WINTHROP, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College of Maine standout Shauna Clark '24 has been named one of 13 finalists for the 2024–25 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Woman of the Year Award, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
The GNAC Athlete of the Year award is modeled after the NCAA Woman of the Year award. It recognizes graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
A Biochemistry major, Clark graduated magna cum laude with a 3.85 cumulative GPA and was a three-time GNAC All-Academic Team honoree. She was a consistent presence in both the classroom and on the field, leaving a lasting mark on the women's lacrosse program. During her collegiate career, she was named to the GNAC All-Rookie Team, earned All-Conference honors twice, and was a three-time GNAC All-Tournament Team selection.
Beyond athletics, Clark was an active member of the Saint Joseph's campus community. She served as a peer tutor and contributed to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), helping to elevate the student-athlete experience and promote engagement across campus.
The GNAC Athlete of the Year for women's sports will be announced on Wednesday, July 16th and will be submitted as the conference nominee for both NCAA Woman of the Year and the Division III Commissioners Association (D3CA) Woman's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year. Read more about the GNAC Athlete of the year for women's sports here.
Shauna's Personal Statement:
My time at Saint Joseph's College of Maine has been nothing short of transformative, which has allowed me to excel as a scholar, athlete, and a leader. Each aspect of my college experience has contributed significantly in not only shaping who I am, but empowering me to continue to leave a positive impact in the world.
As a scholar, I excelled academically placing in the top 5% of my class as a biochemistry major, earning a place on the President's list each semester. I embraced the challenges of honors courses, upper level science classes and was actively involved in scholarly communities such as Chi Alpha Sigma and served as our chapter's president of Delta Epsilon Sigma. My commitment to learning also extended outside of the classroom as a peer tutor, in which I had the opportunity and privilege to advise and support fellow students in their own academic pursuits. These experiences strengthened my belief in the life-changing impact of education and sharpened my abilities in communication, organization, and empathy. These are skills that I will continue to carry with me as I embark on my soon to be new adventure of attending New England College of Optometry in Fall 2025.
Athletics has always been a cornerstone of my identity, shaping not only how I compete, but who I am. I began my collegiate athletic career as a starter and impact player on both the women's soccer and lacrosse teams at Saint Joseph's College of Maine. Nearly two years in, I found myself sitting in the orthopedic surgeon's office facing a life-altering diagnosis: years of chronic dislocations and severe cartilage damage in my left knee would require three surgeries, resulting in four screws and two metal plates. I couldn't walk independently for seven months- let alone sprint up and down the field I loved.
The road to recovery was long and filled with setbacks, but I persisted through the countless setbacks and obstacles that stood in my way and learned that from body to mind- I am resilient. Through resiliency, determination and perseverance, I'm proud to say that I was able to return to athletics for a final soccer and lacrosse season, ultimately earning all-conference selection in both sports, and being named the 2025 Female Athlete of the Year for Saint Joseph's College. More meaningful than accolades, however, was the gratitude expressed by my teammates- proof that my perseverance had made a lasting impact not just on the field, but within our community.
Through my time at Saint Joseph's, I embraced leadership roles that allowed me to empower others, especially young women. Coaching gave me the opportunity to help athletes believe in both their abilities and their worth– something that I had to relearn myself during recovery. I've worked hard to lead by example, proving that perseverance, discipline, and belief can overcome even the most daunting obstacles. Whether it was during my time as a resident advisor, peer tutor, or leader on the team, I've learned that true leadership means showing up for others, communicating with integrity, and using every experience– whether a triumph or setback– to uplift those around you. Athletics may have introduced me to this path, but it's the impact I've made off the field that has truly shaped the individual I've become.
I want to thank Saint Joseph's College of Maine and the GNAC for the opportunity to share my story and the ability to be nominated among some amazing women student-athletes in our conference. Thank you all for the forever impact you've had on me.
ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
