2025 NAC Woman of the Year Finalists Announced
WATERVILLE, Maine – A total of eight recent graduates from North Atlantic Conference (NAC) institutions have been nominated for the conference's 2025 Woman of the Year award.
In alphabetical order, this year’s nominees are Emily Doten from Husson University, Riann Fortin from Vermont State University Johnson, Anna MacDonald from the University of Maine at Farmington, Kirra Magaña from Maine Maritime Academy, Emma McNally from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Taylor Meacham from SUNY Cobleskill, Julia Reny from Thomas College, and Sage Smith from Vermont State University Lyndon.
The NAC Woman of the Year award is modeled after the NCAA Woman of the Year program which honors graduating student athletes who distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service, and leadership. The NAC also selects a Man of the Year using the same model, nominees for which will be released on June 25. These are the two preeminent awards presented annually by the conference.
Member schools nominate student athletes from their own institution, then NAC athletic directors and senior woman administrators vote to select the Woman of the Year. Scoring for the academic achievement section is based on the undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of the nominee. Scoring for athletic excellence is based on the nominee's honors and accomplishments including awards and championships, and scoring for service and leadership is based on their involvement in campus and community activities and organizations over the course of their collegiate career. Administrators also consider a short personal statement written by each nominee.
The NAC Woman of the Year will be announced in late June and will be honored on her campus during the upcoming academic year. She will also be the NAC nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.
Representatives from the NCAA membership comprise the NCAA Woman of the Year Selection Committee. The selection committee will choose the Top-30 national honorees, including 10 from each division, and then narrow the list to the top-three in each division using the guidelines outlined here. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will use the same criteria to select the winner from the final nine. The top-30 are due to be announced in September, and the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year will be named this Fall.
More information on each of the 2025 NAC Woman of the Year nominees is below:
Emily Doten
Institution: Husson University
Major: Health Science (B.S.) (3.99)
Graduate Degree: Doctor of Pharmacy (3.98)
Sport: Women’s Tennis
Position: No. 2 Singles / No. 3 Doubles
Hometown / High School: Pembroke, Maine / Calais High School
Emily Doten made her mark on the Husson University campus as a four-year member of the Eagles’ women’s tennis team. She earned NAC Rookie of the Year honors in 2021, was a three-time all-NAC Singles selection, and helped lead Husson to two conference championships (2021-2022). In the fall she was selected for the NAC 2024 Women’s Tennis All-Tournament Team and named 2024 NAC Women’s Tennis Senior Scholar Athlete. Her leadership on the tennis court led her to be a three-year captain for the Eagles (2022-2025) and was recently awarded the 2025 Husson Women’s Tennis Eagle Award.
Academically, Doten graduated as the Salutatorian of the Class of 2024 and earned consistent recognition on the President’s List at Husson, was a four-time NAC All-Academic Team honoree and made the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team for women’s tennis this past fall. Doten was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honors Society and has held multiple scholarships for academic excellence, including the Dean Scholarship (2024-2025) and SOP Green and Gold Soaring Eagles Scholarship (2022-2025).
Beyond academics and athletics, Doten was deeply involved in campus leadership and community service, serving as Class Secretary, historian of Rho Chi Society, and was a peer mentor and tutor. She was also a member of the American Pharmacist’s Association and helped with recruitment for Worthy Master-at-Arms of Phi Delta Chi. She has been apart of multiple volunteer programs such as the Ronald McDonald House, Friends of Acadia Roadside Cleanup, and campus clothing donation and animal shelter drives.
Riann Fortin
Institution: Vermont State University Johnson
Major: Education (3.70)
Sport: Women’s Basketball / Women’s Soccer / Softball
Position: Forward / Midfield/Striker / Utility
Hometown / High School: Newport, Vermont / North Country Union High School
From Newport, Vermont, Riann Fortin is a dedicated and accomplished three-sport varsity athlete, competing in basketball, soccer, and softball during her collegiate career at Vermont State University Johnson. As a forward in basketball (2021-2025), utility player in softball (2022-2024), and midfielder/striker in soccer (2021-2024), she has demonstrated versatility and commitment across seasons. She earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors in both basketball and softball, along with All-Conference Honorable Mention and Sportsmanship Team recognition in soccer.
