ALBANY, NY – Kennedy Swedick, a senior at The Albany Academies, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2024 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Kennedy, who competes in golf, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets are available online at proctors.org or at the Proctors Box Office.

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, Kennedy graduated as the Salutatorian. She carried a 4.24 GPA, scored a 1570 on her SAT and a 35 on her ACT, and is a member of Cum Laude. She also received a Harvard Book Award.

Athletically, Kennedy won the NYS Women’s Amateur Championship as a 15 year old. This year she made it to the Quarterfinals in the US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship in San Antonio, Texas. She won her third straight NYSPHSAA Girls’ Golf Championship, shooting 8 under par for the tournament. She won the NENY PGA Section qualifier shooting 11 under par for the tournament and will play in her fifth straight Girls’ PGA Jr. Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. Kennedy was a co-medalist at the U.S. Girls’ Jr. Qualifier, shooting three under par for the tournament. She will play in her fourth straight U.S. Girls’ Jr. Championship at El Caballero Country Club in Los Angeles, California. This month, Kennedy is competing in the AJGA Ralph Lauren Junior Classic at Bethpage – Black Course. She will compete at the University of Virginia and the team’s first tournament in September will be in Japan.

Kennedy’s community service includes volunteering for the Special Olympics, where she worked with the golfing competitors. She also worked with Camp Abilities Saratoga, a sports camp for children and teens who are visually impaired, blind, or deafblind. Finally, for several years she assisted with the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge (VBOB), a World War II association that celebrates and puts on luncheons and programs for the veterans who served, as Kennedy’s own Great-Grandfather was killed in action in the Battle. She becomes the first student-athlete from The Albany Academies to be selected by CDSWOY.

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 12 event. The next recipient will be announced on July 1.

ALBANY, NY – Isabella Miller, a senior at Fonda-Fultonville High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2024 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Isabella, who competes in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets are available online at proctors.org or at the Proctors Box Office.

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, Isabella received the Xerox Award from the University of Rochester for the Highest Cumulative Average during her high school career. She also received the Highest Average in Algebra honor, the Excellence in AP Biology award and Excellence in Anatomy & Physiology and Highest Average in Geometry honor. Isabella was third in her graduating class at Fonda-Fultonville and made the Principal’s List in each of her four years.

Athletically, Isabella was presented the Section II Class C Sportsmanship Award at the New York State Cross Country Meet. Isabella was a two-time Most Valuable Cross Country Runner for Fonda-Fultonville as well as a two-time Best Distance Runner in Indoor Track and Outdoor Track. She was named a WAC All-Star all four years and qualified for the State Cross Country Championship Meet in 2023. Other honors included Dedicated Cross Country Runner and Best Newcomer for Indoor Track. For 2023, she was the Ken Smith Bi-County Female Track Athlete of the Meet and in 2024 she was the Overall Female Athlete of the Meet. In her senior season, Isabella was the MVP for both Indoor Track and Outdoor Track. She also received the WAC Scholarship Award.

Isabella’s community service includes serving an internship at the Neural Stem Cell Institute in Rensselaer. She was a Ronald McDonald House volunteer and at Conbeer’s Farm as well as serving as a volunteer coach at a Learn to Row Summer Camp. She also received the Seal of Civic Readiness. At graduation, Isabella will be receiving the Community Service Award for completing over 300 community service hours during her time at Fonda-Fultonville.

Isabella becomes the second Fonda-Fultonville student-athlete selected by CDSWOY. She joins Emma Crahan, who was selected in 2023.

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 12 event. The next recipient will be announced on June 28.

ALBANY, NY – Talia Spenziero, a senior at Siena College, has been named as one of the three collegiate award recipients for 2024 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Talia, who competes in swimming & diving, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets are available online at proctors.org or at the Proctors Box Office.

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, Talia graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Health Studies at Siena. She earned an Outstanding Academic Athlete Award and received the distinguished Alpha Kappa Alpha membership award, which is the highest award granted to a Siena Honor Society member. Talia was a two-time CSC (College Sports Communicators) Academic All-District Selection. She earned MAAC All-Academic and MAAC Academic Honor Roll recognition throughout her collegiate career.

