KARA DONOVAN NAMED NECC SENIOR FEMALE STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College senior Kara Donovan (Woburn, Mass.) has been named the New England Collegiate Conference Senior Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Donovan, a three year member of both the Pride women's soccer and softball teams, graduated this past May with a degree in Nursing from Regis College.

Donovan becomes the first Regis athlete to win the award and it comes in only the Pride's second season as a part of the New England Collegiate Conference. Voting was conducted amongst the league's Athletic Directors and was based on a student-athlete's commitment to athletics and academics, while also accounting for leadership and community service roles during the athlete's time at the institution.

"I am so incredibly proud of Kara," said head women's soccer coach Liz Conant. "She is a high-achiever who brings her best to everything she does, whether on the soccer or softball field, or as a nursing major. This award is a really big deal; there are many deserving senior student-athletes in the NECC and the list of past recipients is quite impressive. I am so thrilled that her achievements have been recognized with such a prestigious honor."

Director of Athletics Rob Riley added, "Kara has been a leader since she walked onto the Regis campus and her dedication, commitment, and selflessness were an inspiration to her teammates. Her academic and athletic accomplishments have made her a very deserving winner of the NECC Senior Female Student-Athlete of the Year."

Donovan, a team captain on the soccer team her senior year, played a major role in the recent success of the soccer program as the Pride's top defender on the pitch. Donovan helped lead the Pride from just three wins in 2010, to eight wins in 2011, and a program-best 11-4-3 mark in 2012, as well as the Pride's first NECC Championship game and ECAC Tournament appearance. Donovan finished her soccer career with 53 games played, while adding a goal and four assists. She was a 2012 All-NECC First Team Selection after being a 2011 All-NECC Honorable Mention choice in her junior campaign.

On the softball diamond, Donovan finished her career with a .348 batting average in 91 games played with 78 hits, 13 doubles, three triples and one homerun. Donovan also added 20 stolen bases, 22 RBI, and 51 runs scored. A two-time team captain, she had a similar effect on the softball program, improving the Pride's record from four wins in 2011, to eight in 2012, and 12 wins in 2013, with back-to-back NECC postseason appearances.

Off the field, Donovan was named the 2011 Regis College Junior Athlete of the Year, and in her senior year, was named the Pride's Female Senior Scholar Athlete. She also was awarded the prestigious Female Regis-Casserly Award, the highest honor an athlete can attain at the College.

Kara Donovan was also active with her team's community service projects, whether that was working with the Pride soccer team in cooperation with the Mass. Audubon Society to help clean up the town of Belmont, or participating in a Breast Cancer Research Walk with the softball team this past October.

Before graduating, Donovan was inducted into the Regis College Nursing Honor Society and posted a 3.683 GPA as a part of the Nursing program at the College. The Dean's List student was named to three All-NECC Academic squads for both the fall and spring seasons during the Pride's two years in the NECC.