Fortin has maintained a 3.70 GPA as an education major, earning placement on Dean’s List five times and the Vermont State University Johnson President’s List twice. During this past academic year, Fortin completed her 1000 hours of student teaching in preparation for a career in education.
Fortin’s leadership and service extends beyond the classroom and field. She served as a head coach in 2025 for both Girls on the Run and Lamoille High School’s varsity spring basketball team, dedicating over 150 hours to mentoring and youth development.
Anna MacDonald
Institution: University of Maine at Farmington
Major: Special Education (3.86)
Minor: Coaching and honors certificate
Graduate Degree: M.S. Special Education with a low-incidence concentration (4.0.)
Sports: Women’s Cross Country / Women’s Indoor Track & Field / Women’s Outdoor Track & Field
Position: Distance/Mid-Distance
Hometown / High School: Bangor, Maine / Bangor High School
A four-year varsity athlete in both cross country and track & field, Anna MacDonald has earned numerous individual and team honors for UMaine-Farmington. For cross country, she has earned NAC All-Conference First Team honors (2021, 2022, 2024) and Second Team (2023), is a two-time USTFCCCA all-Academic Team member (2022, 2024), and was a key contributor to Farmington earning NAC Runner-up in the 2024 NAC cross country championship. In track & field, she recently helped the Beavers win their first NAC women’s track & field championship (2025) and was a NAC champion in the 800-meter and 4x400 meter relay. In other NAC track & field championships, MacDonald was runner-up in the steeplechase (2023, 2025) and 5k (2025). In addition, her team was NAC Runner-up in the 2024 championship. This past spring, she qualified for the New England Championship in steeplechase and ran the 4x400-meter relay.
MacDonald holds records at Farmington in both indoor and outdoor track & field. She is in the record books for distance medley relay (indoor), 4x800-meter relay (indoor), 4x400-meter relay (indoor, outdoor) and steeplechase (outdoor). MacDonald’s athletic accomplishments led to her being a finalist for the University of Maine at Farmington Female Athlete of the Year.
Pursuing a Master of Science in Special Education through an accelerated 4+1 program, MacDonald has earned multiple academic accolades throughout her four years of undergrad and one year of graduate experience. She held a consistent presence on the Farmington Dean’s List with High Honors, landing on the list six times and Dean’s List Honors once. She is a three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection for track and field and a four-time NAC All-Academic honoree. She was named both 2024 NAC Cross Country Senior Scholar Athlete and 2025 NAC Track and Field Senior Scholar Athlete. In addition to her academic achievements, MacDonald had the opportunity to study abroad in Scotland to study and work with nature-based kindergartens.
MacDonald served as a captain for both the cross country and track & field teams (2023-2025) and was actively involved in the student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Student Senate, Intramural Sports Club, and Morgan’s Message. She also contributed to multiple community service projects, including Special Olympics, Relay for Life, and local track meets as an official and volunteer coach.
Kirra Magaña
Institution: Maine Maritime Academy
Major: Marine Systems Engineering (3.71)
Minor: Naval Architecture and Mathematics
Sports: Women’s Soccer / Women’s Lacrosse / Women’s Basketball
Position: Defender/Forward / Defender/Midfielder / Team Manager
Hometown / High School: Miami, Florida / Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School
A versatile and decorated student-athlete, Kirra Magaña was a four-year defender/forward in women’s soccer, a three-year defender/midfielder for women’s lacrosse, and served as a team manager for the women’s basketball team for two seasons at Maine Maritime Academy. During her standout 2024 soccer season, Magaña was named NAC Player of the Year, Senior Scholar Athlete, First Team All-NAC, NEWISA Third Team, and ECAC Second Team. A two-time NAC women’s soccer champion (2021, 2023), she earned multiple All-Conference and All-Region honors and ranked Top 10 nationally in goals and points per game. She also set school records for goals (21) and points (49) in a season in soccer.
In lacrosse, she earned NAC Second Team All-Conference honors (2022) and was recognized as NAC Co-Senior Scholar Athlete this past season. During her two years as team manager for the women’s basketball team at Maine Maritime, the Mariners earned back-to-back NAC championships (2022-23, 2023-24).
