IWLCA Acknowledges 2026 Community Awareness Award Winners

By IWLCA Admin, 7/10/26, 10:00AM ET

Photo courtesy of Old Dominion Athletics.

IWLCA Acknowledges 2026 Community Awareness Award Winners
Three student-athletes honored with individual awards and four teams recognized

NORTHBOROUGH, MASS. – The IWLCA announced Brynn Bowen of Old Dominion University, Ella Clifford of Young Harris College, and Regan Kelly from Hartwick College as the 2026 IWLCA Community Awareness Individual Award Winners. Old Dominion University, Davenport University, Marymount University and Benedictine College have been recognized as the 2026 Team honorees.

INDIVIDUAL HONOREES

The individual Community Awareness Award recognizes those student-athletes who have contributed significantly to their community in a given academic year. These students have given their time and energy to support and develop athlete-community relations and have distinguished themselves from their peers.

Division I – Brynn Bowen, Old Dominion University

Brynn Bowen, a senior Sports Management major at Old Dominion University, has earned the Division I Community Awareness Award for her outstanding dedication to service, leadership, and making a positive impact throughout the 2025-26 academic year. Bowen’s commitment to community engagement was evident through an impressive 337 hours of volunteer service, supporting initiatives that benefited youth, veterans, families, and the greater Norfolk community.

Throughout the year, Bowen participated in a wide range of service projects, including Norfolk Public Schools Welcome Back, Monarch Move-In, ODU Kids Club, Read Across America, school supply drives, beach cleanups, and events supporting the American Heart Association, Ronald McDonald House, Mercy Meals, Morgan’s Message, and the Out of the Darkness Walk. She played an integral role in the success of ODU Lacrosse’s annual 9/11 Remembrance Dinner, helping with preparation, event execution, and the presentation of a record-setting donation to the Sentara Hospital Burn Unit.

In addition to her individual service efforts, Bowen dedicated significant time to supporting ODU Athletics through the Student-Athlete Success Center, volunteering 265 hours throughout the fall semester to assist fellow student-athletes. She also contributed to fundraising efforts for the ODU Lacrosse HEADstrong Foundation campaign, ranking fourth on the team with $332 raised. Bowen’s commitment to service was further recognized as she received the ODU Athletics Community Service Award for the 2025-26 academic year.

Division II – Ella Clifford, Young Harris College

Ella Clifford, a senior Psychology and Sports and Recreation Studies major at Young Harris College, has earned the Division II Community Awareness Award for her outstanding dedication to service and involvement both on campus and throughout her local community.

Clifford’s commitment to making a positive impact was demonstrated through a variety of initiatives, including volunteering with a local animal shelter where she assisted with walking and caring for animals, cleaning kennels, and organizing donations. She also helped bring community events to life by serving as a volunteer at Fall Fest, where she assisted with a haunted house experience for attendees at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, and supported campus events through setup and preparation efforts.

In addition, Clifford contributed to Young Harris Athletics by working athletic events, managing statistics, and operating scoreboards.

Division III – Regan Kelly, Hartwick College

Regan Kelly, a Nursing major at Hartwick College, has been selected as the Division III Community Awareness Award recipient for her extraordinary commitment to service, leadership, and making a life-changing impact within her community. A senior captain for the Hawks, Kelly’s journey has been defined by perseverance, compassion, and a desire to give back. After walking on to the program and earning a starting role, Kelly continued to demonstrate remarkable resilience while navigating a Lupus diagnosis during the fall of 2025.

Inspired by her family’s personal experience with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), Kelly helped lead Hartwick women’s lacrosse in hosting an NMDP “Get in the Game” registration event on campus. Kelly’s father, a New York City firefighter, battled Myelodysplastic Syndrome after his work at Ground Zero following 9/11 and ultimately received a lifesaving bone marrow transplant in 2013. Because of her own diagnosis, Kelly was unable to join the registry herself, but her leadership helped add 64 potential donors to the registry and ultimately contributed to a life-saving match.

