University of Richmond Athletics
Photo by: Spiders Athletics
Five Student-Athletes Celebrated at Westhampton College Senior Celebration
06/19/2020 | Field Hockey, Women's Basketball, Women's Track & Field, Academic Services
RICHMOND, Va. – Five senior student-athletes received recognition as part of the Westhampton College Senior Celebration and the WILL* Recognition Program. Abby Lyons (Brookfield, Wis.) and Emma Nash (Midlothian, Va.) of Spider field hockey, along with Maria Acosta (Maywood, N.J.) and Nai'lah Rowe (Norfolk, Va.) of track and field and Jaide Hinds-Clark (Westwood, N.J.) of women's basketball were all recognized as part of the ceremony.
The Westhampton College Senior Awards celebrate many different parts of student life, work and achievements, representing our student community in its fullness. The Senior Awards embody the true spirit of Westhampton: a celebration of community, gender equity and inclusion, the joys and mutual benefits of leadership, mentorship and friendship, and our dedication to helping each other become the best version of ourselves. Nominations come from peers, faculty, staff and other community members. WILL* is a nationally recognized program for students interested in exploring gender and diversity issues both in and out of the classroom. Students strengthen their leadership skills as they actively work to create a more equitable world.
As The Jane Stockman Award winner, Lyons was recognized as a student who is enthusiastic and resourceful, representing Westhampton and the University in a positive manner – a hard-working optimist who is an integral and critical part of Westhampton College – in other words, Abby. One nominator describes her as "the definition of positivity and optimism, a tireless worker who served for two years as President of the student-athlete advisory committee and field hockey, and a speech consultant. Abby has also worked diligently to connect athletics to the greater campus community through her leadership in the mental health walk last spring, various community service projects including the Special Olympics and the Women & Girls in Sports Day, and serving as the Atlantic 10 Conference representative for multiple years." It is her incredible work ethic, dedication to her communities, and unwavering commitment to do the right thing with integrity and happiness that has earned her the Stockman.
As the captain of the field hockey team for her junior and senior seasons, the Brookfield, Wis. native, completed her playing career with four goals and seven assists, starting 66 times in 70 contests.
Nash, a native of Midlothian, Va., was named as a Westhampton Distinguished Leadership honoree. One nominator wrote about Nash: "Emma is one of those incredibly special individuals that brings light to every situation. She has a heart of gold and the unique ability to stay true to her beliefs while also reaching out to others who may be different than herself." This "ability to connect with others" can be seen in her involvement in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as a member of the Science Leaders Program, as a CAPS intern, as a volunteer and mentor for the Peter Paul Community Center, and as a respected team leader of the women's field hockey team – in the words of one recommender, Emma is known above all for her "kindness and desire to make a difference in the lives of others."
Nash tallied one goal and one assist as a defender for the field hockey squad, collecting 21 starts in 52 matches. She is also a three-time ZAG Field Hockey/NFHCA National Academic Squad honoree.
As a student-athlete, Acosta was a four-year letterwinner for the track and field team, and was twice an NCAA qualifier in the 800-meter race. She was a two-time Atlantic 10 All-Academic team selection and was a member of two record setting relay teams, helping earn the program's top times in the 4x800 (8:44.29) during the outdoor season, the 4x400 indoor team (3:42.68) in 2019.
Acosta has earned a Distinguished Leadership Award because in the words of one nominator, "she is one of those special individuals who does the right thing, treats people the right way, works incredibly hard, and doesn't care who gets the credit." Whether as a member or peer leader on the track and field team, an RA, a Dance Outreach Assistant, a Stage Manager, a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee or a Career Services Peer Mentor, she is "humble, gracious and tenacious."
Rowe was a three-year letterwinner for the track and field team. She competed in several events during her career, specializing in sprints. She added a personal-best time of 7.96 at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships in the 60 meter dash this past season.
She had the following to say about the WILL * Program, "WILL* has been a family to me. Those in the program accepted me as my most authentic self and never judged me. WILL* became a place of growth and I'm so blessed and thankful for this community!"
Hinds-Clarke, a native of Westwood, N.J., was named The Westhampton College Dean's Award winner for her efforts in the community. As one recommender says, "Jaide fits The Westhampton College Dean's Award description perfectly" in that she "works tirelessly to celebrate diversity, promote inclusion, and create a thriving and just community for all. When Jaide sees injustice, she doesn't just name it and talk about it, both of which are important; she takes action. This action can be seen in the founding of Shades of Pride, and affinity group to empower LGBTQIA students of color and their allies, her service as a chair of Multicultural Pre-Orientation and New Spider Orientation, and a member of the Will Leadership team all while being a central player on the Richmond women's basketball team. Hinds-Clarke also served as a senior intern at Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, designing curricula and programs for the organization.