Athletically, Talia was a five-time All-MAAC Diver at Siena. She finished second in one-meter diving and fourth in three-meter diving at the 2024 MAAC Swimming & Diving Championships. A six-time MAAC Diver of the Week in the 2023-24 season, Talia received 11 weekly MAAC honors during her career. She was the 2023 MAAC One-Meter Diving Champion and was the MAAC Co-Diver of the Meet at that championship event. She is a two-time NCAA Diving Zone Regional Qualifier (2022 and 2023), and a one-time competitor in that meet.

Talia’s community service includes her time as a Global Medical Volunteer at Oaxaca, Mexico in 2022. Weekdays, she spent five hours every morning learning about the disparities in the healthcare system and the struggles of those with lower incomes. She volunteers at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society and at Albany Medical Center. At Albany Med, Talia provides activities at the children’s hospital. She is a member of the Red Cross Club at Siena, where she assists in service events including blood drives, fundraising management, 5K runs, and food drives. She also coaches for the Siena swim clinic.

Talia becomes the second Siena College student-athlete selected by CDSWOY. She joins Olivia Lomascolo, who was selected in 2023.

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 12 event. The next recipient will be announced on June 26.

ALBANY, NY – Ariana Dingley, a senior at Lansingburgh High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2024 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Ariana, who competes in bowling, soccer and softball, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets are available online at proctors.org or at the Proctors Box Office.

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, Ariana was the Valedictorian of the Class of 2024 at Lansingburgh with a 99+ average. She earned High Honor Roll recognition in each marking period in grades seven through 12 and is a member of the National Honor Society. Ariana received the Rensselaer Medal for outstanding academic achievement in mathematics and science. She also was awarded the Certificate of Merit, given by the new York State Capital District Society of Engineers. Ariana performed at the All-County Band Music Festival.

Athletically, Ariana was a Colonial Council Co-Defensive Girls Soccer Player of the Year and Team Most Valuable Player during her career. She was a two-time First Team Section 2 Class B Girls Soccer All-Star. She was a two-time Colonial Council First Team All-Star in bowling, and served as a captain in all three sports, bowling, soccer and softball.

Ariana’s community service includes assisting nursing home residents at Heritage House. She was a volunteer for Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Club and assisted with numerous fund raisers and events and also placing flags on headstones for the Lansingburgh Veteran’s club. Ariana was the treasurer of her class in all four years of high school, and her activities included Odyssey of the Mind, SADD Club, and working on school musicals.

Ariana becomes the first Lansingburgh High School student-athlete selected by CDSWOY since the program began in 2020.

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 12 event. The next recipient will be announced on June 24.

ALBANY, NY – MacKenna Roberson, a senior at Hoosick Falls High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2024 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

MacKenna, who competes in basketball, field hockey and softball, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets are available online at proctors.org or at the Proctors Box Office.

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, MacKenna has been a scholar-athlete each year since seventh grade. She has been named to the Principal List and Honor Roll and is a member of the National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society.

Athletically, MacKenna received the Triple Crown Award at Hoosick Falls for four years and was the basketball team’s Rookie of the Year Award recipient in her freshman year. She was a two-time basketball Most Valuable Player and a two-time First Team All-Star in field hockey. In 2023, she was named to the All-State Team in field hockey.

MacKenna’s community service includes volunteering for the EC Fund and working in the Hoosick Falls Waterworks program. She assisted youth in making projects for loved ones for Christmas and helped coach youth programs for basketball and field hockey. She was a volunteer at the Karen Magovern Volleyball Tournaments and assisted teachers in cleaning classrooms. MacKenna volunteered at the HACA Food Pantry and Christmas Wish Work program. She assisted the Town of Hoosick Falls in work for the town and mentored at the Town of Hoosick Falls Youth Center.

MacKenna becomes the first Hoosick Falls High School student-athlete selected by CDSWOY since the program began in 2020.

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 12 event. The next recipient will be announced on June 21.

ALBANY, NY – Amber Kolpakas, a senior at Galway High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2024 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Amber, who competes in basketball, softball and volleyball, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets will be available online at proctors.org or at the Proctors Box Office in July.

