HADLEY, Mass. – Bates College field hockey standout Anna Cote has been named one of ten student-athletes nominated by the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year and Division III Commissioners Association (D3CA) Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year awards. A committee of NESCAC administrators will select the conference's representative for each honor.

These national awards recognize graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service, and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

A biochemistry major with a 3.63 GPA, Cote received the Bates Senior Scholar Award, selected by faculty for outstanding academic achievement. She was a four-time NFCA Division III National Academic Squad honoree, a three-time NESCAC All-Academic Team selection, and a 2025 College Sports Communicators Women's At-Large Academic All-District® recipient.

Beyond the classroom, Cote served the Lewiston community as an EMT and ER technician. Following the tragic 2024 mass shooting near campus, she helped the field hockey team organize a tribute game, raised funds for victims' families, and welcomed over 1,000 attendees. Cote also launched a partnership with Tree Street Youth, introducing underprivileged children to field hockey in a program focused on fun and confidence over competition. She also mentored a local third-grade student through Big Brothers Big Sisters.

On the field, Cote became just the second Bates field hockey player to earn All-America honors twice. A two-time All-NESCAC selection and member of the NFHCA Division III Senior Team, she led the Bobcats to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Cote is joined on the list of NESCAC nominees by nine other exceptional student-athletes:

• Margie Carden – Tufts Women's Lacrosse
  Carden graduated magna cum laude in international relations and is Tufts' all-time leading scorer. A four-time IWLCA All-American and All-NESCAC pick, she helped the Jumbos to the 2025 NCAA runner-up finish. She will attend Villanova Law School in the fall.

• Julia Jardina – Colby Women's Lacrosse
  A cum laude graduate with a 3.94 GPA in neuroscience and Spanish, Jardina was a four-time All-American and Colby's all-time leader in draw controls. She helped lead the Mules to their first NCAA Final Four and plans to attend dental school.

• Sydney Jones – Bowdoin Women's Basketball
  A standout in mathematics and computer science, Jones was a two-time WBCA All-American and the only player in program history with 1,500 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists, and 200 steals. She begins her coaching career at Stonehill College.

• Fiona Mejico – Colby Women's Track & Field
  A Spanish and sculpture major with a 3.77 GPA, Mejico was an 11-time All-American and part of Colby's NCAA champion and record-setting relay teams. She was a team captain and active in arts and athletics leadership.

• Sahana Raman – Middlebury Women's Tennis
  A neuroscience major on the pre-med track, Raman was a four-time ITA All-American and the 2025 NCAA Doubles runner-up. Off the court, she volunteered with inclusive tennis programs and held several leadership and research roles.

• Hope Shue – Middlebury Women's Lacrosse
  A 4.00 GPA neuroscience major and Phi Beta Kappa inductee, Shue was a four-time All-American and back-to-back IWLCA National Player of the Year. She led Middlebury to four straight national titles and was the NCAA Elite 90 award winner three times.

• Sophia Verkleeren – Williams Women's Swimming & Diving
  A chemistry major with a 3.91 GPA, Verkleeren is the only swimmer in NESCAC history to win Swimmer of the Year three times. She owns six NCAA titles, seven school records, and five conference records, and was a 25-time All-American.

• Alyssa Xu – Amherst Women's Ice Hockey
  A 3.99 GPA neuroscience graduate and Rhodes Scholar, Xu led Amherst to two NESCAC titles and two NCAA championship appearances. She was active in AAPI advocacy, neuroscience research, and DEI efforts, and will study at Oxford University.

The NCAA Woman of the Year and D3CA Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year awards honor graduating student-athletes who exemplify academic success, athletic excellence, community service, and leadership. More information about the awards and a list of past recipients is available here.