General | 5/13/2026 9:00:00 AM
ALIQUIPPA, Pa. (pacathletics.org) - The annual Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Scholar-Athlete of the Year Banquet was held on Tuesday, May 12th. The evening of celebration was held at The Fez Banquet Center in Aliquippa, Pa.
With overwhelming support from conference's presidents and athletic administrators, the PAC launched its Scholar-Athlete of the Year Banquet in 2014 as another way to recognize the league's student-athletes for their athletic achievements, excellence in the classroom and outstanding community service efforts. This was the 13th class of scholar-athletes recognized by the conference
The event started with a reception for all attendees at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the introduction of the honorees.
Over 120 guests were on hand to join in the celebration of the 25 recognized scholar-athletes.
Each of the PAC's 12 full-time member institutions – Allegheny College, Bethany College, Chatham University, Franciscan University, Geneva College, Grove City College, Hiram College, Saint Vincent College, Thiel College, Washington & Jefferson College, Waynesburg University and Westminster College, along with football affiliate Case Western Reserve University – were represented by some of their most distinguished student-athletes at the event.
2026 Awardees
Alena Taladay
Westminster College
Ford City, Pennsylvania
Armstrong High School
Major: Early Childhood and Special Education
Sport: Soccer
A native of Ford City, Pennsylvania, Alena Taladay graduated May 9 with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and special education. A seven-time Dean’s List selection and two-time PAC Academic Honor Roll honoree, she maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade-point average throughout her undergraduate career. She was the recipient of the Jerb Miller Scholarship, Clara E. Cockerille Memorial Scholarship, Mark Prosinski Scholarship, Ralph and Mary Lou McAllister Scholarship, and the McQuiston College Service Award. Alena was also named a Dr. Darwin W. Huey Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the 21st annual WESPYS (Westminster Exceptional Sports Performances of the Year). Alena was a member of the Lambda Sigma and Pi Sigma Pi honor societies, served as president of the College’s Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) chapter, and chaired Westminster’s annual Lawrence County Special Olympics event, which brings together athletes, families, students, and volunteers from nine counties in a celebration of inclusion. She was also involved with Westminster’s Little Library program, which promotes reading engagement and provides diverse books to children from low-income families. A defender, Alena appeared in 33 career matches, making 30 starts. She was named to the PAC All-Tournament Team in 2024 and earned Academic All-District ® honors from the College Sports Communicators (CSC) last fall. Alena is currently working as a substitute teacher in the Armstrong School District.
Tyler Davis
Westminster College
Eighty Four, Pennsylvania
Ringgold High School
Major: Accounting and Business Administration
Sport: Soccer
A native of Eighty-Four, Pennsylvania, Tyler Davis graduated May 9 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration. A seven-time Dean’s List selection and four-time PAC Academic Honor Roll honoree, he maintained a 3.85 cumulative grade-point average throughout his undergraduate career. Tyler was also named a Dr. Darwin W. Huey Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the 21st annual WESPYS (Westminster Exceptional Sports Performances of the Year). He has been actively involved in community service, working with Washington County’s annual Toys for Tots campaign in partnership with the United States Marine Corps, and volunteering at Wilmington Field Day, where Westminster student-athletes lead youth in a variety of sports activities. Tyler has also served as a youth coach with the Ringgold Area Youth Soccer Association (RAYSA) and the Wilmington Area Soccer Club. A defender, Tyler appeared in 10 matches last fall, making eight starts. Following graduation, he will begin his career in tax accounting, tax return preparation, and auditing with McCall Scanlon & Tice, LLC.
