SCAC Announces 2026 Woman of the Year Finalists

SCAC Announces 2026 Woman of the Year Finalists

SUWANEE, Ga. -- The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference today released the eight finalists for the 2026 SCAC Woman of the Year award. The award recognizes the conference’s senior female student-athlete who has best distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence and service and leadership. Past Winners

Member schools were permitted to submit two nominations if at least one of the nominees was a woman of color or international student-athlete.

This year’s finalists include: Samantha Graham of Austin College, Alison Mueller-Hickler of Colorado College, Josie Leffingwell of Hendrix College, Madelyn Flanery of LeTourneau University, Kendra Humphries of McMurry University, Jessie Wright of University of the Ozarks (Ark.), Trinity Provost of University of St. Thomas (Tex.) and Taylor Vannett of Texas Lutheran University.

To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2026 spring season, received her undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2026 term and had a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).

The 2026 Southern Collegiate Athletic Woman of the Year will be announced later this month.

Scroll below to read a quick bio on each of the eight finalists:

    
Samantha Graham, Austin College
Women's Volleyball

  • Kinesiology major and a Biology minor with a 4.0 GPA 
  • Four-Time SCAC All-Academic Honor Roll (2023-2026)
  • College Sports Communicators Academic All-District (2024)
  • SCAC All-Conference Honorable Mention (2025)
  • SCAC Offensive Player of the Week (2023)
  • Four-Time Austin College Dean's List (2023-2026)
  • Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society (2026) 
  • Bo Miller Award Winner (2026)
  • Sig Lawson Award (2026)
  • Roobuddies mentor at Sory Elementary (2024-2026)
  • Austin College Athletic Training - CSOC (2023-2024)
  • Kimble Hospital Volunteer (2024)
  • Club Texoma Volleyball Club Coach (2023-2025)

     
Alison Mueller-Hickler, Colorado College
Women's Cross Country / Women's Track & Field

  • Environmental Science major with a minor in History with a 3.91 GPA  
  • USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete (2025)
  • Two-Time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Honoree (2024, 2025)
  • Four-Time SCAC Academic Honor Roll Recipient (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
  • Cross Country Team Captain (2025-26)
  • NCAA Division III Outdoor Track Second Team All-American in the 10k, 10th place (2025)
  • NCAA Division III Cross Country All-American, 26th place (2025)
  • NCAA Division III Outdoor Track First Team All-American in the 10K, 7th place (2026) 
  • NCAA Division III West Region Champion and Runner of the Year (2025)
  • SCAC Cross Country Champion and Runner of the Year (2025)
  • Two-Time SCAC Event Champion, 10k (2024, 2026)
  • Four-Time NCAA Cross Country National Championship Qualifier
  • Four-Time SCAC Cross Country Team Champions
  • Four-Time SCAC Cross Country All-Conference Honoree
  • Three-Time All-West Regional Team in Cross Country 
  • Three-Time All-West Regional Team Outdoor, 10k (2024, 2025, 2026)
  • Two-Time All-West Regional Team Outdoor, 5k (2025, 2026)
  • Holds the Colorado College school record in cross country - 5k, Outdoor 10k, Indoor 3k, Indoor 5k
  • SCAC Outdoor Track & Field Team Champions (2024)
  • Two-Time SCAC All-Conference, 5k (2024, 2025)
  • Two-Time SCAC All-Conference, 10k (2025, 2026)
  • Crown Goodman Presidential Scholarship Recipient (2025)
  • Environmental Science Program Department Distinction for completing a thesis (2025-26)
  • Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society (2026)
  • Colorado College Dean's List (2022-2026)
  • Summer Earth Law Course hosted by the Earth Law Center (2025)
  • State of the Rockies, Project Assistant and Lead Student Editor of the Anthropogenic Magazine (2023-2026)
  • Colorado Springs Utilities, regulatory and compliance Intern (2025)
  • Colorado College Residential Advisor - Employee of the Year (2025), Mentorship Award Recipient (2026)
  • SAAC Representative (2023-24); Officer (2024-2026)
  • SCAC Mental Health Conference Attendee (2023)

     
Josie Leffingwell, Hendrix College
Women's Tennis

  • Health Science major with a Psychology minor with a 3.89 GPA
  • Women's Tennis SCAC Elite 19 Award Winner (2026)
  • Two-Time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District (2025, 2026)
  • SCAC Spring Academic Honor Roll (2026)
  • Three-Time SAA Spring Academic Honor Roll (2023, 2024, 2025)
  • All-SCAC Singles & Doubles (2026)
  • Hendrix College President's Medal Honoree (2026)
  • Hendrix Student Impact Award (2026)
  • Mark Sutherland Award for "Unto the Whole Person" embodiment in Health Science (2026)
  • Gentiva Hospice Patient Care Companion Volunteer (2025-26)
  • Hendrix Harvest Fest at Boys and Girls Club Volunteer (2022-26)
  • Volunteer Action Committee and Environmental Concerns Committee Preserve Cleanups (2022-26), Publicist (2024-25)
  • Hendrix Women's Leadership Community, Student Representative (2025-26)
  • New Student Orientation Leader (2023-26); Orientation Coordinator (2025)
  • Hendrix Student Senate (2023-25); Secretary (2024-25)
  • SAAC Representative (2023-24)
  • Women's Tennis Team Captain (2024-26)