That match became an incredibly meaningful full-circle moment when Kelly’s boyfriend, Joe Holder, was selected to donate blood stem cells to a 27-year-old recipient in need. Kelly traveled with Holder to support him through the donation process, witnessing firsthand the impact of the cause she helped champion. The Hartwick women’s lacrosse program later dedicated its March 14 game to NMDP, celebrating Holder as honorary captain and recognizing the collective impact of Kelly’s leadership and service.

Beyond her work with NMDP, Kelly has consistently embodied the values of teamwork, perseverance, and service throughout her time at Hartwick. Her efforts were also recognized with selection to the prestigious Allstate NACDA Good Works Spring Team, further highlighting the lasting impact of her commitment to helping others.

TEAM HONOREES

The purpose of the Team Community Awareness Award is to recognize one team in each Division that has contributed significantly to their community during the previous academic year. Academics are not part of the award, and at least 50% of the team’s roster must have participated in community service activities to be eligible for the award.

Division I – Old Dominion University

The Old Dominion women's lacrosse team demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community engagement throughout the 2025-26 academic year by participating in a wide variety of service initiatives across the Norfolk community. The Monarchs assisted with freshman move-in, welcomed local elementary students back to school, mentored youth through the ODU Kids Club, wrote letters to community members through a Pen Pals program, volunteered in the Student-Athlete Success Center, and supported numerous athletics events.

The Monarchs also worked the Larchmont Rat Race 5K, participated in the American Heart Association Walk to raise awareness for heart disease, and helped promote ODU football through game day and ticket sales initiatives. Their signature effort was the program's 8th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Dinner, where the team partnered with Norfolk Fire Rescue Station 7 for a dinner and game night while raising a program-record $3,582.94 for the Sentara Hospital Burn Unit. Collectively, these initiatives showcased the Monarchs' dedication to serving others, strengthening community relationships, and making a meaningful impact both on and off the field.

Division II – Davenport University

Throughout the 2025-26 academic year, the Davenport University women's lacrosse team made a meaningful impact by dedicating countless hours to community service, youth engagement, veteran support, and mental health advocacy. The Panthers volunteered with organizations including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Kids' Food Basket, and Feed America, helping provide resources and meals for families in need. They participated in Shootout for Soldiers to raise funds and awareness for veteran support programs, served as ambassadors at the Grand Rapids Wine, Beer & Food Festival, and honored military members through Veterans Appreciation Day and Wreaths Across America.

The Panthers also championed mental health awareness by hosting a Morgan's Message game, raising $543 while educating fellow student-athletes and the community about eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health. The team's commitment to growing the game was equally evident through Youth Lacrosse Day, where they welcomed more than 100 local children for a free clinic and game experience.

Division III – Marymount University

The Marymount women's lacrosse team demonstrated an unwavering dedication to serving others throughout the 2025-26 academic year, participating in a wide range of community initiatives that positively impacted children, families, veterans, and underserved communities.

The Saints volunteered at the See Mason Run 5K supporting pediatric cancer patients, assisted at a Special Olympics soccer tournament, welcomed more than 300 veterans through the Honor Flight program, and helped create safe, family-friendly events including Halloween Fest and National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Through a longstanding partnership with AHC Inc. Woodbury Park, the team volunteered weekly as mentors and tutors, supported a Thanksgiving dinner serving more than 400 residents, delivered Christmas trees to families, and assembled and distributed holiday gift bags for senior citizens. The Saints also promoted literacy by reading with kindergarten students at a local elementary school and consistently served as positive role models throughout the community.

NAIA – Benedictine College

Throughout the 2025-26 academic year, the Benedictine women's lacrosse team demonstrated a strong commitment to serving the Atchison community through a variety of youth outreach, fundraising, and volunteer initiatives.

The Ravens partnered with local organizations to support the Rotary Club's annual golf fundraiser, assisted with the Forest of Friendship's World Friendship Through Flight event, and participated in High Five Friday by welcoming elementary school students each week throughout the fall and spring semesters. The team introduced the sport of lacrosse to local youth by teaching physical education classes, hosting clinics for National Girls & Women in Sports Day, and providing games and instruction during Trunk or Treat. Their community impact also included adopting four local families for Christmas through the Salvation Army, volunteering at the Special Olympics, and spending time with elementary students during Donuts with Grownups.