Reagan Mittendorf
Waynesburg University
Bluffton, Ohio
Bluffton High School
Major: Forensic Science
Sport: Soccer
Reagan Mittendorf graduated as a forensic science major with minors in biology and chemistry and was a four-year member of the Waynesburg University women’s soccer team. Over her decorated career that included 68 starts over 74 games played, Reagan was honored as a two-time All-PAC selection, a first-team All-ECAC pick and a second-team United Soccer Coaches All-Region honoree. This past year, she finished first in the conference in game-winning goals, third in the conference in assists and third at Waynesburg in terms of goals and total points. Her academic career included being a four-time member of the PAC Academic Honor Roll, a three- time CSC Academic All-District honoree and a two-time PAC SAAC Scholar Athlete of the Month. On campus, Reagan was a member of the American Chemical Society and conducted labs for homeschool students. She also attended and presented research at two ACS conferences and volunteered at the annual Society of Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh conferences. She was a member of the Forensic Science Club, served as both a volunteer tutor at Waynesburg’s Eberly Library and a general science tutor and conducted research over the previous academic year on an NSF-founded project in the Chemistry Department. After graduation, Regan plans on attending Case Western Reserve School of Law to obtain a JD degree and earn a Masters of Science degree in biotechnology or bioengineering with the goal of practicing intellectual property law. She will also continue her current internship with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Jalen Goins
Waynesburg University
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown High School
Major: Business Management
Sport: Basketball
Jalen Goins graduated as a business management major with a minor in marketing and was a two-year member of the Waynesburg University men’s basketball team. He started 46 of the 47 games in which he appeared for the Yellow Jackets and ended this past season as the team leader in assists and steals, while also finishing in the team’s top five in terms of scoring, rebounds, blocks and minutes. Jalen was a two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree, a member of the 2024-25 NABC Honors Court, a member of the 2025 PAC Spring Academic Honor Roll and has made the Dean’s List. On campus, Jalen was initiated into the Sigma Beta Delta honor society and won the business management department award. He also organized and ran a 3-on-3 basketball fundraising event for The Source, a non-profit organization. This fall, he plans on attending graduate school at West Virginia University.
Claire Anderson
Washington & Jefferson College
Jamestown, Pennsylvania
Jamestown High School
Major: Political Science & Philosophy
Sports: Cross Country, Track & Field
Claire Andersonwill go down as one of the top women’s student-athletes in recent memory after a record-breaking career with the cross country and track & field programs at Washington & Jefferson College. She is the only two-time All-American in program history in women’s cross country and competed in six NCAA Championship events overall. At the 2025 NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country Championships, Anderson placed third with a time of 21:13.4, recording the best-ever finish by a Presidents’ Athletic Conference runner at the national meet. Just weeks earlier, she helped lead the Presidents to their first PAC team title in program history despite battling illness. She finished her cross country career as a two-time All-American, two-time USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year, three-time All-Region performer and two-time PAC Runner of the Year. During the 2026 indoor track & field season, Anderson earned Second Team All-American honors in the 5000 meters at the NCAA Championships and concluded her career with eight school records. Academically, the Political Science and Philosophy major maintained a 3.70 GPA while earning academic honors from the PAC, USTFCCCA and College Sports Communicators.
Anthony Cestaro III
Washington & Jefferson College
Memphis, Tennessee
Christian Brothers High School
Major: Biology
Sport: Track & Field
Anthony Cestaro III has excelled on and off the track for the Presidents. He is a four-year member of both the Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field programs at W&J Cestaro III is a multi-time USTFCCCA All-Region Mid-Atlantic performer. This past indoor season, he earned recognition in the 200 Meters. During his sophomore season, Cestaro was All-Region in the 100 Meters. As of April 28, he has been a part of 12 different top three finishes at respective PAC Championships. Anthony currently holds school records in indoor competition for the 60-meter, 200-meter, 4x400 relay and Distance Medley Relay events. Cestaro III also holds the outdoor school record in the 100 meters. Academically, he has been recognized both on the W&J Dean’s List and the PAC Academic Honor Roll multiple times. Cestaro III has also been honored as a Beta Scholar. Following his junior year, he was selected as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree. He is a Matthew Brown Fellow at W&J, which is awarded to outstanding students with a basis of community service. He is also a member of the Phi Sigma Honor Society for Biology. Cestaro III holds a 3.85 cumulative grade point average while majoring in Biology.
