LATHAM, N.Y. – Jena Vanskiver '26 (Fallston, Md./Fallston) was named the recipient of the United East Conference Senior Scholar-Athlete Award for Field Hockey as announced by the league office Thursday morning (Feb. 12). This award recognizes a senior who truly represents the student-athlete model by performing in competition, in the classroom and around the community.
"Exceptional is the word that comes to mind when I think of Jena as a student-athlete. She is motivated and self-disciplined on and off the field, but it is her principles not found on stat sheets or grade reports that make her an outstanding player for our program," Interim Head Coach
Allyson Osborne said.
Criteria for the award are as follows:
- A student-athlete must have a senior or graduate student class standing.
- A student-athlete must be at least in his or her second year of competition at their current institution in any sport.
- Must be a leading contributor to a team's success throughout the duration of his or her career.
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Evidence of active leadership and community service involvement throughout collegiate career.
Fourteen (14) Seahawks have earned the United East Senior Scholar-Athlete Award in their respective sport since the award's inception during the 2022-23 academic year. Vanskiver is the first field hockey player to garner the Senior Scholar-Athlete honor.
A team captain this season, Vanskiver boasts a 3.99 cumulative GPA as a political science and public policy studies double major and Spanish minor.
She is a member of both Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, and Chi Alpha Sigma, the national college athlete honor society for juniors and seniors
. Vanskiver is a four-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Scholar of Distinction as well as a four-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member.
Vanskiver has also been named to three conference Fall All-Academic Teams while receiving the 2024 Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship for excellence in social sciences.
On the field, the 5-3 defender finished her career as a four-time All-Conference selection, picking up First Team honors as a senior. She was also selected as the 2025 United East Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the NFHCA All-Region IV First Team. Vanskiver leaves the program as the all-time leader in defensive saves with 21.
Vanskiver has been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) since 2023, serving as the secretary last year and this year serving as the SAAC President. She is also the Class of 2026 Vice President.
Within the community, she works as an English as a Second Language tutor in conjunction with Spanish classes at St. Mary's College. Vanskiver also volunteers at local elementary schools to promote fitness and wellbeing.
Past United East Senior Scholar-Athletes from SMCM
- Jack Nelson '26 – Men's Soccer (2025)
- Jena Vanskiver '26 – Field Hockey (2025)
- Giselle Harris '25 – Women's Tennis (2025)
- Devon Gorel '25 – Men's Tennis (2025)
- Quinnten Hatfield '25 – Men's Lacrosse (2025)
- Michael Wade '25 – Men's Cross Country (2024)
- Ariana Lecouras '25 – Women's Cross Country (2024)
- Betsy Robey '24 – Women's Outdoor Track & Field (2024)
- MC Mortimer '24 – Women's Lacrosse (2024)
- Quentin Pastore '24 – Men's Cross Country (2023)
- Stacie Lally '24 – Women's Cross Country (2023)
- Hannah Gorel '23 – Women's Tennis (2023)
- Lily Davison '23 – Women's Lacrosse (2023)
- Liam deLone-Bellsey '23 – Men's Soccer (2022)
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