2024-2025 University Credit Union Student-Athletes of the Month

January 2025
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.
 
January 2025 UCU Student-Athlete of the Month honors a pair of standout field athletes from the Huskies' men's and women's track & field programs who have been setting records and establishing themselves among the best in NCAA Division III.

Zoe Barnes| Senior | Nursing | New Gloucester, Maine

 
Named the Little East Conference Field Athlete of the Week twice in the month of January, senior Zoe Barnes has continued to excel in the shot put and weight throw for the Huskies. Currently ranked first in the Little East Conference in both events, Zoe's shot put mark of 12.73m is third in the East Region, and 37^th in NCAA Division III.  Zoe's mark of 15.39m in the weight throw is fifth in the East Region, and currently 54^th in NCAA Division III. Zoe is a two-time USTFCCCA All-Region student-athlete in the shot put during indoor competition.

During the outdoor seasons, Zoe has been named the LEC Field Athlete of the Year consecutively in 2023, and 2024, winning the championship in the shot put and the discus. She currently holds the outdoor program record in the shot put and the discus – both set during the 2024 spring season.  A Nursing student, Zoe is a William B. Wise Scholar Athlete.


 

Will Carrollton | Graduate Student | Policy, Planning & Management | Bath, Maine

 
Since joining the Huskies' program during the 2023-2024 season, Will has become Southern Maine's record holder in both the shot put and the discus.  At the 2025 Husky Invitational, Will extended his program record in the shot put with a throw of 15.39m to place first in the event. Will's recent mark is tops in the Little East Conference, currently ranks second in the East Region, and is 37^th in NCAA Division III standings.

At the 2025 Bates Invitational, Will set a personal-best in the weight throw at 13.71m and now ranks fourth in program history.  At 2024 LEC Champion during the outdoor season in the shot put and discus, Will earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors. He is a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection, and a USTFCCCA All-Academic student-athletes.



 

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 2023-24 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.  
 
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, former Director of Athletics Al Bean partnered with  University Credit Union 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.