SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) is honored to recognize Jessica Ascencao from New Paltz as the 2021 Field Hockey Scholar Athlete of the Year. During each season, the conference honors student-athletes for their efforts in their sport, as well as their academics. Out of hundreds of fall athletes, one athlete from each sport was selected for this distinction.
Ascencao, the 2021 SUNYAC Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Year, earned a 3.83 GPA this semester to boost her overall GPA to a 3.59 in adolescent education-physics. In 2021 she earned First-Team NFHCA All-America honors, was named Second-Team Synapses Sports All-America and was selected NFHCA First-Team All-Region. Ascencao was also named to the First-Team All-SUNYAC and was a member of the All-Tournament team after she helped lead the Hawks to their sixth overall conference championship title and second crown in her career.
In order to be eligible for the SUNYAC Scholar Athlete of the Year award student-athletes must prove both academic and athletic excellence by obtaining a minimum 3.30 overall GPA, be a starter or significant reserve for their team, and be at least a sophomore. The SUNYAC Scholar Athlete Award began in 2016-17.
