Recognizing the outstanding achievements of our University of Southern Maine student-athletes is something we are proud to do. Since January of 2022, Huskies' Athletics and University Credit Union have partnered up to highlight the varied and vital contributions USM student-athletes make in competition, in the classroom and in the community. Whether its big-time performances for their team, or big steps in their academic and career goals, or our student-athletes commitment to Community Service, USM & UCU are ready to celebrate our Student-Athletes of the Month.
Chosen by members of the Athletic Department administration, recipients of this honor successfully embody the Five Pillars of USM Athletics: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community.
The final two student-athletes of 2022 the December UCU Student-Athlete of the Month honors a pair of Husky standouts who have excelled athletically for their respective teams, earning significant recognition from local and regional media and organizations. Huskies' Athletics looks forward to continuing this recognition program throughout the year and its valuable partnership with University Credit Union.
Jake Peavey | Master's Degree – Leadership and Organizational Studies | Wrestling
The first repeat selection of the University Credit Union (UCU)/Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month, Jake has continued to dominate on and off of the mat for the Huskies' wrestling program. A four-time NWCA Scholar All-American, Jake is presently ranked first by the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) in the 285 division, and is ranked eighth nationally by Open Mat Wrestling, ninth by d3wrestling.com and eighth by the NWCA.
Undefeated so far in the 2022-2023 season headed into the Manganaro Duals hosted by Ursinus College, Jake is 7-0 with three wins by fall, and a win by technical fall. At the December 3, claimed the top podium spot at the 2022 Ted Reese Invitational, and then closed out his December competition with three straight wins in dual meets against Plymouth State, Castleton and Rhode Island College including a 5-0 win over his fourth ranked opponent in region.
Vanessa Vaughan | Health Science | Basketball
A strong start to her time as a student-athlete at the University of Southern Maine, Huskies' women's basketball freshman
Vanessa Vaughan has earned Maine Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (MWBCA) Rookie of the Week honors twice, Little East Conference Rookie of the Week honors once and was just recently named the New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) Rookie of the Week during the month of December. Additionally, the Huskies' small forward was selected to the D3hoops.com Classic All-Tournament team held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Earning a starting role in the month of December, Vanessa set season and career-highs in her two most recent games scoring 20 points against SUNY-Oneonta, and snagging a career-best 9 rebounds in a 15 points, 9 rebound performance against Montclair St. A Health Science major, Vanessa hails from Nova Scotia (Canada) and joins a number of Canadian standouts to wear the Husky uniform including former LEC Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference guard Alexa Srolovitz '19.
WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY CREDIT UNION/ATHLETIC DIRECTOR STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH?
Throughout each academic year as Huskies' Athletics moves from fall to winter to the spring competition, Southern Maine student-athletes are consistently recognized at the state, conference, regional and national level for their outstanding and noteworthy performances on the field of competition.
Academically, Huskies are also known for their superior performances earning All-Academic team honors from a variety of awards bureaus as well as the University. During the 2021-22 academic year, USM student-athletes combined for a department grade point average of 3.2. Each year, Husky student-athletes receive recognition for their athletic, academic and community service activities. Last spring, USM's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was named the University's Student Group of the Year for the fourth time in six years. And later this fall, Southern Maine Athletics is looking forward to honoring its hundreds of William B. Wise Scholar Athletes.
Proudly supporting and emphasizing the Division III student-athlete model, Huskies' Athletics focuses its goals on five key areas for each of its nearly 450 student-athletes: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community.
Many of USM student-athletes play big roles not only on their teams, but also in life - as student employees, mentors, student organization leaders, civic rights activists, residence life assistants, and more. With that in mind, Director of Athletics Al Bean and University Credit Union are coming together to create a new way to honor and amplify the remarkable contributions of our student-athletes that go far beyond the stat sheet with the UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month recognition.
"As a department, Huskies Athletics believes in the development of the overall student-athlete. As soon as they become a Husky, we are investing in their future. The goal for a USM student-athlete is for each and every one to realize their full potential academically, athletically, personally, professional and civically. Our student-athletes are leaders on and off of the field and in the community. With the creation of the UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month honor, we are seeking to establish a tangible way to congratulate and encourage the work of student-athletes both inside and outside of the competitive arena."
The UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month (one male, one female) will be chosen based upon Huskies' Five Key Pillars: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community. Members of the Huskies' Athletic Administration will nominate and choose those student-athletes to be recognized.
"We're excited for this new initiative and for the increased opportunities to recognize our tremendous student-athletes," said Bean. "UCU's partnership further demonstrates their commitment to the overall growth and development of our programs."
