GORHAM, Maine – A champion in sport, academics and in service to community, one of the University of Southern Maine Huskies' best and brightest, recent alumna Sophia Slovenski '23 (Cape Neddick, Maine), has recently been named the recipient of the second annual Division III Commissioner's Association (DIIICA) Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year awards.
 
Named the Region II Student-Athlete of the Year earlier this summer by DIIICA, Sophia stood out among 20 other regional award winners and is the first winner of Division III Commissioner's Association Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year to represent the University of Southern Maine and the Little East Conference.  Selection criteria for the DIIICA Student-Athlete of the Year awards included considerations based on academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership and a personal statement submitted by each nominee.
 
A national champion and All-American, an Academic All-American and an advocate for mental health, girls and women in sport, and a community leader, Sophia has continued making an impact following her graduation from the University of Southern Maine. 
 
A founding member of the Huskies' Strong Girls United Chapter, Sophia has increased her involvement in the organization through a federal grant-funded position via the AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program and Up2Us Sports - the nationwide leader in engaging and training sports-based youth development coaches, practitioners, and organizations to address the most pressing issues facing youth in under-resourced urban communities.
 
"When I think about my time at USM and how it helped me grow as a person, I feel like I could write a book. The support from the athletic department staff at Southern Maine is next level, and all have left a lasting impact on me. Yes, every coach and staff member helped me exceed in athletics, but more importantly they taught me how to navigate life," said Slovenski.  Now, "working as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the Strong Girls United Foundation is a dream come true! I get to empower the younger generation through sports, mentorship, and mental health programming. I feel fortunate to work for an organization that inspires 'Strong Bodies, Kind Hearts, and Unstoppable Minds.'"
 
Always up for a challenge, Sophia recently announced that she's taking her passion for Strong Girls United to the New York City Marathon, and is training to run her first 26.2 event with the goal of fundraising $3500 for the SG United Foundation.  So far, Sophia has raced the "Just a Girl 5K" SG United Fundraiser, and recently partnered with Yoga on York, for a Beach Yoga Marathon Fundraiser, raising $200 towards her goal.
 
Sophia's time as a University of Southern Maine student-athlete is marked with achievement and awards, including the pinnacle of athletic excellence -  the title of National Champion. Sophia claimed her championship with her school record and nation's best javelin throw at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field National Championship.  A three-time NCAA All-American in the javelin and pole vault, Sophia concluded her tremendous career as a member of the Huskies' track & field teams as one of the most decorated and accomplished women to wear a University of Southern Maine uniform. 
 
"Being a Division III student-athlete and representing the University of Southern Maine brings me great pride," noted Slovenski. "It allowed me to focus on my academics, and pursue extracurriculars that filled my social and emotional tanks, while training alongside and competing against exceptionally dedicated and hardworking student-athletes. Going to a Division III institution challenged me to be a better student, athlete, and citizen."
 
Named a 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) First Team Academic All-American this spring, Sophia is the first Husky student-athlete to earn first team honors twice in their career (previously earning the award in 2020-2021). She is also the first female student-athlete in University of Southern Maine history to earn multiple Academic All-American citations.  Additionally, Slovenski has previously been named the 2022 recipient of the Department of Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences Outstanding Health Sciences Student Award and was named the 2021-22 USM Student Government Association's Most Outstanding Student Leader of the Year
 
A two-time winner of Huskies' Athletics' Paula D. Hodgdon Leadership Award (2023, 2022), Sophia has been a leader for the Huskies' Athletics throughout her time as an undergraduate.  Serving as president of USM's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), in addition to establishing the University's Strong Girls United chapter, Sophia spearheaded several activities promoting mental health, including SAAC's  "Mental Health Sundays" and "Husky Fri-Yays," as well as organizing programming and providing mentorship and mindfulness activities to girls in the Gorham area. 
 
Earning her bachelor's degree in health science with a minor in holistic & integrative health this May, Sophia graduated with a 3.96 cumulative grade point average, and now has her eyes set on graduate school with  "a mission to become a naturopathic doctor specializing in women's health."
 
"Receiving this award fills my heart with so much joy and gratitude," said Slovenski. "I will always be a Husky.  My team is my family, and competing and training alongside of them always brought a smile to my face.  The community that Coach Whitten has developed with the track & field programs, and the supportive environment of the Department of Athletics allowed me to be my authentic self."
 
In addition to her title as 2023 DIIICA Woman Student-Athlete of the Year award, Sophia has been named the Little East Conference Student-Athlete of the Year, and represents the LEC and the University of Southern Maine on the national ballot for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year accolade.
 
"Sophia is an absolutely incredible human being and one of the finest student-athletes I have ever had to pleasure to know," said University of Southern Maine Director of Athletics Al Bean. "She has accomplished so much during her time at USM, and has made an incredible difference for others.  I can think of very few people as deserving of this extraordinary recognition – Sophia is exceptional in every way possible."