Kylie Heid
Thiel College
Monaca, Pennsylvania
Central Valley High School
Major: Political Science and Public Policy
Sport: Softball
Kylie Heid graduated from Thiel with degrees in political science and public policy while minoring in legal studies and earning an art certificate. A multiple-time Dean’s List student, Heid is the SAAC representative for softball, a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, a two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree and a four-time PAC Academic Honor Roll selection. She has been accepted into Penn State’s graduate program for public administration, where she will continue her education. On the diamond, Heid earned All-PAC recognition three times, landing on the First Team in 2024 after receiving Honorable Mention honors in 2023 and 2026. She capped her career tied for second in program history with 11 home runs and second with 22 triples. Her nine triples in 2024 set a program record, while her 35 doubles are tied for fifth all time and her 74 RBIs rank ninth in program history. A career .364 hitter, Heid is 1-of-2 Tomcats ever with at least 150 hits and 20 triples in a career and 1-of-9 Tomcats to record 150 or more career hits. A team captain each of the last two seasons, Heid helped lead Thiel to the PAC Championship Tournament in 2025 after pacing the Blue and Gold in all but one offensive statistical category. A perennial workhorse, she started every Thiel game over the past three seasons and each of the final 111 games of her career going back to her freshman season.
Kaleb Proudfoot
Thiel College
Butler, Pennsylvania
Butler High School
Major: Education
Sport: Volleyball
Kaleb Proudfoot graduated from Thiel College with a degree in education and plans to become a grade school history teacher. A three-time CSC Academic All-District selection and conference academic honor roll recipient, Proudfoot maintained a 3.92 GPA while earning Dean’s List recognition every semester. On the court, Proudfoot helped lead the Tomcats to the most successful two-year stretch in program history with back-to-back PAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. The senior captain became the first player in program history to earn AVCA All-America honors while also collecting AVCA All-Region II, PAC Player of the Year and back-to-back All-PAC First Team accolades. The Butler, Pennsylvania native hit a program-record .452 this season, ranking third in Division III and fourth nationally. A six-time PAC Offensive Player of the Week, Proudfoot finished his career as Thiel’s all-time leader in career hitting percentage (.408) and was the NCAA active career leader in hitting percentage throughout the 2026 season. He closed his career with 750 kills, 271 total blocks and 86 solo blocks while holding multiple top-three spots on Thiel’s single-season and single-match hitting percentage record lists.
Carolina Walters
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Homeschooled
Major: Philosophy
Sports: Lacrosse and Tennis
Carolina Walters graduated from Saint Vincent with a degree in philosophy. Carolina was a two-sport athlete at Saint Vincent competing in both women’s tennis and women’s lacrosse. Carolina’s achievements in tennis allowed her to become the top player in the program’s history. She is the program’s all-time wins leader, while earning All-Conference honors in all four years of her Bearcats career, and was named the PAC Women’s Tennis Player of the Year once in her four years as well. On the lacrosse field, she compiled over 140 career points, while also earning All-Conference honors throughout her career as well. Carolina was a multi-time member of the PAC Honor Roll and has plans to continue working in publishing as an editor.
Shawn McSwiggen
Saint Vincent College
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Thomas Jefferson High School
Major: Education
Sport: Volleyball
Shawn McSwiggen graduated from Saint Vincent with a degree in middle level education. Shawn established himself as one of the top players in the Bearcats’ men’s volleyball program’s history since the birth of the program in 2020. Over the course of his four-year career, McSwiggen earned multiple All-Conference honors, while also being named the AMCC Player of the Year the season before the Bearcats joined the PAC. He was a member of multiple playoff teams at Saint Vincent as well, including helping lead the Bearcats to the number two seed in this year’s PAC Playoffs. He owns the program’s all-time record in both kills and service aces as well. Shawn was a multi-time member of the PAC Honor Roll and has plans to become a teacher.
