SCHENECTADY, NY — Grace Dobrzynski, a senior at Siena College, and Alivia Landy, a senior at Columbia High School, received Grand honors at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala held at the GE Theatre at Proctors on Monday evening, August 4, 2025.

Grace was named the Grand Collegiate Woman of the Year and Alivia was named the Grand Collegiate Woman of the Year. The event also honored 12 other female student-athletes from the region, who made up the 2025 Class of the Capital District Sports Women of the Year. CDSWOY honors excellence in academics, athletics and community service.

Liz Bishop, recently retired from WRGB-TV, CBS6, received the Award of Appreciation. The virtual guest speaker was Emma Baccellieri, an author and writer with Sports Illustrated. Entertainment was provided by Angelina Valente.

CDSWOY now features a total of 78 student-athletes who have been awarded since the program’s inception in 2020.

Academically, Grace graduated with a 4.0 cumulative GPA with a BS degree in Biology. She will continue her education at the University at Albany Medical Program to become a doctor. Grace was named the Leo and Jeannine Dufort Student-Athlete of the Month for February and was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team and MAAC Academic Honor Roll. She was named the 2024-25 Siena Female Student-Athlete of the Year for the second straight year.

Athletically, Grace became the all-time Siena women’s lacrosse career points leader with 228. She achieved the mark on April 5 and wound up with the all-time mark of 256 career points. She also is first all-time with 174 assists (more than double the second-place ranked player), and finished the 2025 season with 26 goals, 36 assists and 62 points, leading the Saints in assists and points. She was named to the MAAC First Team at attack and the MAAC Championship Team and was named to the MAAC Preseason Team entering the 2025 season.

Grace contributed over 270 hours of community service as a cabin counselor at the Double H Ranch and the Kenya Lacrosse Association. She was a nominee for the Allstate NACDA Good Work Team by the Team Selection Committee.

Academically, Alivia graduated with an advanced regent’s diploma. She had a 95.5 final rank weighted average. Alivia was a member of the Math League, Student Council and Devil’s Advocate.

Athletically, on the volleyball court in her senior season of 2024, Alivia was a New York State First Team all-star and was named to the Suburban Council First Team. She served as the team captain last fall. She was a Suburban Council second-team selection in her junior season. Alivia’s basketball honors included three First Team honors, in the state, for the Albany Times Union, and the Suburban Council. She was also the Suburban MVP and a News Channel 13 All-Star. Alivia was the team captain and a 1,000-point scorer. Previous honors included all star honors from each of the three organizations in her junior year and a second team council selection as a sophomore. She was a key member of the Columbia flag football team that went 15-3 and reached the state semifinals in 2025. She was also the team captain for the flag football team. Previous honors on the field in 2024 included Section 2 Player of the Year and Albany Times Union Defensive Athlete of the Year along with the newspaper’s First Team at linebacker.

In the community, Alivia volunteered in youth camps in all three of her sports. She joined her basketball teammates in the Adopt A Family program and wrote Valentine’s Day cards for residents at senior homes. Alivia helped at the Columbia High School Multi-Cultural Fair and served as a volunteer coach with the Unified Basketball Team.

Here are the other members of the CDSWOY Class of 2025 who were honored at the Awards Gala:

Jessica Baeckmann, Cairo-Durham High School

Kayla Beaudoin, Tamarac High School

Morgan Brewer, Academy of the Holy Names

Rachel Chen, Shenendehowa High School

Moira Collins, Hudson Valley Community College

Mira Ginsburg, Shaker High School

Annabelle Goyette, Lansingburgh High School

Keeley Kristel, Scotia-Glenville High School

Larissa Lee, La Salle Institute

Leah Madore, Russell Sage College

Allie O’Rourke, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School

Ava Poupard, University at Albany

ALBANY, NY – Kayla Beaudoin, a senior at Tamarac 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.

