MARLBOROUGH, Mass. - The NEWMAC is pleased to announce the eleven women's sport institutional nominees for the annual NEWMAC Student-Athlete of the Year Award. The Student-Athlete of the Year Award focuses on the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.

A selection committee made up of Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Athletic Communicators and Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designees review nominees on an annual basis and select the NEWMAC's honorees.

The conference office will announce the 2024-2025 NEWMAC Student-Athlete of the Year recipient(s) on Thursday, July 10.

The recipient(s) of the 2024-2025 awards will become the NEWMAC nominees for the Division III Commissioners Association Student-Athlete of the Year award and the NCAA Woman of the Year award.

2024-2025 NEWMAC Student-Athlete of the Year Nominees - Women's Sport
 
Natalie Barnouw – MIT – Soccer

A computational biology major with a neuroscience minor, Barnouw maintained a 3.84 GPA and is pursuing her MEng in 2025-2026. A United Soccer Coaches All-American and NEWMAC Athlete of the Year, she helped lead MIT to multiple titles. She co-founded MIT’s KDSAP chapter for kidney health screenings and served in food security advocacy, research, and mentoring through MIT's ESOL and hospital volunteer programs.
 
Angela Czeremcha – Springfield College – Basketball

Sport management major Angela Czeremcha earned a 3.765 GPA and was a CSC Academic All-District honoree in multiple years. She is a two-time NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Year and a 1,000-point scorer. As a team captain, Czeremcha led community clinics and served on campus leadership teams including SALT and Pride Cares. Her academic excellence includes Springfield’s Dean’s List, a 4.0 Spring semester, and a WISE Award nomination.
 
Ruby Krasnow – Clark University – Cross Country

A biology major with a 4.0 GPA and a mathematics minor, Krasnow now studies marine biology at the University of Maine. She was a two-time NCAA qualifier, Clark's all-time 6K record holder, and a Phi Beta Kappa inductee. She published four peer-reviewed papers, served on Clark’s Board of Trustees, and led national science communities promoting open-access research and ecological equity.
 
Ally Landau – Smith College – Basketball

A psychology major with a minor in environmental studies, Landau graduated with a 3.85 GPA and is pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching with a 4.0 GPA. A WBCA All-American and D3hoops All-Region standout, she led Smith to the NCAA Division III national championship game and topped the team in every major statistical category. Her leadership extended to Project Coach and the Playmakers Club, where she mentored youth through basketball clinics. She was also Smith’s 2025 Student-Athlete of the Year.

Briana Neary – Salve Regina – Basketball

Neary completed her B.S. in Biology with a 3.44 GPA and earned a master’s in Healthcare Administration with a 3.97 GPA. She is a two-time All-NEWMAC selection and program record-holder for free throws. A SAAC president and team captain, she led youth clinics, community cleanups, and served as a physical therapy tech. She was Salve’s 2025 Distinguished Graduate Student-Athlete and recipient of the Meghan Strathman Award.

Camille Newman – Wellesley College – Field Hockey

An environmental studies major with a psychology minor, Newman graduated with a 3.71 GPA and served as team captain. A two-time First Team All-NEWMAC and All-Region honoree, she also earned the Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer Scholar-Athlete Award. Newman co-led Wellesley’s EnAct organization and served on the Sustainability Committee, combining athletics with meaningful climate and social justice initiatives.

Samantha Paul – Springfield College – Track & Field

A communication/sport journalism major with a 3.913 GPA, Paul is a Second Team All-American in the triple jump and NEWMAC Champion. She broke the conference record in the event and was a finalist for USTFCCCA All-Academic honors. A leader in Women of Power and campus media, she organized empowerment workshops, ran school drives, and mentored incoming students as a campus orientation leader.

Yoshiko Slater – Emerson College – Soccer

Slater earned a 3.99 GPA as a marketing communications major and was named both Emerson Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Student-Athlete of the Year. A three-time All-NEWMAC First Team honoree and 2022 NEWMAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, she helped lead Emerson to its first-ever conference championship and NCAA appearance. As a three-year captain, she inspired a transformational team culture while also serving as a peer academic tutor, member of the President’s Advisory Board, and fundraiser for Athlete Ally. Her leadership was grounded in consistency, humility, and a profound commitment to team and community success.

Olivia Soffer – Babson College – Tennis

Soffer graduated cum laude with concentrations in Retail Management and Supply Chain & Strategy and a 3.30 GPA. She is a two-time NCAA Doubles National Champion, four-time NEWMAC Player of the Year, and Babson’s all-time wins leader. Off the court, she delivered consulting projects in sustainable business and coached youth tennis, combining excellence with community and entrepreneurial engagement.

Megan Tupaj – WPI – Rowing

Tupaj earned dual undergraduate degrees in Mathematical Sciences and Architectural Engineering with a 3.96 GPA and is now pursuing a Master of Architecture with a 4.0. A 2022 NCAA Varsity 8 National Champion, she is a two-time All-Conference rower and multi-year team captain. Her leadership extended to nonprofit work, peer mentoring, and research in sustainable design, winning WPI’s Crimson & Gray Award for impact and leadership.
 
Juliette Zito – Wheaton College – Softball

A psychology major with business and management concentrations, Zito graduated with Latin Honors and a 3.57 GPA. She was named 2025 NEWMAC Player of the Year and a two-time All-Region selection. Zito also coached youth athletes, worked as a volunteer hitting coach, and led community programs while studying abroad and balancing multiple on-campus jobs.

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.