WATERVILLE, Maine – A total of eight recent graduates from North Atlantic Conference institutions have been nominated for the conference’s 2025-26 Woman of the Year award.
In alphabetical order, the nominees are
Rebecca Caron (Maine Maritime Academy),
Skye Cotnoir (UMaine-Farmington),
Abby Farone (Thomas College),
Jessica Legendre (Lesley University),
Kiara Mack (Vermont State University Lyndon),
Caley Nault (Husson University),
Zoe Stewart (UMaine-Presque Isle), and
Kali Wooster (Vermont State University Johnson).
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 18
. 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 on June 23, and will be honored on her campus during the upcoming academic year.
More information on each of the 2026 NAC Woman of the Year nominees is below:
Rebecca Caron
Institution: Maine Maritime Academy
Major: Marine Transportation Operations (3.81)
Minor: Marine Engineering Operations
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Sport: Women’s Lacrosse
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Naples, Maine
Rebecca Caron's leadership and service contributions extend well beyond athletics through her involvement in Maine Maritime Academy's Regiment of Midshipmen as a 3/C Striker, Officer in Charge, and Executive Officer . She served in leadership positions during training cruises, represented the academy at the Naval Academy Leadership Conference, and participated in significant institutional events, including the christening of the NSMV State of Maine. Her experiences included serving as a Cadet Third Mate abd Fire Control Room Operator and taking on leadership responsibilities aboard vessels carrying hundreds of cadets.
Academically, Caron maintained a 3.81 GPA while majoring in Marine Transportation Operations and minoring in Marine Engineering Operations. Her accomplishments include Commandant's List and Dean's List recognition, CSC Academic All-District honors, NAC All-Academic honors, and completion of requirements for a U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate Unlimited Tonnage Certification. Other career-related certifications she holds include oil and chemical tank vessel operations, basic United States Coast Guard STCW certifications, lifeboatman certifications, Medical Person in Charge, basic lifesaving and CPR certified, certified in USCG firefighting, and a Merchant Mariner credential.
A four-year member of the women's lacrosse program, Caron earned NAC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Conference honors during her career. She concluded her collegiate career among the program's all-time scoring leaders and became one of the few players in program history to surpass 100 career goals and 100 career points.
Skye Cotnoir
Institution: UMaine-Farmington
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Major: Outdoor Recreation Business Administration (3.98)
Minor: Coaching, Alpine Operations Certificate
Sport: Women’s Lacrosse
Position: Goalkeeper / Defender
Hometown:
Skye Cotnoir has demonstrated leadership through her service as a Morgan's Message co-ambassador and captain of the women's lacrosse team. Her involvement focused on promoting student-athlete mental health awareness and supporting fellow students through educational programming and outreach initiatives. She also participated in community-based programs, including the Learn to Ski program at Spruce Mountain Ski Area..
In the classroom, Cotnoir maintained a 3.98 GPA while pursuing a degree in Outdoor Recreation Business Administration with a Coaching minor and Alpine Operations Certificate. Her academic accomplishments include NAC and UMF Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year honors, CSC Academic All-District recognition, NAC All-Academic honors, and consistent Dean's List recognition.
Athletically, Cotnoir was a key contributor for the Beavers women's lacrosse program, competing as both a defender and goalkeeper. She earned NAC All-Conference recognition and multiple Defensive Player of the Week honors during her career.
Abby Farone?
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Institution: Thomas College
Major: Early Childhood Education (B-5), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-3) (3.34)
Sport: Softball
Position: Outfielder
Sandown, New Hampshire
Abby Farone has demonstrated leadership and service throughout her time at Thomas College through roles as a Community Assistant, Student Ambassador, Student Senate representative, and member of numerous campus committees and organizations. She has also volunteered with local animal shelters, youth softball programs, campus events, and Thomas College community service initiatives. As a softball team captain and player navigator mentor, Farone has helped support and guide fellow student-athletes throughout their collegiate experience.
Academically, Farone has excelled in both her undergraduate and graduate studies. She earned consistent Dean's List and President's List recognition while pursuing degrees in Early Childhood Education and Educational Policy and Reform. Her academic accomplishments also include selection as Class Marshall (lead commencement), Graduate Speaker, and recipient of the Thomas Award (Scholarship, Leadership, and Service to the community).
Athletically, Farone was a four-year member of the Thomas softball program and earned NAC East All-Conference recognition in 2025 and NAC Second Team All-Conference honors in 2026. Throughout her career, she contributed both on the field and as a leader within the program.
Jessica Legendre
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Institution: Lesley University
Major: Animation and Motion Media (3.81)
Sport: Women’s Tennis
No. 1, 2 Singles / No. 1,2 Doubles
Hometown: Leesville, Louisianna
Jessica Legendre's leadership and service have been evident both on campus and within her academic program. She served as a SAAC representative, women's tennis captain, project manager, editor, and collaborator on numerous animation and media projects. Her involvement included leadership roles with the Animation Senior Showcase, student publications, and creative projects supporting fellow students and academic programs.
