Jenna Hoffman

Jenna Hoffman and the word “idle” just don’t mix.

“As I grew up, I wanted to be involved with everything,” Maple Hill’s Student Council and National Honor Society president, senior class vice president and board of education student rep said. “I have a plan every morning. School first, sports, and do the clubs.”

There’s that volunteer work beyond the classroom, too, that keeps the four-sport athlete and Principal’s List mainstay on her toes. Just for starters, she is a Girl Scout Silver Award winner based on her community service, a Junior EMT and a Pen Pal for Castle Hill residents.

“When you have a passion for things, you make it work,” said Hoffman, who is one of 10 high school honorees for the second-annual Capital District Sports Women of the Year awards.

Sports are among her passions, and during her senior year she played four of them, including tennis for the first time last fall when volleyball due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time was shifted to the “Fall II” season in March and April. She played softball and basketball, as well, and will continue to shoot hoops when she attends St. John Fisher College and majors in Inclusion Childhood Education. The Service Scholarship she received from the Rochester institution means she will be doing many hours of volunteer work, and she said she can’t wait to find out just who she will be helping out.

“I just want to put people before myself,” said the 18-year-old, who during her time at Maple Hill mentored younger students, participated in the Miracle League Basketball program and served on its mental health committee. “It comes from my mom [Jackie Hoffman], who has always been a wonderful role model for me. She made me want to influence people around me.”

“Jenna volunteers so much of her time to help others which makes her an outstanding member of the school community and the Schodack community as a whole,” Maple Hill science teacher and varsity volleyball coach Leonard Bacon said of his team captain and MVP.

Hoffman has been honored time and again for her athletic performance and for her selfless efforts, and has received the YMCA Leadership Award, Hoby Leadership Award, Ryla Rotary Youth Leadership Award, Kiwanis Outstanding Senior Award and a Heisman Scholarship.

“It makes me feel great,” Hoffman said of her willingness to give, like she did by making thank-you signs for essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and by creating and organizing a holiday video tribute for the Maple Hill staff. “When I become a teacher, my goal is to make them all feel they are something.”

While Hoffman earned first-team Patroon Conference all-star status this school year in basketball and volleyball, she proved to be a pretty good tennis player too and won the league doubles title to go with her numerous other accomplishments.

“She is everything a coach wants in a player and more; she works hard, values commitment, and is coachable. She is humble, hungry, and is always striving for improvement,” said Maple Hill social studies teacher and varsity softball coach Patrick Austin. “When it came time to choose a team captain for this season, it was an easy decision. Jenna is the quintessential role model that others look up to and she has the leadership, poise, and maturity that a coach looks for in a player to fill that position.”