Syracuse, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz senior forward Rachel Tama was voted as the SUNYAC Field Hockey Scholar Athlete of the Year, announced by the conference office Friday.
 
Tama becomes the second Hawk to earn the honor in the last three years, while becoming the sixth selection for the program since the inception of the award in 2016. She joins alumna Hannah Ackerman (2023), Jessica Ascencao (2021), Carly Croteau (2019), Megan Gangewere (2017) and Kayla McKeveny (2016).
 
The SUNYAC Scholar Athlete of the Year Award recognizes academic and athletic excellence in each respective SUNYAC sponsored sport, highlighting a student-athlete who was a starter or significant reserve player, at least a sophomore in academic standing while sustaining a GPA of 3.30.
 
Tama over the course of her four years at SUNY New Paltz, became a staple within the SUNYAC as she leaves as one of the most decorated for NPFH. This past fall she helped lead the Hawks to a No. 2 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament and playoff hosting duties for the first time since 2021. She received her third consecutive All-SUNYAC First-Team selection and for the third straight year she led her team in points (29), tallying a team-high 13 assists to go along with eight goals and was later named to the NFHCA Senior All-Star Team selection. She leaves holding program records in goals, points and game-winning goals, while finishing second all-time in assists.
 
A three-year captain, Tama showed her leadership both on the field and off. A Business Analytics major, graduating early with her master's degree in May, was a three-time SUNYAC Academic Honor Roll recipient, Chi Alpha Sigma inductee, two-time NFHCA All-Academic squad member and has landed on the Hawks Academic Honor Roll each semester, including this fall.
 
Tama joined women's tennis selection Olivia Kunz as the second Hawk honored this fall. Both Tama and Kunz are also eligible to be named as their respective sport's SUNY Scholar Athlete recipient, which will be announced later this winter.
 
To read the official SUNYAC press release, click here.


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