Graduating with multiple honors, Magaña is a four-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection for women’s soccer and a 2023 honoree in women’s lacrosse. She was named to the NAC All-Academic Team every season across both sports and received Maine Maritime Academy Department of Arts and Sciences Award upon graduation. Her academic leadership was also recognized with the Maine Maritime Emerging Leader Award (2022-23) and Leader of the Year Award (2024-25).
A team captain for women’s soccer (2022–25), she also served in the Student Government Association and SAAC, and held roles as a residential assistant, academic tutor, and game day staff. She also volunteered at the Special Olympics Bocce Tournament for three years, organized by Maine Maritime Athletics.
A dedicated member to the U.S. Army, Magaña served as a Platoon Leader during training, earning Honor Graduate and Iron Soldier in 2024. She is a construction equipment repairer for the U.S. Army National Guard and has interned with the American Bureau of Shipping; she was offered a spot in their 2025–26 Aspire Program.
Magaña recently was invited to the 2025 Select Bowl by Team USA Flag Football for further scouting.
Emma McNally
Institution: University of Maine at Presque Isle
Major: Business Administration – concentration in Outdoor Recreation (3.83)
Minor: Athletic Coaching
Sport: Softball
Position: Outfield/Shortstop
Hometown / High School: Patten, Maine / Katahdin High School
A dedicated and well-rounded student-athlete, Emma McNally made a significant impact both on and off the field during her time at UMaine-Presque Isle. She was a four-year member of the softball team and served as the team captain from 2023-2025. During the 2025 softball season, she was selected to the NAC Sportsmanship Team for the Owls. She recently received the Al Arman Make Difference Award, awarded by UMaine-Presque Isle Athletics.
As a first-year, McNally received the Rising Star Award (2021-2022), distinguishing her leadership qualities in her first year at UMaine-Presque Isle. She has received the Alan Arman Student Government Association Scholarship (2022-2023) and is a Gauvin Scholar (2021-2025).
A 3.83 GPA business administration major with a concentration in outdoor recreation, McNally was on the UMaine-Presque Isle Dean’s List all four years, earned NAC All-Academic Team honors from 2022-2025, and received Academic Excellence in the field of Recreation all four years as well.
McNally has served in several key leadership roles, including Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Treasurer/Secretary during the 2023-2024 year. She was then elevated to President of SAAC this past academic year. She has led fundraising efforts for the Owls’ softball team by participating and directing different fundraising events. She has given back to her community through volunteer work at a local animal shelter, community events such as a dog-sled race, and being a youth softball coach. Additionally, she held a leadership role as a Concession Stand Coordinator where she handled scheduling, budgeting, and operations of the concessions.
Taylor Meacham
Institution: SUNY Cobleskill
Major: Animal Science (B.S. and B.T) (3.78)
Minor: Histology and Therapeutic Horsemanship
Sport: Women’s Basketball
Position: Guard
Hometown / High School: Berne, New York / Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School
A four-year member for the SUNY Cobleskill women’s basketball program, Taylor Meacham had a standout 2024-2025 season. She helped lead the Tigers to their first North Atlantic Conference Championship title and was named to the 2024-2025 All-Tournament Team as the Most Valuable Player (MVP). Meacham was tabbed women’s basketball Senior Scholar Athlete this past season, making her the first player in the Cobleskill women’s basketball program to earn this honor as well as tournament MVP. She also claimed her first NAC All-Conference honors this past season, earning Third Team accolades. Meacham is a two-time SUNY Cobleskill Female Scholar Athlete of the Year winner (2022-2023, 2024-2025) and was selected as SUNY Cobleskill’s Sportswoman of the Year in 2023-2024. She was also awarded SUNY Cobleskill Female Performance of the Year this past spring.
An Animal Science major and earning degrees in both Bachelors of Technology and Science in the field, Meacham is a four-time NAC All-Academic Team honoree and earned SUNY Cobleskill’s Dean’s List every semester during her time at the institution. She was named to the President’s List this past spring with a 4.00 spring semester GPA. She was also inducted as a Chi Alpha Sigma member in 2024.
