BOSTON, MA – Alyssa Dunn, a standout two-sport student-athlete studying pre-medicine at St. Joseph’s College Maine, has been named the 2011 GNAC Woman of the Year.

“I have been extremely blessed with experiences in the classroom, on the athletic fields, and throughout the communities that have transformed me into the individual I am today,” Dunn said. “I attribute most of who I’ve become to my experiences on the athletic fields [where I have] garnered principles of integrity and sportsmanship from gratifying victories and humbling losses alike.”

A two-sport athlete, four-year starter and captain for both softball and field hockey, Dunn has played in a remarkable 241 athletic contests in her collegiate career. During her career, she has led her teams to a 178-74 (.706) combined record, and guided the Monks to their historic first-place GNAC finish her senior softball season.

Dunn made SJC Athletics history in a number of ways this season including being the first individual to receive a Capitol One Softball Academic All-America accolade. The senior biology/pre-medicine major with a 3.84 grade point average has performed well not only on the field but also in the classroom. The past two years she earned Capitol One All- District honors and received the prestigious Second Team All-American honor to top off her senior season. For the past three years, Dunn has earned GNAC Academic All-Conference honors in softball, NAC Academic All-Conference awards in field hockey while also being selected to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association all-academic team.  

Each year Dunn has improved remarkably on the softball field, earning third team all-conference honors her sophomore year, second team as a junior and first team her senior season. She has coincidently been awarded to the GNAC All-Tournament the past three seasons as well, leading St. Joseph’s to their best post season finishes yet. She concluded her softball career with a .382 (191-500) with 78 runs, 44 doubles, 13 home runs and 123 RBI in 163 games. Dunn left her mark in the SJC record books as well, ranking second in games played and hits, third in at bats and home runs and fourth in doubles and RBI. Additionally in field hockey, she stands as the all-time leader in games played and ranks fourth in assists and defensive stops. Her performance in softball and field hockey did not go unnoticed, and this year as one of the top athletes at St. Joseph’s, Dunn was awarded the Co-Female Student-Athlete of the Year honor.

A stellar student, talented athlete and an active member of the community, Dunn is a long-time volunteer of “Kids Night Out”, “Women in Sports Day”, and the “Sock Drive for the Homeless”. She has volunteered as a St. Joseph’s orientation leader, helped with the Red Cross, and spent time raising funds for malnourished children. As part of the St. Joseph’s campus, she also has served as a medical microbiology tutor and student-athlete tour guide as well.

By earning the GNAC Woman of the Year honor, Dunn is now a candidate for NCAA Woman of the Year. According to NCAA.org, the award “honors graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, community service and leadership.”  This marks the second time a woman from St. Joseph’s College of Maine has earned this prestigious honor; in 2008, Jillian Leger received the honor.

The top ten finalists from Division III will be named by the NCAA in August. The national winner will be announced at the Woman of the Year Awards Dinner in the fall.

The GNAC would also like to congratulate the honorable mention candidates for the Woman of the Year award, who have shown leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

 Kathy Andrade- Emerson College- Basketball

 Molly Rice- Norwich University- Volleyball

 Annie Thompson- Simmons College- Softball