IWLCA Honors Scholar-Athletes of the Year for 2024
The IWLCA announced its 2024 Scholar-Athletes of the Year, honoring the top student-athlete in NCAA Division I, II, and III and the NAIA. Nominees for the award must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of athletic eligibility, have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA, and be a starter or significant reserve for their team.
Division I – Sydni Black, Loyola University Maryland
Sydni Black, a senior majoring in Information Systems and Data Analytics with a minor in Leadership and Organization Effectiveness at Loyola University Maryland, has been named the Division I Scholar-Athlete of the Year after maintaining a stellar academic record, boasting a cumulative GPA of 3.81. She has received numerous academic honors, such as being a Deloitte Summer Scholar, Presidential Scholar, and a recipient of the Diane Geppi-Aikens Scholarship. Beyond her academic achievements, the attacker started all 21 games of the season and scored an impressive 76 goals with 30 assists. Her performance earned her several athletic accolades, including Second Team IWLCA All-American, ILWomen and USA Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention, First Team All-Mid Atlantic Team, and Patriot League Attacker of the Year. Additionally, she was the fifth overall draft pick in the Athletes Unlimited college draft.
Division II – Charleigh Rondeau, Slippery Rock University
Charleigh Rondeau, a graduate student pursuing a Master’s Degree of Science in Data Analytics, earns this year’s Division II Scholar-Athlete honor, Rondeau has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her academic career, including her undergraduate studies in Industrial & System Engineering with a minor in Mathematics. She has received numerous academic honors, including being named to the CSC Academic All-American team and the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll squad. As a midfielder, Rondeau started all 19 games and contributed 21 goals and 14 assists. Her performance also included setting a record with 190 draw controls, along with 26 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers. Rondeau’s athletic prowess also earned her recognition as an IWLCA All-Region honoree, first-team All-PSAC selection, and a participant in the IWLCA Senior All-Star Game this season. She was also named a PSAC Champion Scholar and listed on the CSC Academic All-District Team.
Division III – Katie Bell, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Katie Bell, a senior majoring in Biology and Chemistry at MIT, maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout the academic year. Her commitment to learning extends beyond her majors, evident in her internships at Teva Pharmaceuticals and volunteer work at Massachusetts General Hospital. Bell has also engaged in significant research at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT and the Gabrieli Laboratory. As a defensive player, Katie started all 22 games of the season, contributing significantly with 36 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers. She played a crucial role in her team's success, which led to her being recognized as an IWLCA All-Region First Team member and NEWMAC All-Conference First Team selection. Additionally, Katie received USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America Honorable Mention and was named to the Preseason All-America Third Team.
NAIA – Keagan Plume, Savannah College of Art & Design
Keagan Plume, a graduate student studying Architecture at SCAD achievements extend beyond athletics; she maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA, reflecting her dedication to academic excellence. As a midfielder, Plume started all 19 games and demonstrated her offensive proficiency with 24 goals and 53 assists. She also excelled in draw controls, achieving a milestone of 200 career draws. Her leadership as team captain for two years contributed to SCAD lacrosse history, setting a record for career games played (70). Plume’s athletic performance earned her several accolades, including First Team All-American and First Team All-Conference honors. She was also recognized as Academic All-Conference and received prestigious awards such as Sun Conference Player of the Week and NAIA National Player of the Week for her outstanding contributions in a single week, including 28 points. In addition to her athletic and academic achievements, Plume embodies the values of sportsmanship and character, having been honored as the 2023 NAIA Champion of Character.