Shamrock Awards: 2023 female scholar athlete of the year

By Hailey Steidle Staff Writer

Every year Mercyhurst nominates 8 female athletes who have spent their time working tirelessly on and off campus to depict strength, intelligence and care for their community to become the Female Scholar Athlete of the Year.

This year athletes from the Women’s Rowing, Ice Hockey, Soccer, Water Polo, Basketball, Field Hockey, Softball, and Lacrosse had the chance to win this prestigious award.

The eight nominees this year were Nicolette Arnold, Jillian Blas, Allison Dejidas, Hanna Good, Madison Hoover, Autumn Kearny, Ena Nystrom, and Rachel Plumley.

The Female Scholar Athlete of the Year is announced each year at the Shamrock Awards, an end of the year awards banquet for all Mercyhurst Student Athletes. This ceremony celebrates the hard work and dedication of all of our student athletes including the Female Scholar

Athlete of the Year.

Arnold is a senior in Data Science and Intelligence Studies who has upheld a 4.0 GPA over her four years here on campus. She has been named a PSAC Scholar-Athlete and has made it to the Dean’s List a multitude of times.

Arnold has also spent her free time volunteering at Give Kids the World Village, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania, and Rise Against Hunger.

Blas is a senior in Sports

Science who has achieved a 3.909 GPA over her 4 years spent on the Mercyhurst Field Hockey team, spending the last year as captain. She has spent her free time these past 4 years as a member of SAAC, Alpha Epsilon Delta, and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. Dejidas is a senior in Sports Medicine who has upheld a high GPA of 3.804 throughout 4 seasons on the Mercyhurst Softball team. Across these past 4 years she played in 140 game.

Hoover is a senior in Early Childhood Education and Special Education who has upheld a 3.972 GPA over the last 4 year. She spends her free time working as a volunteer with children in the Special Olympics as well as Diehl Elementary School and the Booker T. Washington Center.

Kearny is a senior in Intelligence Studies who has upheld a 3.813 GPA over her 4 years on the Mercyhurst Rowing team. She has spent her free time as a member in the Russian Club, National Security Club, and interning with the FBI.

Nystrom is a senior in Business Management who has upheld a 3.835 GPA over her 4 years on the Women’s Ice Hockey team.

Recently she has earned the titled of CHA Goaltender of the Year and the HCA Goaltender to Watch list.

Plumley is a senior in Psychology who has upheld a 4.0 GPA over her 4 years spent on the Women’s Lacrosse team.

During her free time off the field she participated in the Student Advisory Psychology Committee, SAAC, Psi Chi, and Morgan’s Message.

During the Shamrock Awards ceremony, Mercyhurst awarded Jillian Blas with this prestigious award. Congrats Jillian!