BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Navy junior Laura Fern Jones was selected as the Patriot League Women’s Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year when the League office announced the sport’s academic honors on Thursday. She was among the 11 student-athletes named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team.

All nine Patriot League women’s rowing member institutions were represented on this year’s Academic All-Patriot League Team. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology led the way with three student-athletes named to the squad, while Boston University, Bucknell, Colgate, Georgetown, Holy Cross, Lehigh, Loyola Maryland and Navy each had one selection.

Fern Jones becomes the second straight Mid and ninth overall to garner Patriot League Women’s Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, joining Tenlea Radack (2025), Hanna Price (2021), Megan Hanson (2018-19), Kathleen Heinbach (2015-16), Jacqueline Penichet (2013), Kerry Hannon (2009), Madeline Boe (2006) and Shaunnah Wark (2005).

The Kinston, N.C. native maintains a 4.00 cumulative GPA as a chemistry major ranking first in the Academic Order of Merit for the United States Naval Academy's Class of 2027, fourth in the Military Order of Merit and fifth in the Overall Order of Merit.

Boston University junior Ingrid Eshuis (political science and French studies minor, 3.63 GPA), Bucknell junior Kalena Gatesman (mechanical engineering and management for engineers, 3.93), Colgate sophomore Stella Curcio (chemistry, 3.92), Georgetown junior Phoebe Opler (environment and sustainability, 3.90 GPA), Holy Cross senior Ella Lynch-Bartek (chemistry, 3.94 GPA), Lehigh junior Grace Ioffe (biology, 3.80 GPA), Loyola Maryland senior Beata Turnquist (English and secondary education minor, 3.90 GPA), MIT juniors Elizabeth Jackson (aerospace engineering, 3.80 GPA), Madeleine Laws (chemical and biological engineering, 4.00 GPA) and Michelle Peng (materials science and engineering, 3.90 GPA) were each honored on the Women’s Rowing Academic All-Patriot League Team.

To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the Academic All-Patriot League Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and be a starter or key player in their sport. Freshmen or students in their first year of academic study at their school are not eligible for the honor.

These honors recognize student-athletes who excel in their sport and the classroom. The awards are voted on by Patriot League women’s rowing sports information directors, who are not eligible to vote for their student-athletes.

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