Miami Gardens, Fla. – For her work with St. Thomas University's student-athletes this past academic year, Maria Abdel has been selected as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Student Clearinghouse Registrar of the Year for the 2024-25 academic year.

A Bobcat for over 30 years and 2002 graduate with a Master of Science in Management and Graduate Certificate in Human Resources, Abdel works alongside STU's Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Jan Bell to review and approve each team's initial eligibility certificate plus addenda. St. Thomas enters the 2025-26 academic year with 33 athletic programs and its seventh-consecutive year of record enrollment.

"With the addition of every sport, Maria meets the challenge," Bell said. "She absorbs the additional workload with the same attention to detail and professionalism that she has always performed."

"She demonstrates the character, leadership and integrity needed to contribute to the culture of any organization she associates with," Associate Vice President for Athletics Bill Rychel said. "We are lucky to have her at St. Thomas University and wouldn't be able to coordinate the large number of student-athlete academic eligibility without her."

"In order to have an excellent athletic program, students must prioritize academics first," President David A. Armstong, J.D. said. "Maria is one of the key people at STU who works tirelessly to keep the academic and eligibility process in order. Thanks to the NAIA for recognizing her and the Registrar's Office with this well-deserved honor."