COLCHESTER, Vt. - Saint Michael's College field hockey senior Kathleen Dean (Auburn, Maine/Saint Dominic Academy) and sophomore Ellie Newton (Silver Lake, N.H./Kennett) recently qualified for National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Scholar of Distinction status, landing among 144 NCAA Division II players who earned nods.
 
The duo, which also placed on the NFHCA National Academic Squad, claimed Scholar of Distinction due to registering a minimum cumulative 3.90 grade-point average through the first semester of the 2025-26 school year. Thirty-nine student-athletes from the Northeast 10 Conference were recognized. Dean posted her fourth straight accolade, while Newton nabbed her second.
 
Purple Knights have now been Scholars of Distinction 28 times in the past 13 years. Dean becomes the second member of her program to earn the accolade four times, joining MaKayla Foster '20, after starting all 18 games last fall, notching a defensive save. Newton appeared in 17 contests, making 16 starts.