Husson's Dore Named 2024 NAC Woman of the Year
WATERVILLE, Maine – Husson University senior softball standout Kenzie Dore (Holden, Maine) has been chosen as the 2024 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Woman of the Year, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
Selected by a vote of the conference’s Athletics Directors and Senior Woman Administrators from a list of 10 deserving nominees, Dore is the first Husson University athlete to claim NAC Woman of the Year honors. She will be presented with the award during the 2024-25 academic year, date TBD.
A four-year starter for the Husson University softball program, Dore is a two-time NAC Player of the Year selection, three-time NAC Tournament Most Valuable Player honoree and four-time All-Conference pick and has twice claimed National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region accolades. Following her freshman season in 2021, the infielder garnered NFCA First Team All-America honors and was named as the NAC Rookie of the Year and the NFCA National Freshman of the Year.
Dore also excelled off the diamond, as the Criminal Justice Administration major was Husson’s 2024 Class Valedictorian and secured a pair of College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honors, including First Team acclaim in 2022, with four NAC All-Academic Team nods. She also earned the 2024 Distinguished Military Graduate Award, was a three-time ROTC National Scholarship awardee, and collected the University’s School of Legal Studies Award of Excellence and College of Business Award of Excellence in 2023. Dore, who led the Eagles to four consecutive NAC Championships, capped her distinguished career with the 2024 NAC Softball Senior Scholar Athlete award.
Dore logged many hours of community service as well, including time at Army ROTC recruiting events (2020-present), youth softball clinics (2019-present), and the Maine Principal’s Association Basketball Tournament (2018-21). The 2024 softball team captain also served as a member of the Maine Army National Guard (2020-present), as a Unit Operations Leader (2020-24), and was a Class Leader for the United Technologies Center (2018-20).
“My leadership experiences from the softball field and ROTC has helped guide me to becoming a Second Lieutenant in the Maine Army National Guard, where I am able to serve the community, the State of Maine, and the United States of America,” Dore added. “ROTC and the National Guard have allowed me to pursue my dreams of becoming a Blackhawk Helicopter Pilot for the MEDEVAC Unit in Bangor. I’ve been able to mentor young girls on and off the softball field, and now I’ll be able to mentor and guide younger soldiers. I’m forever proud to serve and lead in my community.”
For her career, Dore hit .418 (176-421) with 115 runs, 41 doubles, 14 triples, 19 home runs, 137 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. She graduated in May as the Eagles’ all-time RBI leader and is tied for the program’s career home runs mark.
The NAC Woman of the Year award is modeled after the NCAA's Woman of the Year program, which honors graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
All conference-level nominees will be forwarded to the Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will choose the top 10 honorees in each division. From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the three finalists in each division. Finally, members of the Committee on Women’s Athletics will select the 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year from among the top nine finalists.
Later this fall, nominees who advance to the national Top 30 will receive a congratulatory letter from the NCAA. Top 30 honorees and nine finalists will be announced on NCAA platforms. The 2024 Woman of the Year will be named at January's NCAA Convention.
ANNUAL NAC WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS
2024 – Kenzie Dore, Husson University
2023 – Abby Minott, UMaine-Farmington
2022 – McKenna Brodeur, UMaine-Farmington
2021 – Fern Calkins, UMaine-Farmington
2020 – Syndey Adams, Maine Maritime Academy
2019 – Katie Taylor, Thomas College
2018 – Evelyn Miller, Colby-Sawyer / Laura Pulito, UMaine-Farmington
2017 – Rachel Quaye, Colby-Sawyer / Allison Granata, New England College
2016 – Rachel Bombardier, Castleton
2015 – Meghan O’Sullivan, Castleton
2014 – Alyssa Leonard, Castleton State
2013 – Cailin Bullett, Colby-Sawyer
2012 – Courtney Chadburn, Castleton State