Academically, Legendre graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Animation and Motion Media while earning Dean's List honors every semester. Her achievements include CSC Academic All-District recognition, the NAC Women's Tennis Senior Scholar Athlete Award, and the Lesley Senior Excellence Award in Animation and Motion Media.
On the court, Legendre became one of the most accomplished student-athletes in Lesley women's tennis history. She earned multiple First Team All-Conference selections in singles and doubles, two NAC Co-Player of the Year awards, and helped lead the Lynx to the program's first NAC Women's Tennis Championship in 2024.
Kiara Mack
Institution: Vermont State University Lyndon
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Major: Criminal Justice (B.A.), Restorative Justice (B.S.) (3.89)
Sport: Women’s Basketball / Women’s Volleyball (four years) / Women’s Lacrosse (three years), Women’s Tennis and Women’s Soccer (one year)
Position: Forward / Middle
Hometown: Milton, Vermont
Kiara Mack's collegiate career has been defined by extensive leadership and service involvement. She served as Student Government Association President, SAAC Vice President, Resident Assistant, and captain of both the women's volleyball and women's lacrosse teams. Her service activities included volunteer firefighting, Lyndon youth sports camps, and numerous campus leadership programs.
Academically, Mack maintained a 3.89 GPA while balancing participation in numerous varsity sports. She earned multiple President's List and Dean's List honors, CSC Academic All-District recognition, and nine NAC Academic All-Conference selections throughout her collegiate career.
Athletically, Mack competed for four-years on the women's volleyball and women's basketball, three-years on women's lacrosse, and one year on the women's tennis and soccer team. She earned All-Conference recognition in basketball and lacrosse, received conference weekly awards, and contributed to multiple programs as a versatile student-athlete.
Caley Nault?
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Institution: Husson University
Major: Exercise Science (3.93)
Doctorate of Physical Therapy (May 2028) (3.95)
Sport: Women’s Soccer
Position: Center Back
Hometown: Newmarket, New Hampshire
Caley Nault has demonstrated a strong commitment to service and leadership through her roles as a two-year captain of the women's soccer team and leader within the Fighting Eagles Boxing Club and Soaring Eagles Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic. Her service efforts included youth coaching, adaptive exercise programming, community clean-up projects, and volunteer work supporting individuals with Parkinson's disease and othercognitive diseases.
Academically, Nault excelled while pursuing both undergraduate studies and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. She maintained a 3.93 undergraduate GPA and a 3.95 graduate GPA while earning CSC Academic All-District recognition, NAC Academic All-Conference honors, President's List and Dean's List recognition, and the NAC Women's Soccer Senior Scholar Athlete Award.
On the field, Nault established herself as one of the conference's top defenders. She earned three NAC Defensive Player of the Year awards, four First Team All-Conference selections, regional recognition, and helped lead Husson to the 2024 NAC Women's Soccer Championship.
Zoe Stewart
Institution: UMaine-Presque Isle
Major: Pre Med (3.92)
Sport: Softball
Position: 3B / Utility
Hometown:
Zoe Stewart's service and leadership activities have included tutoring, swim instruction, youth softball coaching, animal hospital volunteer work, and community clean up projects. She served as captain of the softball team, captain of the PEI (Prince Edward Island) 21U Women's Baseball Team, a 4-H leader, calf manager, and senior lifeguard leader, providing mentorship and leadership both on and off campus.
Academically, Stewart maintained a 3.918 GPA as a Biology major and earned NAC Academic All-Conference recognition and consistent Dean's List honors. She was also recognized with the Outstanding Biology Student Award and Outstanding Biology Graduate Award for her achievements in the classroom.
Athletically, Stewart was a four-year member of the softball program and earned conference recognition and Athlete of the Week honors during her collegiate career. In addition to softball, she competed in women's baseball opportunities at the national and international levels.
Kali Wooster
Institution: Vermont State University Johnson
Major: Wildlife and Forest Conservation (3.50)
Sport: Women’s Outdoor Track & Field (four years) / Women’s Soccer (three years) / Women’s Indoor Track & Field (two years) / Women’s Tennis (two years)
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Fairfax, Vermont
Kali Wooster demonstrated leadership through her roles as SAAC Secretary, president of the Johnson Run Club, peer mentor, teaching assistant, and undergraduate researcher. She contributed to campus programming, mentored fellow students, and participated in research projects focused on wildlife and environmental studies while maintaining an active presence within the student-athlete community.
Academically, Wooster earned numerous honors, including President's List and Dean's List recognition, NAC Academic All-Conference honors, departmental awards in Wildlife and Forest Conservation, and the NAC Women's Track & Field Senior Scholar Athlete Award.
Athletically, Wooster competed in track and field, soccer, and tennis throughout her collegiate career. Her accomplishments included NAC Track Athlete of the Year honors, ECAC championship performances, 12 school records, regional championship qualifications, and multiple All-Conference selections in track and field..