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, Amber ranks 10th in her class at Galway. Athletically, Amber was a three-time First Team All-State selection in volleyball and was a two-time league Most Valuable Player and Offensive Most Valuable Player twice each. She was a four-time Section 2 First Team All-Star and was selected to the Albany Times Union Section 2 All-Star team, the only small school player selected. She made the All-State First Team twice and Second Team once. Amber made the New York State All-Tournament Team three times in her career. She set a school record with 1,578 career kills and recorded 1,028 career digs. On the softball field, Amber was the League Most Valuable Player twice and three-time Division MVP. She was selected to the Section 2 All-League First Team twice and once received Second Team honors.

Amber’s community service includes making personal hygiene packages for a backpack program and making blankets for a dog shelter. She assisted a teacher by organizing musical performances for a service project. Amber is extremely active with youth coaching in the community, including youth softball and volleyball camps. She also helped softball little leaguers to learn how to pitch.

Amber becomes the fourth Galway High School student-athlete selected by CDSWOY. She joins Grace O’Brien (2023), Isabella Mancini (2021) and Rachel Wnuk (2020, the first year of CDSWOY).

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 12 event. The next recipient will be announced on June 19.

ALBANY, NY – Lisa Bluder, who recently retired as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Iowa, will serve as the virtual guest speaker at the 2024 Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala. The event will take place on Monday, August 12, 2024 at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady, NY and will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The Capital District Sports Women of the Year program (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. Ticket information will be announced later in the month of July. Recipients will be announced throughout June and July at CDSWOY.COM.

“Lisa Bluder is one of the most decorated and successful collegiate women’s basketball coaches in history, and we are so honored to have her serve as a speaker after her recent retirement,” said Eric McDowell, President of CDSWOY, who served as the Press Conference Moderator at the tournament in Albany. “I was fortunate to have met Coach Bluder at the NCAA Sweet 16 & Elite 8 tournament in March. She embodies what CDSWOY stands for, and her development of talented and dedicated young women on and off the court, including the greatest scorer in men and women’s college basketball history, is remarkable. Our honorees will be blessed to hear her passion and words of wisdom for their special evening.”

On May 13, Bluder announced her retirement from coaching after 40 years as a collegiate head coach, including 24 at the University of Iowa.

Among her many accolades, Bluder was named the Naismith Coach of the Year (2019), was a three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2001, 2008, 2010), four-time regional coach of the year (2001, 2008, 2018, 2019), and the Carol Eckman Award winner (2015) in addition to being an inductee into the Des Moines Register Hall of Fame (2016), the Quad City Times Hall of Fame (2012), the Linn-Mar Athletic Hall of Fame (2008) and the Northern Iowa Hall of Fame (2000). Bluder amassed 884 career wins, 10th most in NCAA women’s basketball history.

Bluder was named head coach at the University of Iowa in 2000 and retires as the all-time winningest coach in Big Ten history with an overall record of 528-254 and a Big Ten record of 262-145. Under her leadership, the Hawkeyes advanced to the last two National Championship Games and made 22 postseason appearances overall (18 NCAA and 4 WNIT), including 14 of the last 16 NCAA Tournaments. Bluder led the Hawkeyes to five Big Ten Tournament titles, and two shared Big Ten regular season championships.

Under her tutelage, Hawkeye players were named the National Player of the Year three times with two others named consensus All-Americans. Three different players were named the Big Ten Player of the Year and also three different players recognized as Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Sixty-five Hawkeyes earned All-Big Ten honors. Seventeen former Hawkeyes went on to play professionally. In the classroom, her student-athletes were named Academic All-Big Ten more than 150 times, while Ally Disterhoft (2016, 2017) and Caitlin Clark (2023, 2024) were both recognized as the Academic All-American of the Year.

Bluder began her coaching career as head coach at St. Ambrose University for six seasons (1985-90) followed by a 10-year head coaching stint at Drake (1991-2000). Bluder and the Bulldogs won four Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championships (1995, 1997, 1998, 2000) and three regular season titles (1997, 1998, 2000).

Previous CDSWOY virtual guest speakers include Chris Plonsky of the University of Texas, Tara VanDerveer of Stanford University, Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsey Jacobellis, and Jessica Mendoza of ESPN.

SCHENECTADY, NY — Kara Bacon, a senior from Warrensburg High School, and Hannah Price, a senior from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 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 7, 2023.

Kara was named the Grand Scholastic Woman of the Year and Hannah 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 2023 Class of the Capital District Sports Women of the Year. CDSWOY honors excellence in academics, athletics and community service.