Kelly Hoffman
Hiram College
Streetsboro, Ohio
Crestwood High School
Major: Elementary Education
Sport: Volleyball
Kelly Hoffman was the PAC Player of the Year and an all-conference selection for the first time in her collegiate career this past season, a breakout campaign that lifted Hiram to its best win percentage (.896, 26-3 record) in a single season in program history. The senior setter tallied the most assists (1,070) and assists/set (10.09) in the PAC in 2025, both of which also rank among the top-10 single-season marks in Hiram program history. She also was a four-time PAC Athlete of the Week, twice as the Offensive Player of the Week and twice as the Defensive Player of the Week. For her career, Hoffman is one of four Terriers players all-time to have at least 1,000 assists and 1,000 digs. Hoffman’s leadership skills were also an integral part of the Terriers’ success, as she consistently helped the team stay composed and was always focused on getting the best out of all her teammates. She was named to the CSC Academic All-District Team and the PAC Fall Academic Honor Roll at the conclusion of the season, and is a member of the Alpha Society (one of Hiram’s highest academic honors).
Liam O’Brien
Hiram College
Hartford, Ohio
Joseph Badger High School
Major: Biochemestry
Sport: Soccer
Liam O’Brien has been a standout athlete for the Terriers men’s soccer team through his first three seasons with the program; he most recently started every match and logged over 1,400 minutes of action for the team in 2025, which saw the Terriers earn their most wins in a single season over the last 10 years. While his position on the field doesn’t accrue many stats or acclaim, O’Brien does all the dirty work and consistently sets his team up for success. For his efforts, he was unanimously voted by his teammates to be a team captain, both during this past spring season and for the upcoming fall season. Away from the field, O’Brien earned both a CSC Academic All-District Team selection and a spot on the PAC Fall Academic Honor Roll this past season. He was also the “Outstanding Biochemistry Student of the Year” for the 2024-25 academic year, and currently volunteers as a tutor for a variety of math and science classes at Hiram College.
Mia Gallagher
Grove City College
Mogadore, Ohio
Archbishop Hoban High School
Major: Molecular Biology
Sport: Lacrosse
Mia Gallagher recently concluded a historic senior season as the starting goalie for the Grove City College women’s lacrosse team in 2026. Gallagher earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the 2026 PAC Championship Tournament after helping the Wolverines secure their third consecutive conference title, including a 10-save performance in Grove City’s 10-4 championship win over Chatham. Gallagher recorded a program-record five shutout victories as a senior while ranking among NCAA Division III’s top five in goals-against average. Her 16 wins, as of press time, set Grove City’s single-season program record. She was also recognized by the conference’s head coaches as a Second Team All-PAC selection after posting a 9-0 record with a 2.91 goals-against average in conference play. A four-year letterwinner, Gallagher helped lead Grove City to PAC titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The molecular biology major has earned PAC Academic Honor Roll and Dean’s List recognition, while also receiving the Trustee Scholarship and Ed and Sara Naegele Award. Gallagher is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board and Beta Beta Beta honor societies. Outside of athletics, she served as sports editor for The Collegian and captained the color guard for the Grove City College Wolverine Marching Band during the 2025-26 academic year.
Camden Thomas
Grove City College
North Lima, Ohio
South Range High School
Major: Education
Sport: Soccer
One of a select group of men to be named a multi-year captain in the 80-year history of Grove City College men’s soccer, Camden Thomas helped the Wolverines return to the top of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament as a senior in 2025. Thomas earned Most Outstanding Player of the conference tournament last November and also received First Team All-PAC recognition from the league’s head coaches. Thomas also earned United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Region distinction and Scholar All-Region laurels as a senior. He finished the 2025 season with five goals and two assists from his midfielder position. Grove City went 10-0-1 in conference play during the regular season, tying the program record for conference wins in a season. As a junior team co-captain, Thomas earned the first of his two First Team All-Conference citations. Grove City went 27-7-5 over his final two seasons. A middle level education major, Thomas earned Dean’s List recognition as well as placement on the conference’s Academic Honor Roll throughout his career.
