For Immediate Release:
22 July 2026

WINTHROP, Mass. - The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) has announced that Dean College senior Sydnee Ramos (New Bedford, Mass.) has been named a finalist for their 2026 Female Athlete of the Year award. She was named a finalist for her efforts in both field hockey and softball.

Ramos earns one of the conference's highest honors after a stellar two-season campaign. In both seasons combined, Ramos claimed two all-conference distinctions, one all-region distinction, and several program records.

During the fall, Ramos produced a top-of-the-line season for field hockey. The forward scored 26 goals, 10 assists, and 62 total points. Her 26 goals ranked second in the conference and ranked amongst the top five in all of NCAA Division III. She also set new program records for total goals scored (35) and games played (74).

Her impressive efforts helped the Dean College field hockey program secure the first GNAC championship in school history and punch their ticket into the NCAA Division III national tournament.

In addition to her statistical accolades, Ramos was named to the GNAC First Team All-Conference roster, GNAC All-Tournament team, and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Region roster. She also earned two GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Ramos also recorded another milestone season with softball in the spring. The utility player appeared in all 32 games for the Bulldogs, recording a batting average of .408 with 42 hits, 12 RBIs, 16 extra-base hits, two home runs, and an on-base percentage of .462.

Her doubles (14) and home run totals were both the highest marks of her career.

Amongst other batters in the GNAC, Ramos ranked fifth in batting average, second in doubles, and fifth in slugging percentage (.602). Ramos also totaled one of the lowest strikeout rates in the entire conference (4.9%).

These marks helped Ramos earn her second career All-Conference honors in softball. She claimed All-Conference Second Team this year and was previously named to the GNAC's All-Rookie Team in 2023.

Ramos now holds the softball program's record for total hits (165). She was also the first player in program history to reach 100 career hits.

For her efforts on and off the field this season, Ramos was awarded the college's Michelle Porter '90 Female Athlete of the Year award. She was also named field hockey's team MVP for the 2025 season.

This spring, Ramos graduated Dean with a bachelor's degree in sports management and a cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.724.

The GNAC Athlete of the Year for women's sports will be announced on Tuesday, July 28th and will be submitted as the conference nominee for the Division III Commissioners Association (D3CA) Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year.

FULL GNAC RELEASE: HERE

PERSONAL STATEMENT: "When I arrived at Dean College, I never imagined that my experience would shape every aspect of who I am today. As a two-sport Division III student-athlete in field hockey and softball, I found much more than a place where I could compete, I found a community that challenged me to grow as a student, athlete, and a leader in my community.

Being a student-athlete has taught me that success is measured by far more than goals, hits, or awards. It is built through discipline, resilience, and the willingness to show up every day for something greater than yourself. Balancing academics with two collegiate sports required commitment, sacrifice, and a whole lot of time management, but those challenges helped me develop the work ethic that carried me to graduate Magna Cum Laude while still competing at a high level.

Some of my proudest moments came on the field. I had the privilege of captaining Dean's field hockey team to the program's first GNAC championship, one of the most significant milestones in the college's athletic history. Along the way, I earned First Team All-Conference and All-region honors after finishing second in the conference with 26 goals. In the spring, I helped lead our softball team to the winningest season in program history while batting .408. While I am incredibly proud of those accomplishments, what meant the most to me was the opportunity to have earned the trust of my teammates as a captain and to help create a culture where everyone believed in one another.

My greatest growth, however, happened beyond the statistics. Before coming to Dean, I believed my field hockey career had ended. Dean reignited my passion for sport and reminded me why I fell in love with it in the first place. That renewed passion inspired me to become a high school varsity field hockey coach, where I now strive to teach young athletes the same values that transformed my own life, discipline, accountability, selflessness, and resilience.

The lessons that I learned at Dean will continue to guide me far beyond graduation. Whether I am coaching, mentoring, or leading, my goal is to positively impact others by helping them believe in themselves and reach their full potential. My success as a student-athlete is not defined solely by championships or awards, but by the opportunity to inspire others to grow on."
 
For Media Inquiries:
Brett Chaves
Sports Information Director, Dean College Athletics
(508) 541-1826
BChaves@dean.edu