Waterville, ME - Recently graduated Vermont State University Lyndon multi-sport athlete Kiara Mack (Milton, VT) has been nominated for the North Atlantic Conference Woman of the Year award. The award encompass all facets of the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete experience.
Mack graduated in May with two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Restoratve Justice. She earned a 3.89 grade point average and was named to the President's List six times and the Dean's List twice. She was inducted into Pi Gamma Mu, the international honor society for the social sciences. Mack was named Academic All-District five times - twice each in basketball and volleyball, and once in lacrosse. She has also been named to the NAC All-Academic Team in each of her semesters at Lyndon.
Mack established herself as a student leader on the Lyndon campus. She was a member of the Student Government Association for four years, serving as a representative as a freshman, a senator as a sophomore and a junior, and the SGA President as a senior. She was also a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee for three years, serving as the SGA Representative as a freshman and as SAAC Vice President as a sophomore. She has been a Resident Assistant for two years, and won the Leadership Award three times.
Mack was also part of the Twilight Players, and played the part of Audrey II in the school musical, Little Shop of Horrors, this spring. She also worked for Lyndon's Summer Bridge program and as a coach at the Lyndon Hornets Summer Basketball Camp. Mack is also a volunteer firefighter with the Lyndonville Fire Department.
Mack was a four-year member of Lyndon's women's basketball team. She played in 99 games over her career, scoring 720 points and grabbing 584 rebounds. This past season she helped lead Lyndon to a NAC playoff berth and a 14-12 overall record. She posted career highs of 12.2 points, a team best 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, and led the NAC with 2.0 blocked shots per game. Mack was named to the NAC All-Conference 3rd Team and was twice named NAC Defensive Player of the Week. She was also a two-time recipient of Lyndon's Ben Lyons Award, given annually to the men's & women's basketball players who exhibit courage through personal growth, perseverance through challenging times, and/or an act of tremendous bravery.
Mack also played four years of volleyball for the Hornets. She was team captain in her senior year and helped lead the program to its most wins since 2014. She played in 82 career matches, the most in Lyndon's modern Division III era, and notched 260 kills and 67 blocks.
During her first three years, Mack also excelled on the lacrosse field. She played in 22 career games and earned 2nd Team NAC All-Conference honors as a freshman and a sophomore.
Mack also played one season of tennis and one season of soccer. As a tennis player during her junior year, she was the Hornets' first singles player and was named the team's Most Valuable Player.
Mack reflected on how her experiences at Lyndon have shaped her. "As a student-athlete at Vermont State University Lyndon, balancing five collegiate sports while pursuing degrees in criminal justice and restorative justice has shaped me into a determined and compassionate leader. Through Student Government, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and serving as a resident assistant, I became a voice for students across campus and learned the importance of listening, advocating for others, and creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels supported."
"As a student with dyslexia, I have had to work harder than many of my peers academically. There were times when reading, writing, and processing information felt overwhelming, but those challenges taught me resilience, discipline, and perseverance. Earning Dean's List honors, six semesters on the President's List, Academic All-District recognition in multiple sports, and induction into Pi Gamma Mu proved to me that hard work can overcome self-doubt."
"My experiences as a volunteer firefighter and youth camp coach strengthened my passion for service and mentorship. I have loved my time at Vermont State University not only as an athlete, but also as a student, friend, and leader who strives to create a safe and welcoming space for others."
"Being a collegiate woman athlete has been an incredible honor. The teamwork, leadership, and determination I gained through athletics will stay with me throughout my future career."
Mack is starting her professional career as a Coordinator for Reentry and Reintegration with Northeast Kingdom Community Action.
Mack is among eight outstanding female student athletes that have been nominated for the NAC Woman of the Year award. The NAC Woman of the Year award is modeled after the NCAA Woman of the Year program which honors graduating student athletes who distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service, and leadership. The NAC also selects a Man of the Year using the same model, nominees for which will be released on June 18. These are the two preeminent awards presented annually by the conference.
Member schools nominate student athletes from their own institution, then NAC Athletic Directors and Senior Woman Administrators vote to select the Woman of the Year. Scoring for the academic achievement section is based on the undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of the nominee. Scoring for athletic excellence is based on the nominee's honors and accomplishments including awards and championships, and scoring for service and leadership is based on their involvement in campus and community activities and organizations over the course of their collegiate career. Administrators also consider a short personal statement written by each nominee.
The NAC Woman of the Year will be announced on June 23, and will be honored on her campus during the upcoming academic year.