Hailey Carroll
Geneva College
Fairfax, Virginia
Central Kitsap High School
Major: Psychology
Sports: Cross Country and Track & Field
Hailey Carroll, from Fairfax, Virginia, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in sports coaching. She will be continuing her education next year at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, working on a master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology while planning to use her final year of eligibility to run at Wisconsin-La Crosse after missing most of her junior season due to injuries. Hailey is wrapping up one of the most successful track and field careers of any men’s or women’s runner in Geneva history, and her senior season has been one of the best seasons in school history. She began breaking school records as a freshman and currently holds six different indoor and outdoor school records. In her cross country career, she earned All-PAC honors all three years she competed, twice finishing third at the PAC Championships, including this past season in which she helped lead the women to its first PAC Championship in program history. She has twice qualified for the NCAA Division III National meet, finishing in the top 70 this year out of almost 300 runners. She has also excelled in the classroom, graduating with a 3.62 GPA while receiving academic honors from the PAC, NCCAA and CSC, along with earning a spot on the Dean’s List. She’s served as a captain on the cross country and track and field teams, while also serving three years as a member on Geneva’s SAAC. She has also been regularly involved at the College Hill Reformed Church over her college years.
Andrew Ubinger
Geneva College
Valencia, Pennsylvania
North Catholic High School
Major: Physics with Secondary Education
Sport: Volleyball
Andrew Ubinger, from Valencia, Pennsylvania, graduated with a degree in Physics with Secondary Education. He will be continuing his education next year at Boston College, pursing a M.A. in Theology and Ministry over the next two years. Andrew, a three-year captain and a four-year starter on the men’s volleyball team, finished his career as one of the best men’s volleyball players in Geneva history. He earned All-PAC honors the past two seasons and played an important role in Geneva’s AMCC Championship in 2023, his freshman season. He finished his career with 714 kills, 879 assists, 714 digs, 156 blocks and 98 aces. Andrew is the first four-year player in NCAA Division III history since at least 2013 (as far back as Division III national records are available) to finish his career with over 700 kills, 700 assists and 700 digs. He has also excelled in the classroom, where he graduated with a 3.96 GPA, receiving numerous academic accolades from the PAC, AMCC, NCCAA and the CSC. He also completed all three of Geneva’s honor programs. Andrew has also been an active leader on campus where he has served as a Resident Assistant for two years, while also serving as a student assistant coach on the women’s volleyball program. Outside of Geneva, he attends St. Augustine Parish and has served as a Camp Director at cub scout camp, Camp Akela.
Teaghan Elmore
Franciscan University
Tostared, Sweden
Aranasgymnasiet High School
Major: Biochemistry
Sport: Soccer
Teaghan Elmore is a four-year starter at Franciscan and is second all-time in games started. She began her career as a defender and moved into the midfield her senior year. In her first year on the offensive end, she scored seven goals and five assists, notched two game winners and won PAC Offensive Player of the Week. Her accolades on and off the field just this season include; OCSA Third Team All-Ohio, Second Team All-PAC, PAC All-Tournament team, PAC Academic Honor Roll, and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District. The Biochemistry major is planning on getting a job in her industry, enroll in an accelerated nursing program, and would love to start coaching.
Joseph Rohde
Franciscan University
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville Catholic Central High School
Major: Organic Chemistry
Sport: Track & Field
Joseph Rohde is one of the most decorated track & field athletes at Franciscan with nine all-conference honors and holding multiple school records. Joe currently holds the indoor 60m and 200m records along with the outdoor 400m. He has endured significant setbacks in his career, and this season overcame them to improve his record setting 400m time by another almost two seconds. Joe is part of the Organic Chemistry Ph.D. program. He is the male Kuzma award winner, a graduation award for the most outstanding male & female student-athletes with strong community involvement.