Meacham logged many hours of community service as well, including her time as a therapeutic horsemanship instructor (2022-2024), walking dogs at a local animal shelter (2022-2024), volunteering at the Berne Youth Sports Camps (2020-2025), and giving her time at the Cobleskill sports summer camps. She also helped by organizing and collecting gifts that were delivered to selected families during the holiday season. Meacham also worked full-time this past academic year at Amsterdam Two Farm to further her development as a young professional.
The three-year basketball team captain was awarded NAC Sportsmanship Team in 2023-2024, Cobleskill’s student development Distinguished Student Leadership Winner (2024-2025) and is a three-time Excellence in Student Leadership honoree at Cobleskill (2022-2025).
Meacham leaves Cobleskill as the winningest player in program history.
Julia Reny
Institution: Thomas College
Major: Elementary Education (4.00)
Graduate Degree: Educational Leadership (4.00)
Sports: Outdoor Track & Field / Indoor Track & Field / Field Hockey
Position: Thrower/Sprinter / Forward/Midfielder
Hometown / High School: Gardiner, Maine / Cony High School
A talented student-athlete at Thomas College, Julia Reny has shined in the classroom, in competition, and across campus. Reny was in a 3+1 accelerated program that allowed her to earn both a bachelor’s of elementary education and masters in educational leadership in four years, while maintaining top academic standings. She graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 2024 and was named 1-of-3 Thomas Scholars.
Reny capped off her Track and Field career at Thomas College collecting NAC All-Conference honors in both throwing and sprinting events. In Javelin, she has earned All-Conference First Team accolades (2023), Second Team honors (2022,2024) and was the NCAA Division III New England Champion in 2023. She received NAC Second Team honors in 100-meter hurdles in 2022 and contributed to the Terriers’ NAC championship win in 2024. She currently holds the Thomas record in javelin (38.73 meters).
A four-year midfielder/forward of the Thomas College Field Hockey team, she has collected widespread conference, regional, and national recognition including NAC Player of the Year (2023), NAC All-Conference First Team (2023), CMCFHC (Central Maine Collegiate Field Hockey Conference) Player of the Year (2024), CMCFHC Co-Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year (2024), NFHCA All-Region First Team (2024) and Second Team (2023), and NECC First Team (2021,2022). Reny was also recognized as an NCAA Division III statistical leader in assists per game with (0.88) during the 2024 season. Her skills on the field helped earn her weekly conference and national accolades and helped her set new program standards like most goals scored (40) and most points (92) in a season.
A member of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Reny earned various academic honors including NAC All-Academic Team in both track & field and field hockey and NFHCA National Academic Squad accolades. Reny has a strong commitment to service and student involvement as she has participated in Active Minds, the Special Olympics Club, Student Philanthropy, and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
At Thomas, she has received awards like Women’s Senior Scholar Athlete, Senior Outstanding Athlete, the Golden Key Award, and the Terrier Award for her leadership qualities and academic and athletic achievements.
Sage Smith
Institution: Vermont State University Lyndon
Major: Exercise Science – Individual Program of Study (3.90)
Sport: Women’s Basketball / Women’s Tennis
Position: Guard
Hometown / High School: Colebrook, New Hampshire / Colebrook High School
From Colebrook, New Hampshire, Sage Smith has excelled as a guard for the Vermont State University Lyndon Hornets women’s basketball team for four seasons and competed in women’s tennis during the 2023 season. Her athletic achievements included recently being named the Dudley Bell Outstanding Female Athlete at Lyndon and earning NAC All-Conference First Team honors in women’s basketball during the 2024-2025 season, leading the NAC and Lyndon in scoring. This past season, she was named NAC Player of the Week three times and served as the Hornet’s team captain. Smith also received NAC All-Conference Third Team honors during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
An exercise science major with a 3.90 GPA, Smith has maintained high honors as a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District for women’s basketball, a three-time President’s List honoree at Lyndon, and has earned Dean’s List five times throughout her four years. She was recently named to the NAC 2024-25 Winter/Spring Academic Team, making it her fourth time earning this conference honors.
Beyond the classroom and court, Smith has contributed to the Lyndon campus serving as a member of the Sports Medicine Club, a laboratory assistant and peer tutor for XSC (exercise science) and has volunteered during the campus blood drive for the past three years.