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NE10 Announces Nominees for Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Winners to be Revealed at June League Awards Banquet

NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Northeast10 Conference announced its list of student-athletes nominated for the prestigious 2025-26 Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards on Wednesday.

Eligibility requirements for nomination are that a student-athlete must be in their final year of athletic eligibility, graduating with a degree in May (unless in a master's program), must be enrolled in a full-time course load and must have a minimum final cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better. A committee made up of faculty members and athletic administrators conducts voting for the awards.

Winners are set to be announced at the NE10 Banquet in Colchester, Vt. in June.

ALL-TIME WINNERS OF MALE & FEMALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Both awards have 10 nominees, as each member institution has selected one male and one female student-athlete as their representatives. The 2025-26 academic year marks the 27th time that the NE10 will recognize Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year, as the awards date back to 1999-2000.

Three student-athletes hold the distinction of being their school's nominees for both Man or Woman of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year.  Those three are Jaden Kealey (Pace), Dillon Labonte (SNHU) and Abbie Whitley (Saint Michael's).
 
SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
ADELPHI: Katarina Liedbeck (Tennis) and Connor Singer (Swimming)
AMERICAN INT'L: Chelsea Reeves (Basketball) and Ryan Levis (Lacrosse) 
ASSUMPTION: Rose Connolly (Soccer/Track & Field) and Trent Sargent (Lacrosse)
BENTLEY: Elizabeth Blinn (Volleyball) and Cash McClure (Basketball)
FRANKLIN PIERCE: Erin McIlroy (Lacrosse) and Joseph Acker (Baseball)
PACE: Ciara Collins (Basketball) and Jaden Kealey (Basketball)
SAINT ANSELM: Julie Börschig (Tennis) and Tyler Sears (Baseball)
SAINT MICHAEL'S: Abbie Whitley (Lacrosse) and Rafael Kowal (Swimming)
SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT: Hope Fox (Basketball) and Jake Novoshelski (Soccer)
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE: Meghan Gordon (Basketball) and Dillon Labonte (Cross Country)
 
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 1 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.

Fans can subscribe via this link to follow NE10 NOW on FloSports this season.  The partnership between the NE10 and FloSports works to provide funds back to the athletic departments of the Northeast 10 Conference in support of student-athletes while promoting the league on a national platform.