Kayla, who competes in basketball and volleyball, 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, Kayla received NYSPHSAA Section 2 School of Excellence Distinction from 2020 through 2024. She has earned High Honor Roll (95+) and scholar-athlete recognition since seventh grade. Kayla was a member of the Tamarac High School DEI Committee and was a National Honor Society member in her junior and senior years while earning National Junior Honor Society as a freshman and sophomore. She was selected by her coaches to represent Tamarac as the female scholar athlete in 2024-25. Kayla was named top Female Scholar Athlete for the Wasaren League and received the LeMoyne College Heights Award while taking advanced classes.

Athletically, Kayla was an Albany Times Union all-star in both her junior and senior years. In the Section 2 Basketball Record Book, she broke records with over 400 points in a season and over 100 three-pointers in her varsity career. This past season, she was a Section 2 All Star, a member of the All-Tournament Team for the Holiday Hoop Fest. She played for AAU-Elite Basketball teams since fifth grade. Previously in basketball she was a Rookie of the Year and won a Coaches Award. On the volleyball court in her senior year, Kayla won the Coaches Award and was the Captain while earning Second Team All-Star honors. Previous honors in her volleyball career include Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, MVP and First Team Outside Hitter.

In the community, Kayla has worked closely with the Northeast Epilepsy Foundation. At 6 months of age, Kayla was diagnosed with epilepsy and had over 40 seizures by age 1. She takes medicine twice a day to control her seizures. Kayla started volunteering for the foundation early on to give back for its support of her and her family. Kayla went to Washington, DC to meet with legislators, has gone on several walks to promote Epilepsy awareness, and was the Epilepsy Winning Kid in second grade. She organized Kayla’s Cure Crew which has raised over $75,000 and organized an Epilepsy Awareness Basketball game at her school her sophomore year. Throughout her high school career, Kayla has been a volunteer for Sunmark Credit Union Foundation, Coaches vs. Cancer, Unity House, Coats for Kids, and a basketball youth clinic.

Kayla becomes the first Tamarac 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 final recipient will be announced on July 15.

ALBANY, NY – Ava Poupard, a senior at the University at Albany, has been named as one of the four collegiate award recipients for 2025 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Poupard, who competes in lacrosse, 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, Ava has previously been named to the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll. She is a four-time Dean’s List honoree and was named to the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll twice as well as twice being named to the America East Academic Honor Roll.

Athletically, Ava was named to the America East All-Tournament Team and was a Second Team America East All-Conference selection. She also made the All-Rookie team in her first season at UAlbany. Ava recorded five multi-goal and  eight multi-point games in the 2025 season. She tallied 21 multi-goal and 28 multi-point games throughout her career. Ava finished her career with 76 goals and 22 assists for 98 points in 72 games. She was a member of the back-to-back America East Championship teams in her junior and senior seasons.

In the community, Ava co-founded the Hidden Opponent during her freshman season. This is a student-athlete mental health awareness chapter at UAlbany. She was President of that organization for two years. Ava has tabled countless events to help spread awareness for student-athlete mental health. The UAlbany chapter of the Hidden Opponent is one of the most active chapters in the country despite its founding only four years ago. Ava is also an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee with its multiple fundraising and community activities.

Ava becomes the fourth University at Albany student-athlete selected by CDSWOY, joining Katie Pascale (2024), Amanda Chambers (2023) and Katie Falotico (2022).

A total of 10 high school and four college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 4 event. The final recipients will be announced on July 14 and July 15.

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.

ALBANY, NY – Allie O’Rourke, a senior at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 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.

Allie, who competes in field hockey and track & field, 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, Allie was a scholar-athlete for all four years at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School. She was a three-time High Honor Roll member and in the National Honor Society. Allie was an International Club Member and also in the Math Honor Society and World Language Honor Society. She graduated with an Advanced Regents Diploma with the BHBL Merit Seal.