Madison Nereu
Chatham University
Cary, North Carolina
Roanoke College
Major: Exercise Science
Sport: Basketball
Madison Nereu is a two-year member of the Chatham Women’s Basketball program and holds the team’s individual single game record for field goals made (17), individual single-season record for field goals made (187) and surpassed 1,00 career points. She was named PAC Player of the Year and to the All-PAC First Team in 2025-26. Madison received an Academic Excellence Scholarship from Chatham and the FAFSA Completion Grant. She was named the January SAAC PAC Scholar Athlete of the Month and recognized on the Spring 2025 PAC Academic Honor Roll. She was also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Madison graduated with a degree in Exercise Science and plans on going back to school to do an accelerated nursing program. After that she plans on working in that field before potentially going back to school again to pursue a degree in Anesthesia.
Jacob Lubawy
Chatham University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Baldwin High School
Major: Management
Sport: Lacrosse
Jacob Lubawy is a four-year member of the Chatham Men’s Lacrosse program and has held captain status for two seasons, 2025 and 2026. He currently holds the team’s individual career record for assists (105), and points (195). He was named PAC Newcomer of the Year in 2023, All-PAC Second Team in 2023 and 2024, and All-PAC First Team in 2025. Jacob received the Dean’s Scholarship, Interview Day Award, the Success Grant, and an additional Grant from Chatham. He was recognized on the Spring 2024 and 2025 PAC Academic Honor Roll. He was also a member of the Catholic Newman Club. Jacob graduated from Chatham with a degree in Management and plans to join the Ignite Sales Program at Daikin Applied.
Daniel King
Case Western Reserve University
Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Mt. Lebanon High School
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Sport: Football
Case Western Reserve University senior linebacker Daniel King, from Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, will graduate in May with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is coming off the best season of his career in 2025, during which he served as the team’s captain and was named to the All-PAC Second Team and the PAC Sportsmanship Team. He started the first eight games of the season, leading the team with 63 tackles and ranking 133rd among Division III players with 7.9 tackles per game, before suffering a season-ending injury and missing the final two contests of his career. He added 3.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, and a blocked kick. King had a career-high 15 tackles on three occasions during the season, and finished his time as a Spartan with 112 total tackles, including 45 solo. He has been named to the PAC Fall Academic Honor Roll twice during his career, was selected to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, and has a cumulative 3.614 grade point average.
Lindsey Garrison
Bethany College
Triadelphia, West Virginia
Wheeling Park High School
Major: Elementary Education
Sport: Basketball
Lindsey Garrison is an All-PAC guard from Triadelphia, West Virginia who graduated from Bethany College in May of 2025 with her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and is currently completing her Master of Education. Lindsey’s five-year career with the Bison has been one of the greatest in the history of Bison women’s basketball. In her graduate season, she led the team in scoring with 411 points and averaged 15.2 per game. Lindsey shot 45.4% from the floor, including a team-best 36.9% from three with 58 made three-pointers earning her the 2026 Bethany College Female Athlete of the Year. In her career, Lindsey has scored 1,652 career points, which ranks fourth on the program’s all-time scoring leaderboard, as well as holding the all-time record in made three-point field goals with 261. Lindsey is a four-time All-PAC selection, a three-time CSC Academic All-District honoree, a four-time PAC Player of the Week, a three-time PAC Newcomer of the Week, a former PAC Newcomer of the Year, a former D3hoops.com Rookie of the Year, and a D3hoops.com All-Region 7 selection. Off the court, she is a former PAC SAAC Scholar Athlete of the Month and a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma and Kappa Delta Pi honor societies. She has left a positive impact in the Bethany community – and her home community – by organizing Bethany women’s basketball fundraising events such as local basketball shoe drives and reading to students at area elementary schools. After Bethany, Lindsey plans to pursue a career as an elementary school teacher.
