GORHAM, Maine  – During the 40^th annual Husky Hall of Fame ceremony, the University of Southern Maine Department of Athletics will be honoring alumna Shannon (Kynoch) Bollhardt '08 with the 2026 Richard A. Costello Special Achievement Award.  The Husky Hall of Fame will be held on Sunday, September 27 (5:00 pm) at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland, Maine.
 
Named in honor of the legendary coach and administrator, the Costello award is presented to a University of Southern Maine graduate who has distinguished themselves through their commitment to student-athlete and athletics.  Bollhardt, a former Huskies' two-sport student-athlete competing in women's basketball and lacrosse, has continued to leadership role in sport with nearly two decades of experience coaching girls and women's basketball.
 
"Shannon is an outstanding choice for the Richard A. Costello Award, and she has embodied the spirt of Doc and this award since her time as a student-athlete at the University of Southern Maine," noted Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator Kim Turner.  "A tremendous student, compassionate leader, and joyful organizer as an undergraduate, Shannon has gone on to positively impact the lives of many girls and women in sport, and has also been a valuable member of the Saint Michael's College community at-large.  Without question, Shannon's call to service and coaching has made a difference for many and she is very deserving of this award."
 
A five-year member (including a medical redshirt season) of the Huskies' women's basketball team, Bollhardt helped Southern Maine to an overall record of 114-14, and a mark of 68-2 in Little East Conference action. A 2006-2007 team captain, Bollhardt and the Huskies won five regular-season titles during her career, and four tournament championships while making five NCAA Tournament appearances. During that time, the Huskies made two appearances in the NCAA Division III Final Four, finishing third in 2004-2005 and as the national runner-up in 2005-2006.  She finished her basketball career with 706 points, 482 rebounds, and 101 blocked shots in 117 career games. Bollhardt's 101 career blocked shots are listed as ninth in USM women's basketball history. A three-year member of USM's attack for Huskies' women's lacrosse, Bollhardt was a member of the 2008 team that finished 5-1 in the LEC, and was at the time the team's best finish in program history. Bollhardt had seven goals and an assist during the 2008 season.
 
Outside of competition, Bollhardt was a leader on campus serving as the Huskies' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President, and as an active member of Student Life.  During her time as a student-athlete leader, Kynoch helped organize the Husky Halloween Party, and community-service projects with the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital and the Preble Street Resource Center.  She was presented with the 2008 Paula D. Hodgdon Leadership Award as a senior, which is given annually to a female student-athlete who has displayed loyalty, dedication, leadership and commitment to her role as a student, athlete and leader. She was also recognized with the Husky Senior Achievement Award, and the Outstanding Student Leader Award by the University's Student Government, and earned William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete status.
 
Following her graduation from Southern Maine, Bollhardt pursued a career in coaching. Heading into her 14^th season as the head coach of the Saint Michael's College Purple Knights (NCAA Division II) women's basketball team, Bollhardt guided the Purple Knights to their NCAA championship debut, advanced to their first Northeast 10 semifinal championship since 1992, winning the most games in program history in nearly two decades. In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Bollhardt is the co-advisor for the Saint Michael's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and has also served as a member of the college's UpLIFT, and the Staff Welfare Committee after working within the Department of Athletics as a Purple Knight Leadership Academy advisor.
 
In 2023, Bollhardt earned Saint Michael's Buff Lindau Leadership Award. The Buff Lindau Leadership Award is given to a Saint Michael's staff member who is seen as a relationship-builder and servant-leader.  Bollhardt was recognized as someone who has provided leadership on her campus to both students and her colleagues through her work on committees, and community building events for staff and faculty.
 
Bollhardt earned her degree in Social Work form the University of Southern Maine in 2008. She went on to earn her Master's degree in Education from Saint Michael's College in 2015.