Athletically, Allie played for three Section 2 Class B field hockey champions including last season. Those three teams each won the Class B regional championship. She was a member of the Section 2 Suburban Council champions in all four of her seasons. Allie was named to the NYSPHSAA All-State Tournament Team in 2024, her second time. She was a two-time Albany Times Union field hockey first team all-star and a three-time Suburban Council first team all-star. In outdoor track, Allie was a member of numerous 4×400 championship events and was a member of the NYS Section 2 Division 2 Team Championships in all four years at BHBL. She holds school indoor track records, including relays, in four events and five outdoor events, including relays. Allie is part of the Section 2 Indoor Track record in the 4×400 and owns an individual Section 2 record in the 800. In 2025, she won sectional titles in the 4×100 relay 4×400 relay, the 1500, and the 200 and won two more State Titles in the 4×800 and the 4×400 and became All American two more times at New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia for the 4×800 and mixed 4×400. In doing so Allie broke additional school records in the 4×800 and mixed 4×400. 

In the community, Allie serves as a coach with youth track and field weekly from April through June, and field hockey weekly from December through March. She has helped organize a youth field hockey summer camp and a youth field hockey tournament for many years. She also volunteered at a youth track and field summer camp.

Allie becomes the second Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake student-athlete selected by CDSWOY. She joins Carly Rzeszotarski (2022).

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 7.

ALBANY, NY – Grace Dobrzynski, a senior at Siena College, has been named as one of the four collegiate award recipients for 2025 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Grace, who competes in lacrosse, 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, Grace graduated with a 4.0 cumulative GPA with a BS degree in Biology. She will continue her education at the University at Albany Medical Program to become a doctor. Grace was named the Leo and Jeannine Dufort Student-Athlete of the Month for February and was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team and MAAC Academic Honor Roll. She was named the 2024-25 Siena Female Student-Athlete of the Year for the second straight year.

Athletically, Grace became the all-time Siena women’s lacrosse career points leader with 228. She achieved the mark on April 5 and wound up with the all-time mark of 256 career points. She also is first all-time with 174 assists (more than double the second-place ranked player), and finished the 2025 season with 26 goals, 36 assists and 62 points, leading the Saints in assists and points. She was named to the MAAC First Team at attack and the MAAC Championship Team and was named to the MAAC Preseason Team entering the 2025 season.

Grace contributed over 270 hours of community service as a cabin counselor at the Double H Ranch and the Kenya Lacrosse Association. She was a nominee for the Allstate NACDA Good Work Team by the Team Selection Committee.

Grace becomes the third Siena student-athlete selected by CDSWOY. She joins Talia Spenziero (2024) and Olivia Lomascolo (2023).

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 2.

ALBANY, NY – Larissa Lee, a senior at La Salle Institute, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2025 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Larissa, who competes in soccer and softball, 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 will be available soon 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, Larissa was the Valedictorian of the La Salle Class of 2025. She was the President of the National Honors Society and the Spanish Club. Larissa was the Executive Officer of the Symphonic and Jazz Bands and is a dual enrollment student at Hudson Valley Community College.

Athletically, Larissa was a four-year captain of the softball team and a three-year captain of the soccer squad. She started the first girls basketball team at La Salle. Larissa received the Monica Bentley Memorial Award, which is presented to a student athlete at La Salle who was outgoing and caring to others on their teams. In soccer, she won the Coaches Award, which recognizes players who demonstrate exemplary qualities beyond just athletic ability, often focusing on leadership, team spirit and positive contributions to the team’s success. Larissa was Most Valuable Player for the softball team.

Larissa’s community service includes serving with the 518 Ukrainians Helper program, the Media Ministry at St. Nicholas Church (streaming the mass every Sunday), and visiting the Van Rensselaer Manor Nursing Home for the Lasallian Youth program. She organized a Dress Down Day fundraiser at La Salle to raise money for Ukraine and is an aid for Ukrainian preschoolers. Larissa also tutors at Sunnyside Daycare, assists in the La Salle Business Program Bottle Drive every month, volunteers for the Troy Turkey Trot and is a La Salle ambassador and tour guide.

Larissa becomes the first La Salle Institute 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 1.