BOSTON, Mass. – UMass Lowell women's lacrosse defender Caroline Klim (Wrentham, Mass.) and men's lacrosse faceoff specialist Jack Bird (Buffalo, N.Y.) have been honored with nominations for the 2024 America East Woman and Man of the Year awards, respectively, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon.
 
The honor recognizes one senior male and female student-athlete from each of the conference's nine member institutions. The representatives are selected for having distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in areas like academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.
Klim helped the River Hawk women's lacrosse team soar to new heights in 2024, as a vital piece of the defense that ranked 30th in the nation. A starter in all 18 games this year and a team captain, Klim totaled eight caused turnovers and 15 ground balls en route to helping her team secure a spot in the America East Championship for the first time ever. Off the field, Klim has worked tirelessly in service of others and has served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for three years. Honored for her selflessness with the 2024 UMass Lowell Vinci Award, Klim is the President, Co-Founder and Ambassador of the UMass Lowell Chapter of Morgan's Message, which aims to end the stigma surrounding mental health. Already a registered nurse, she has also been a lead volunteer for the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, a member of the UMass Lowell / Lowell Public Schools Pen Pal Program, and a Read Across America participant, all while pursuing her master's degree in public health.
 
Bird emerged as a premier faceoff specialist for the River Hawks in his senior season. Appearing in all 12 games for UMass Lowell, Bird boasted a .496 faceoff percentage and ranked sixth in the conference with 5.42 ground balls per game. Bird served the community as the co-president of the UMass Lowell Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The 2024 UMass Lowell Boutin Award winner for academic and athletic excellence, leadership and service, Bird has also been a member of the UMass Lowell / Lowell Public Schools Pen Pal Program, and has volunteered to take part in reading days at local elementary schools, the Murkland Elementary School Annual Family Fun Night and as a youth lacrosse coach. Bird is a member of the Student-Athletes of Color Affinity Group, as well. Also a role model in the classroom, the psychology major was named to the university's prestigious Chancellor's List in the Fall of 2023.
 
The 18 total nominees will be narrowed down to three finalists per gender, who will be announced on Wednesday, May 29. The 2023-24 America East Woman and Man of the Year will be unveiled on Wednesday, June 5 at the conference's annual awards dinner.
 
The America East Woman of the Year will then be forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee. The committee will select the top 10 in each NCAA division (I, II and III). From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics (CWA) will vote from among the top nine to determine the 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year.
 
The America East began honoring a Woman of the Year in 2006 and introduced the Man of the Year award in 2015. Kelly Freitas '16 of the UMass Lowell field hockey team was the first River Hawk to ever earn the America East Woman of the Year title, while Christian Lutete '20 became the first River Hawk to win America East Man of the Year.
 
To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in their primary sport by the end of the 2024 spring season, or received their undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2024 term, and have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.50 (4.00 scale).