The virtual guest speaker was ESPN personality Jessica Mendoza, an Olympic Gold Medalist. Entertainment was provided by members of the Empire State Youth Orchestra.

Academically, Kara is ranked #3 in her class with a 97.5 average. She has earned high honor roll recognition in all four years at Warrensburg. Kara was a HOBY Leadership Award recipient and also a President’s Award recipient in her junior year. She has received the George Eastman Young Leader Scholarship as well as the Innovation and Creation Scholarship. A member of the Nation Honor Society, Kara was a NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Award winner in all four years. She is a member of the school’s French Club and Varsity Club.

Kara played soccer for five seasons, softball for four seasons and basketball for three seasons. She was a varsity captain for all three sports. She was named a First Team Adirondack League All Star three times in soccer, twice in softball and once in basketball. In soccer, she was a two-time Section 2 All-Star including 2022, the Offensive Player of the Year in her senior season. Her team was a Section 2 semi-finalist. On the court, Kara also was the Offensive Player of the Year this past season, and was a NYSSWA Class C Honorable Mention All Star. Her softball teams this season was a Section 2 Semifinalist, and she was the MVP of the Maple Hill Tournament this spring. Kara has signed a letter of intent to play softball at LeMoyne.

Kara’s community service includes volunteering for the Red Cross Blood Drive and the Honor Society Book Fair. She is a student ambassador for the Wounded Warrior Project and the Community Halloween Trail. She also volunteers as an official for youth basketball, soccer, and softball.

An Economics and Sustainability Studies dual major, Hannah is a multiple Dean’s List and ECAC Hockey All-Academic selection. When RPI’s 2020-21 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she received the team’s Bill Cahill Memorial Award, presented annually to a player who displays high character, ability, and dedication. In 2021, she received third prize in the McKinney Writing Contest for her entry in Undergraduate Essay/Creative Nonfiction. In both 2022 and 2023, Hannah was named a finalist for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, a national award recognizing the best and brightest in the classroom, in the community, and on the ice in men’s and women’s collegiate ice hockey. She was one of five national finalists for the award each season. In addition, she earned RPI’s Livingston W. Houston Citizenship Award awarded to a select few top students of the institute by RPI’s student life office.

Hannah, a defenseman, played in all 32 games for the Engineers in 2022-23, recording five goals and two assists for seven points.  She had just two minor penalties for four minutes, while registering 29 shots on goal and 33 blocks at the defensive end. In 98 career games at RPI, she had seven goals and eight assists for 15 points. She was a staple & starter for the Engineers all four years she dressed in Red. In May, Hannah signed a professional contract with the Vienna Sabres of the EWHL in Austria.

Since her arrival in 2019, Hannah has been a leader on and off the ice. Serving as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in 2022-23 after serving as a team representative for previous three years, she helped expand the group’s efforts including co-sponsoring a blood drive with the American Red Cross, where she was responsible for recruiting and promoting the event. She also created such initiatives as Fresh Check Mental Health Days, Troy School 2 Reading Program and Special Olympics Basketball. She was the RPI Food Recovery Network President, helping to save thousands of pounds of food from RPI’s dining halls for donation to a local food pantry for redistribution to the needy. Hannah was her team’s Team Community Service Coordinator and as the team forged a partnership with Hope 7 Food Pantry & After School Program. The Pittsburgh native coordinated Skate with the Engineers and developed a new partnership with Clifton Park Youth Hockey. Hannah volunteers with Troy Street Soldiers and Catholic Charities Mass Food Distribution. She recently served an internship at the State Attorney’s Office in the Environmental Protection Bureau.

Here are the other members of the CDSWOY Class of 2023 who were honored at the Awards Gala:

• Amanda Chambers, University at Albany
• Emma Crahan, Fonda-Fultonville HS
• Rylee Dunbar, Corinth HS
• Isabella Franchi, Colonie HS
• Rachael Frazier, Maple Hill HS
• Emily Frost, Tamarac HS
• Addyson Galuski, Waterford-Halfmoon HS
• Kayla Grant. Lake George HS
• Zoey Lints, Schoharie HS
• Olivia Lomascolo, Siena College
• Grace O’Brien, Galway HS

ALBANY, NY – Members of the acclaimed Empire State Youth Orchestra will perform at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year 2023 Awards Gala on Monday, August 7 at 7 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors.