Jaden Nestor-Fox
Bethany College
Vermilion, Ohio
Vermilion High School
Major: Mathematics
Sport: Baseball
Jaden Nestor-Fox is an All-PAC second baseman from Vermilion, Ohio who graduated from Bethany College in May 2026 with his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. After transferring to Bethany as a junior, Jaden has earned two All-PAC selections where he has led the team in hits in two consecutive seasons. In 2026, Jaden batted .352 with 57 hits that included 12 doubles and five triples while driving in 36 RBI. He is also second on the team in stolen bases with 29 and has scored a team-high 54 runs. This season, Jaden led Bethany to the team’s first postseason appearance in seven years and ends his Green and White career with 108 hits, 62 RBI, and a .372 lifetime average. Off the field, Jaden is the President of the Math and Computer Science Club, a member of the Kappa Mu Epsilon, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Chi Alpha Sigma honor societies, a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and a member of Bethany’s Student Athletic Advisory Committee. He also received the James E. Allison Award, which recognizes outstanding senior mathematics majors at Bethany, and was also the recipient of the Derek Hoffman Memorial Award and the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year Award at the 2026 Bison Awards. After Bethany, Jaden plans to pursue his master’s degree in mathematics.
Jess Bickart
Allegheny College
Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania
Seneca Valley High School
Major: Political Science
Sport: Basketball
A four-year starter on the women’s basketball team, Jess Bickart graduated from Allegheny College with a 3.99 GPA as a political science major. On the court, Bickart was a do-it-all playmaker and a two-time All-PAC selection. While serving primarily as Allegheny’s point guard, she was proficient in all aspects of the game and regularly filled the box score in several categories. A 1,000-point scorer, Bickart also ranks fourth in program history in career assists (433), fifth in steals (209), and sixth in rebounds (732). She led the PAC in assists in each of her first two seasons, ranked second in 2024-25, and finished sixth in the conference as a senior, all while distributing no fewer than 96 assists in any of her four years. As a sophomore, coaches around the conference voted her to the All-PAC Second Team following a season in which she posted career highs in every category with 308 points, 227 rebounds, 132 assists, and 63 steals. A triple-double threat on numerous occasions, she achieved the rare feat as a senior with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in an 84-58 victory over Mount Aloysius on December 29, 2025. Academically, Bickart is a Doane Scholar, Distinguished Alden Scholar, a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honoree, and a PAC Spring Academic Honor Roll selection. She served as president of both the Pre-Law Club and Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, and was a fellow in Allegheny’s Center for Political Participation.
Aidan Dyga
Allegheny College
Wexford, Pennsylvania
North Allegheny High School
Major: Computer Science
Sport: Soccer
In just three years at Allegheny College, Aidan Dyga has accomplished more than most students can typically fit into four years. Not only did Dyga graduate early with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, but he did so with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. And after spending four months as a software engineering intern last summer, Dyga has already accepted a full-time software engineering role at Microsoft in Pittsburgh. While at Allegheny, he contributed to multiple coding projects, including an educational coding website titled Code With Chompers, which features introductory programming lessons for elementary, middle, and high school students. Dyga is a Doane Scholar, Distinguished Alden Scholar, a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection, and a member of the PAC’s Fall Academic Honor Roll. He also served as public relations director for the Association for Computing Machinery. On the pitch, Dyga was an All-PAC Honorable Mention in 2024 and an All-PAC Second Teamer in 2025. He began last fall as a starting center back for the men’s soccer team, and his move to the top of the formation immediately sparked a successful late-season surge. He scored six goals in the last six games of the year, including the tying goal in an eventual 2-1 double-overtime comeback win over Washington and Jefferson in the PAC quarterfinals. Dyga also earned a PAC Offensive Player of the Week award after scoring thrice in a 2-0-0 week with wins over Franciscan and Thiel in late October. He ended the season with a career-high 13 points (6g-1a), tied for the second-most on the team despite playing a majority of the fall in a defensive role.