & diving
- 2011: Mitsuki Katahira, Daytona State College, golf
- 2003: Natasha Morehead, Gulf Coast State College, basketball
- 1998: Kaunda Williams, Gulf Coast State College, basketball
- 1997: Nicole Weed, Daytona State College, softball
Miller will be honored during the NJCAA Foundation Awards event, held on Thursday, June 8 at the Hilton Charlotte University Place at 6:30 p.m. The event will recognize the NJCAA Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, the Lea Plarski Award winner, the Champion Award winners, and the Difference Maker Award winner, in addition to the 2023 class of the NJCAA Hall of Fame.