Hillary Paul of Stevens Named Empire 8 Woman of the Year; Field Hockey Star Will Represent Conference in NCAA Woman of the Year Balloting
June 10, 2010
ROCHESTER, NY – Hillary Paul, a recent graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology and a member of the field hockey and soccer teams, has been named the 2010 Empire 8 Woman of the Year. Paul will represent the conference in national balloting for the NCAA Woman of the Year.
The award honors graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, and service and leadership.
“Hillary has an incredible work ethic and her ability to learn is insatiable,” said Stevens field hockey head coach Jessica Reed. “She made every practice a learning opportunity and always found ways to challenge herself and her teammates. She is a player who organized extra training, found ways outside the team to advance her skills, and always tried to encourage those around her to join here. Hillary did this in addition to maintaining a 3.6 GPA (in biomedical engineering) and running her Phi Sigma Sigma sorority.”
Reed started recruiting Paul after the program had completed its first varsity season with a 1-15 record. “Many others viewed this as a reason to choose a different program,” Paul said. “I considered it a reason to choose Stevens. The challenge and the unique opportunity to build a program intrigued me.”
Four years later, the team finished the 2008 season with a program-best 19-4 record, a ranking of 16th in the national poll, an Empire 8 championship, and a trip to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship. Paul earned second-team All-American, first-team All-Region, and first-team all-conference honors in her senior year and was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-Academic Team for the fourth consecutive time.
Paul finished her field hockey career second all-time in goals, assists, and points. She earned first-team all-conference honors three times.
Pining for another season of team dynamics, Paul joined the women’s soccer team in 2009 despite never having played the sport before. “The entire Stevens community has been the beneficiary of her attitude, demeanor, and impact on others,” said Jeff Parker, head coach of the women’s soccer program at Stevens. “Although she was a member of our program for just a single year, she made an impact in the locker room and on the field serving as a team captain. I count myself and those among us here at Stevens privileged to have the chance to call her part of our family.”
Paul was named Stevens 2010 Woman of the Year as well as receiving 2010 Distinguished Student Leader recognition. She made the Dean’s List every semester from 2005-10 and was also named the Sportswoman of the Year for the Ducks in women’s soccer in 2009.
“Hillary is a very special person,” said Stevens Director of Athletics Russell Rogers. “She embraced everything about the college experience and leaves a major impact on our institution well beyond athletics. We are extremely proud of her accomplishments and look forward to following her progress in graduate school at Columbia University.”
Paul was a very active member of the Stevens community. She served as President of the Gear & Triangle Leadership Honor Society, secretary and treasurer of the Stevens Law Society, choreographer of the American Culture Club, Peer Mentor to first-year students, and on the Greek Presidents’ Council. She facilitated the 2010 Gear & Triangle Leadership Retreat and also served as Marine Biology intern, field hockey coach, and dance teacher/choreographer at St. Paul’s School.
“Hillary has proven to be an exemplary student and athlete,” said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. “She encompasses everything that we value in the Empire 8 and is most deserving of Woman of the Year.”