SCHENECTADY, NY – Leyla Bhusri, a senior from Shenendehowa High School, and Shynelle Woroniuk, a graduate student from the University at Albany, received Grand honors at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Event held at the GE Theatre at Proctors on Monday evening, August 3, 2026.

Leyla was named the Grand Scholastic Woman of the Year and Shynelle was named the Grand Collegiate Woman of the Year. The event also honored 11 other female student-athletes from the region, who made up the 2026 Class of the Capital District Sports Women of the Year. CDSWOY honors excellence in academics, athletics and community service.

The virtual guest speaker was Christine Brennan, an award-winning national sports columnist for USA Today, a commentator for CNN, ABC News, PBS NewsHour and NPR, and is a New York Times best-selling author. Entertainment was provided by Angelina Valente.

Academically, Leyla recorded a GPA of 96.2%, which was in the top 10 in her class of 750 students at Shenendehowa. She had high honor roll status in all four years and is a member of the math and science honor society. Leyla, who took AP and other college level classes, earned the Chemistry Academic Excellence Award and was a national Latin exam award winner for three years. She received a scholarship to attend the University of Notre Dame.

Athletically, Leyla was the New York State Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2025. She was 12^th in the nation at the NXN Nationals in that season and was a Federation Champion. On the track, Leyla was a four-time All-American and won state and national titles. She is a Section 2 record holder and holds numerous school and section records and sectional championships. At the 2026 New Balance Outdoor Track & Field Nationals, Leyla and three teammates took second in the 4 x 800 relay after leading the first half of the race. Leyla and three teammates also posted the third-best time for the 4 x Mile relay in Section 2 history to finish second in that event.

Leyla’s community service features her work with the Best Buddies Program, which pairs general education students and students with disabilities in fun and enriching activities.

Academically, Shynelle was named a 2025 America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete as well as the 2025 SUNY D1Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She was a two-time CSC (College Sports Communicators) Academic All-District selection and was named to the America East All-Academic team twice. Shynelle was named to the America East Academic Honor Roll four times, and the conference’s Commissioner’s Honor Roll two times. She was selected to the Dean’s List for eight semesters and received the Graduate Achievement Award.

Athletically, Shynelle was a captain for four of her five volleyball seasons for UAlbany. She was a two-time America East First Team selection and was named twice to the America East All-Tournament Team. Shynelle consistently posted double-digit kills in three of her four seasons and was a six-rotation starter for three years. Her career statistics include 1,075 kills, 585 digs, 101 blocks, 69 aces, 36 assists and 1,196 points.

Shynelle’s community service includes numerous events and volunteering with multiple organizations with UAlbany volleyball. She worked with Community Night, To Life! (fundraiser for breast cancer), We Care (helping sexual assault survivors), Out of the Darkness Walk (for suicide prevention), Light the Night Walk (leukemia and lymphoma), The Red Bookshelf (local non-profit community literacy program), and the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. She added two internship-type experiences with UAlbany Athletic Training and the Alps Mountain Farm (with Capital Region Small Business Development Center), helping them secure a loan to assist in opening their business. Shynelle was the UAlbany volleyball SAAC representative and helped organize countless community service events and fundraisers.

Here are the other members of the CDSWOY Class of 2026 who were honored at the Awards Gala:

Lainey Bochette, Hoosic Valley High School

Mykah Collier-Fisher, Lake George High School

Peyton Hoblock, Shaker High School

Olivia Hoffman, Colonie High School

Brooke Howlan, Schalmont High School

Gabriella Kholstinin, Hudson Valley Community College

Addisyn Knapik, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School

Mattingly O’Rourke, Siena University

Sarah Rainville, Columbia High School

Lillian Steward, Scotia-Glenville High School

Brigid Toleman, Cambridge High School