Sport Changes Life Announces 2019-20 MAAC Victory Scholars
EDISON, N.J. – Four Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2019-20 Victory Scholar Program as announced by the Sport Changes Life Foundation (SCLF).
Quinnipiac University's Aryn McClure, Rider University's Lexi Posset and Siena College's Kadeem Smithen and Kollyns Scarbrough will represent the MAAC in the prestigious program.
"I would like to congratulate the four MAAC student-athletes named Victory Scholars," said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. "Through the Victory Scholars Program, these deserving student-athletes will have the ability to continue to make an impact in the community long after they leave campus.
"We take great pride in our partnership with Sport Changes Life and look forward to what this year's representatives will accomplish as they complete graduate studies, compete for their teams and teach young people the value of sports and academics."
Posset, Scarborough and Smithen will head to Ulster University, while Aryn McClure will attend Cork IT and play for Brunell's Ladies Basketball Club.
Scarborough, a 2018-19 Victory Scholar, will be making her return to Ireland in the newly created Victory Scholar Mentor position. This role was designed to assist the new scholar class in their transition to life overseas. Kollyns immersed herself in the experience as part of the class of 2018-19, and this year will serve as the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) representative.
The Victory Scholar Program enters its 12th year, awarding scholarships to a total of 134 American student-athletes.
The recipients include 21 deserving student-athletes, 10 male and 11 female, across 18 different U.S. institutions. These student-athletes will get the opportunity to work toward a postgraduate degree, while acting as role models and mentors through youth community outreach programs in Ireland. The new class of scholars will also get the opportunity to continue playing competitive basketball overseas for clubs and universities across Ireland.
"As a Foundation we are hugely excited for the incoming group," said SCLF Founder and CEO Gareth Maguire. "Over the last 12 years we have seen the program grow from strength to strength and we are confident that this class will have a lasting impact on the communities of Ireland.
"Ultimately this is about working with local communities using sport and sporting role models as a catalyst for positive change. Last year our Victory class 5060 young people in their local communities creating 24159 participation opportunities. This is a really exciting time of year and we look forward to welcoming another special group of young American men and women leaders to the island of Ireland."
See below for the full list of recipients from the MAAC:
| 2019-20 MAAC Victory Scholars |
| Name |
Sport |
Institution |
| Aryn McClure (Quinnipiac) |
Women's
Basketball |
Cork IT |
| Lexi Posset (Rider) |
Women's Basketball |
Ulster University |
| Kollyns Scarbrough (Siena) |
Women's Basketball |
Ulster University |
Kadeem Smithen
(Siena) |
Men's Basketball |
Ulster University |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 39
th year of competition during the 2019-20 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena College.