Madelyn Flanery, LeTourneau University
Women's Track & Field

  • Kinesiology Major with a 4.0 GPA
  • College Sports Communicators Academic All-America third team (2026)
  • SCAC Elite 19 Award (2026)
  • Three-Time CSC Academic All-District (2024, 2025, 2026)
  • NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete (2025)
  • Four-Time Conference Academic All-Conference (2023, 2024, 2025)
  • Three-Time All-Conference second team (ASC, 2024, 2025; SCAC, 2026)
  • ASC All-Tournament Honors (2024)
  • Three-Time ASC Hitter of the Week
  • LETU Program Career Record for Steals (151)
  • LETU Program Career Record for Runs Scored (134)
  • Softball Team Captain (2026)
  • LETU FCA President (2026)
  • LETU FCA Leadership Team (2025)
  • Special Olympics Volunteer (2025, 2026)
  • LETU Women In Sports Events (2025, 2026)


Kendra Humphries, McMurry University
Women's Track & Field 

  • Kinesiology Major with a 3.95 GPA
  • SCAC Women's Field Athlete of the Year (2026)
  • Four-Time SCAC Champion (Shot Put, 2025, 2026; Javelin, 2025, 2026)
  • NCAA Division III All-American (Shot Put, 2026 - first SCAC All-American in women's shot put)
  • SCAC Women's Track & Field Team Champions (2026)
  • McMurry Women's Track & Field - Javelin Captain (2024-2026)
  • Four-Time McMurry Dean's List Honoree
  • Delta Beta Epsilon Member (2024-2026)
  • New Student Orientation Team Member (2024-2026)
  • Professional Leadership Program (2024-2026)
  • Psi Chi Member (2025-2026)
  • Alpha Chi National College Honor Society (2024-2026)
  • Honor Professional Leadership Program (2026)
  • WarHawk Classic Volunteer - High School Track Meet (2025-2026)
  • Meals on Wheels Volunteer (2025)


Jessie Wright, University of the Ozarks (Ark.)
Women’s Swimming & Diving

  • A Biology major with minors in Education, Religion, and Chemistry with a 3.94 GPA
  • Three-Time All-SCAC Honor Roll Recipient (2024, 2025, 2026)
  • Three-Time University of the Ozarks (Ark.) President's List Honoree
  • Chi Alpha Sigma Inductee (2025)
  • Operation Christmas Child Volunteer (2024-26)
  • President, Ozarks Biological Society/Tri-Beta Honors Society (2026)
  • SAAC member (2025-26)
  • Team Captain (2025-26)
  • SCAC Swimmer of the Year (2026)
  • SCAC Conference Champion (200 IM, 2026)
  • Three-Time SCAC Swimmer of the Week
  • Six-Time SCAC All-Conference honoree (2026)
  • SCAC Character and Community Female Athlete (2026)


Trinity Provost, University of St. Thomas (Tex.)
Women’s Track & Field 

  • Majoring in Psychology with a 3.57 GPA
  • Three-Time SCAC Champion – 200m (2024, 2025, 2026)
  • Three-Time SCAC Champion – 4x100 Relay (2023, 2025, 2026)
  • SCAC Champion – 4x400 Relay (2025)
  • UST Female Athlete of the Year
  • Two-Time UST Women's Track & Field MVP (2024-25, 2025-26)
  • Three-Time SCAC Athlete of the Week
  • SCAC Record Holder (4x100 Relay Team) 
  • NCAA Convention Delegate (SCAC Representative, Washington D.C.)
  • Five-Time USTFCCCA All-Region Honoree (100m, 2026; 200m, 2024, 2026; 4x100 Relay, 2026; 4x400 Relay, 2026)
  • Student-Athlete Ambassador, Celts to Cure (2022–2026)
  • UST Men’s Basketball National Tournament Operations Team Member


Taylor Vannett, Texas Lutheran University
Softball

  • A Kinesiology (Rehabilitation Science) major with a minor in Biology with a 3.96 GPA
  • Three-Time SCAC Academic Honor Roll Honoree (2023-25)
  • Six-Time Texas Lutheran University President's List Honoree (2022-2025)
  • Three-Time Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete (2023-25)
  • TLU Scholar Female Athlete (2026)
  • College Sports Communicators Academic All-District (2026)
  • Three-Time All-SCAC Honoree (First Team, 2026; Honorable Mention, 2024, 2025)
  • NFCA Second Team All-American (2026)
  • NFCA All-West Region Second Team (2026)
  • 2026 NCAA Seguin Regional All-Tournament Team
  • SCAC Hitter of the Week (4/27/26)
  • TLU Single Season RBI Record Holder (66, 2026)
  • SCAC Character and Community Female Athlete (2025)
  • Two-Time SCAC Conference Tournament Champion (2024, 2026)
  • Four-Time SCAC Regular Season Champion (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
  • DIII World Series 7th place (2025)
  • Four-Time NCAA Tournament Participant (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
  • Texas Lions Camp Counselor and Team Lead (2024-2025)
  • TLU SAAC (2025-26)
  • TLU Admissions Ambassador (2023-2026)
  • Helping Hands President (2023)

 

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