2023-2024 University Credit Union Student-Athlete of the Month Program
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, the University of Southern Maine & University Credit Union 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.
November 2023's UCU Student-Athlete of the Month honors a pair of student-athletes who have turned in strong individual performances leading to outstanding team success. Huskies' Athletics looks forward to continuing this recognition program throughout the year and its valuable partnership with University Credit Union.
Jordan Cummings | Senior | Health Sciences | Auburn, Maine | Field Hockey
Recently named the Little East Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season (2022, 2023),
Jordan Cummings is now also a two-time National Field Hockey Coaches' Association (NFHCA) All-Region selection. One of just two Husky field hockey players to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors in program history, Cummings helped lead Southern Maine to its first Little East Conference Championship in 20 seasons.
A senior Health Sciences major, Jordan is a two-time NFHCA Academic Squad member and a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree. During the 2023 season, Jordan spearheaded a stingy Husky defense that finished the LEC regular season undefeated (6-0), and limited its opponents to a 1.46 GAA.
Chance Dixon | Senior | Sport Management | Lake Worth, Fla. | Men's Basketball
Helping Huskies' men's basketball off to a strong start to the 2023-2024 season, senior guard
Chance Dixon has picked up right where he left off last season averaging nearly 20 points per game. A lethal three-point shooter nearly anywhere on the court is in range for the Huskies' guard who has scored at least 20 points in four of seven games so far this season.
A 2022-2023 All-Little East Conference selection, Chance has knocked down 16 threes so far this season. In a thrilling 77-70 win over Maine Maritime, Chance matched his career-high point total dropping 32 points on the Mariners, including 20 in the second half to led a USM rally to victory. Currently sitting at 845 career points and 160 career threes, Chance is on pace to score 1000 points in his career, and is currently fourth all-time in career three-point field goals made.
A Sport Management major, Chance earned National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honor Court recognition for his academic success in 2023, and was a College Sports Communicator Academic All-District selection in 2023.
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."