Tickets are now on sale for the event at the Proctors Box Office or at proctors.org. The Capital District Sports Women of the Year program (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.

Empire State Youth Orchestra engages more than 600 youth from across New York’s Capital Region and Western New England in the joyful pursuit of musical excellence. Guided by outstanding teaching artists, coaches and conductors, members explore their potential alongside like-minded peers in an environment that is musically daring and fun.

This year’s performers will be Julia Spretty and Peyton Roach.

“We are very pleased to have exceptional performers from the Empire State Youth Orchestra entertain our audience at the CDSWOY Awards Gala,” said Eric McDowell, President of the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

“Like our student-athletes who are being honored, Julia and Peyton are talented and dedicated and have bright futures. We appreciate Dr. David Bebe for providing us with students from ESYO.”

“ESYO is thrilled to bring beautiful music to this incredible celebration!,” said Dr. Bebe. “All of the young women being highlighted, athletes and musicians, have such amazing accomplishments and impressive stories. It’s so important to have organizations like CDSWOY give our outstanding youth a well-deserved acknowledgment.”

Julia Spretty has been a clarinetist for nine years and is a graduate of Waterford-Halfmoon High School. Studying with Julie Taylor, she has been Principal Clarinet in ESYO’s Symphony Orchestra for the past three years. She earned a position in the NYSSMA AlI-State Winter Conference Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Symphonic Band on Eb clarinet. Julia also enjoys singing, playing flute, piccolo, and the alto saxophone. She played in the pit orchestra for her school’s musical on clarinet, flute, and alto sax. She also composed her very own band piece for her High School’s band to perform at their fall concert. Julia has also conducted her High School Band and has attended the Juilliard Summer Winds Program, NYSSSA (NYS Summer School of the Arts), Ithaca College Summer Music Academy, and virtual programs through the Crane School of Music. Her final season of ESYO concluded with an exceptional performance by the Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. This past April, Julie was the WMHT Radio Station’s Classical Student of the Month this past April. In the fall, she will be attending Boston Conservatory at Berklee to pursue a degree in clarinet performance. Julia will be playing Concertino in Eb Major Op. 26 by Weber. Her accompanist will be Brian Axford.

Peyton Roach is a classical violist and a visual artist from Bethlehem, New York. She recently graduated from Bethlehem Central High school with an advanced regent’s diploma. She has been in the Empire State Youth Orchestra ensembles since the sixth grade and has been the assistant principal violist for the Empire State Symphony Orchestra for the past two years. Peyton has been playing viola for 10 years, studying under her mother, Monica Roach, for the first three years of her musical education, and then with Elizabeth Moll for the remaining seven. Her biggest musical inspiration is her mother, and she hopes to teach others about the wonders of music. Her plans are earning a bachelor’s in fine arts and studying animation at music at Bennington College.

ALBANY, NY – Isabella Franchi, a senior at Colonie High School, has been named as one of the 10 scholastic award recipients for 2023 by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year organization.

Isabella, who competes in basketball and soccer, will be recognized at the Capital District Sports Women of the Year Awards Gala on Monday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the GE Theatre at Proctors in Schenectady. Tickets are available online at proctors.org or at the Proctors Box Office.

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.

Isabella was on the high honor roll for all four years at Colonie High School. She was a scholar-athlete in basketball, and a member of the National Honor Society. She also served on the youth advisory board. Isabella represented Colonie at the Section 2 Scholar-Athlete Banquet.

Athletically, Isabella was named to the Section 2 Girls Basketball All Star Team. She was a Second Team Suburban Council All-Star and a Second Team Suburban Council Senior All-Star. Isabella served as the team captain this past season and she will be continuing her basketball career next year on a full scholarship to St. Michael’s College. She was an Honorable Mention selection in the league for two seasons and was captain the past two seasons. She also earned the Suburban Council Excellence in Leadership Award in 2023.

Isabella served as a coach for the Capital District Girls Basketball League for four years. She organized a student/staff charity basketball game at Colonie High School. She helped with the Unified Basketball Team and is a member and Treasurer of ICare and Treasurer. Isabella is also a member of the Youth Advisory Board.

A total of 10 high school and three college female student-athletes will be honored at the August 7 event. The next announcement will be the Grand Collegiate and Grand Scholastic Sports Women of the Year, which will take place at the Awards Gala.