Men's Lacrosse | 6/18/2026 3:00:00 PM

Oberlin, Ohio – From Biology to sociology, economics to history, the Oberlin College Class of 2026 Scholar-Athletes garnered a remarkable 57 awards across numerous academic departments and organizations. 

Zeynep Kaya of volleyball and Nathan Thompson of men's soccer headlined the award winners, earning the Norman J. Goldring Award, which is selected from the graduating scholar-athletes from a men's and women's team who earned the highest cumulative GPA. A Neuroscience major from Türkiye, Kaya graduates with a 4.09 cumulative GPA. Thompson, majoring in Financial Economics and hailing from Perrysburg, Ohio, earned a 4.11 cumulative GPA. 

Earning a Center for Engaged Liberal Arts (CELA) Award, given to Oberlin students who have tackled real-world problems through rigorous research at Oberlin, won prestigious fellowships, traveled the world to pursue their studies, and contributed to their communities, were Ellie Pollock-Ballard of women's basketball and Nyrobi Whitfield of swim & dive. 

The track & field program led the Crimson and Gold with nine academic awards, while women's lacrosse recorded eight laurels. Men's tennis and swim & dive continued the scholar-athlete success, producing six academic honors each. 

Alira Allen (Volleyball, Track & Field)
The Oberlin Summer Research Institute Fellowship

Ale Bernal (Women's Lacrosse)
The Leo S. Millar Memorial Prize
Sigma Xi

Amber Borofsky (Cross Country, Track & Field)
The Leo S. Miller Memorial Prize

Zach Bronson (Men's Basketball)
Omicron Delta Epsilon

Riley Conklin (Swim & Dive)
The Hope Hibbard Memorial Scholarship in Biology
The Oberlin Summer Research Institute Fellowship
Sigma Xi

Olivia Corradi (Women's Lacrosse)
The Hope Hibbard Memorial Scholarship in Biology
Sigma Xi

Jackson Davies (Men's Lacrosse)
The Blank Fellowship

Michael Dinkel (Men's Lacrosse)
Omicron Delta Epsilon
The Comfort Starr Prize in Economics

Jack Duffy (Men's Lacrosse)
Omicron Delta Epsilon

Kailey Dunham (Softball)
The Science and Technology Research Opportunities for a New Generation Scholars

Kit Evans (Track & Field)
The Nancy K. Rhoden Essay Prize

Anna Fritz (Track & Field)
The Nancy Robell Memorial Prize

Alison Grant (Women's Soccer)
Sigma Xi

Hunter Green (Football)
Alpha Alpha Alpha Honors Society
The Stetson-Heiser Prize

Jillian Jendsen (Volleyball)
Omicron Delta Epsilon

Zeynep Kaya (Volleyball)
The Nancy Robell Memorial Prize
Norman J. Goldring Award

Meena Lee (Women's Soccer)
The Jerome Davis Prize in Sociology
The Comfort Starr Prize in Sociology

Shawn Lisann (Men's Tennis)
The Geneen Scholar
Omicron Delta Epsilon
The Comfort Starr Prize in Economics

Dut Lual (Men's Basketball)
The Africana Studies Award for Excellence in Academic Performance
The Leo S. Millar Memorial Prize

Namu Makatiani (Track & Field)
Sigmi Xi
The Jason Chicoine Memorial Prize in Biology

Sebastien Naginski (Men's Tennis)
The Frank B. Hanson, Jr. Memorial Prize
The George G. and Carrie C. Life Scholarship
Omicron Delta Epsilon
The Comfort Starr Prize in Economics

Lily Najmulski (Women's Basketball)
The Norman Hill Wright Prize in Biology

Sophia Nicholson (Swim & Dive)
The Clyde Holbrook Memorial Prize

Ellie Pollock-Ballard (Women's Basketball)
The CELA Award
The Leo S. Millar Memorial Prize
The Oberlin Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

JT Schoessel (Baseball)
Omicron Delta Epsilon

Zach Smith (Men's Basketball)
Sigma Xi

Marisa Tayal (Cross Country, Track & Field)
Phi Kappa Lambda

Nathan Thompson (Men's Soccer)
Omicron Delta Epsilon
The Jesse Philips Fellowship in Economics
The Comfort Starr Prize in Economics
Norman J. Goldring Award

Giuliana Urban (Women's Lacrosse)
The Comfort Starr Prize in Sociology

Mya Valdez (Women's Lacrosse)
Alpha Alpha Alpha Honors Society
The Keyes DeWitt Metcalf Scholar

Maddie Weathers (Women's Lacrosse)
The Hope Hibbard Memorial Scholarship in Biology

Nyrobi Whitfield (Swim & Dive)
The CELA Award
The Science and Technology Research Opportunities for a New Generation Scholars
The George B. Wharton, Jr. Prize

Treyce Wood (Track & Field)
The George G. and Carrie C. Life Scholarship

Ella Wozek (Cross Country, Track & Field)
The Norman Hill Wright Prize in Biology

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