ALBANY, NY – Jessica Baeckmann, a senior at Cairo-Durham High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2025 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Jessica, who competes in indoor and outdoor track & field and tennis, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets are available online at Proctors.org.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization (CDSWOY) honors the best and brightest female student athletes from high schools and colleges in the Capital District of New York State. The student-athletes will be recognized for their achievements in academics, athletics, and community service. More information is provided at the website: cdswoy.com.

Academically, Jessica has been on the Principal’s Honor Roll through middle school and High Honor Roll through high school. She was awarded merit scholarships from each college and university that she applied to and will attend Marist College in the fall. Each year, Jessica has received awards from each of her classes for Outstanding Academic Achievement and/or Exemplary Performance. She finished in the top five of her graduating class at Cairo-Durham High School. Jessica was named one of the Winter 24-25 CDHS Students of the Month.

Athletically, Jessica holds seven indoor track & field school records and five outdoor track & field records at Cairo-Durham. She holds all the hurdles and jumping records. Jessica was a Patroon Conference First Team All-Star as a junior and senior in both track & field and tennis. She also won the Patroon Conference Championship in tennis in her senior season.

In the community, Jessica has been a member of the Interact Club for four years. Along with her National Honor Society membership, she has served over 100 hours of community service. She has tutored students at the middle school and volunteered for the Literacy Program at the elementary school. Jessica participated in a large-scale service project, helping to build a women’s shelter in Costa Rica. She shopped for holiday gifts for families in need, worked at pancake breakfasts, and organized and worked at road clean up days.

Jessica becomes the first Cairo-Durham High School student-athlete selected by CDSWOY.

A total of 10 high school and four college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 4 event. The next recipient will be announced on July 9.