Hinds-Clarke graduated from Richmond and was named to the A-10 All-Conference Third Team this past season and her 1,130 career points is seventh-best all-time in school history. Hinds-Clarke will start graduate school at VCU in the fall.
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The Westhampton College Senior Awards celebrate many different parts of student life, work and achievements, representing our student community in its fullness. The Senior Awards embody the true spirit of Westhampton: a celebration of community, gender equity and inclusion, the joys and mutual benefits of leadership, mentorship and friendship, and our dedication to helping each other become the best version of ourselves. Nominations come from peers, faculty, staff and other community members. WILL* is a nationally recognized program for students interested in exploring gender and diversity issues both in and out of the classroom. Students strengthen their leadership skills as they actively work to create a more equitable world.
As The Jane Stockman Award winner, Lyons was recognized as a student who is enthusiastic and resourceful, representing Westhampton and the University in a positive manner – a hard-working optimist who is an integral and critical part of Westhampton College – in other words, Abby. One nominator describes her as "the definition of positivity and optimism, a tireless worker who served for two years as President of the student-athlete advisory committee and field hockey, and a speech consultant. Abby has also worked diligently to connect athletics to the greater campus community through her leadership in the mental health walk last spring, various community service projects including the Special Olympics and the Women & Girls in Sports Day, and serving as the Atlantic 10 Conference representative for multiple years." It is her incredible work ethic, dedication to her communities, and unwavering commitment to do the right thing with integrity and happiness that has earned her the Stockman.
As the captain of the field hockey team for her junior and senior seasons, the Brookfield, Wis. native, completed her playing career with four goals and seven assists, starting 66 times in 70 contests.
Nash, a native of Midlothian, Va., was named as a Westhampton Distinguished Leadership honoree. One nominator wrote about Nash: "Emma is one of those incredibly special individuals that brings light to every situation. She has a heart of gold and the unique ability to stay true to her beliefs while also reaching out to others who may be different than herself." This "ability to connect with others" can be seen in her involvement in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as a member of the Science Leaders Program, as a CAPS intern, as a volunteer and mentor for the Peter Paul Community Center, and as a respected team leader of the women's field hockey team – in the words of one recommender, Emma is known above all for her "kindness and desire to make a difference in the lives of others."
Nash tallied one goal and one assist as a defender for the field hockey squad, collecting 21 starts in 52 matches. She is also a three-time ZAG Field Hockey/NFHCA National Academic Squad honoree.
As a student-athlete, Acosta was a four-year letterwinner for the track and field team, and was twice an NCAA qualifier in the 800-meter race. She was a two-time Atlantic 10 All-Academic team selection and was a member of two record setting relay teams, helping earn the program's top times in the 4x800 (8:44.29) during the outdoor season, the 4x400 indoor team (3:42.68) in 2019.
Acosta has earned a Distinguished Leadership Award because in the words of one nominator, "she is one of those special individuals who does the right thing, treats people the right way, works incredibly hard, and doesn't care who gets the credit." Whether as a member or peer leader on the track and field team, an RA, a Dance Outreach Assistant, a Stage Manager, a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee or a Career Services Peer Mentor, she is "humble, gracious and tenacious."
Rowe was a three-year letterwinner for the track and field team. She competed in several events during her career, specializing in sprints. She added a personal-best time of 7.96 at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships in the 60 meter dash this past season.
She had the following to say about the WILL * Program, "WILL* has been a family to me. Those in the program accepted me as my most authentic self and never judged me. WILL* became a place of growth and I'm so blessed and thankful for this community!"
Hinds-Clarke, a native of Westwood, N.J., was named The Westhampton College Dean's Award winner for her efforts in the community. As one recommender says, "Jaide fits The Westhampton College Dean's Award description perfectly" in that she "works tirelessly to celebrate diversity, promote inclusion, and create a thriving and just community for all. When Jaide sees injustice, she doesn't just name it and talk about it, both of which are important; she takes action. This action can be seen in the founding of Shades of Pride, and affinity group to empower LGBTQIA students of color and their allies, her service as a chair of Multicultural Pre-Orientation and New Spider Orientation, and a member of the Will Leadership team all while being a central player on the Richmond women's basketball team. Hinds-Clarke also served as a senior intern at Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, designing curricula and programs for the organization.
Hinds-Clarke graduated from Richmond and was named to the A-10 All-Conference Third Team this past season and her 1,130 career points is seventh-best all-time in school history. Hinds-Clarke will start graduate school at VCU in the fall.
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Players Mentioned
Long Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
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/ Field Hockey
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