Senior Megan Lucey earns 2022 USCAA Women's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Year

Virginia Beach, VA - This past Thursday during the 2022 USCAA Fall Championship Awards Banquet, senior captain Megan Lucey was named Women's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Year, a high honor in the national conference. The emphasis of the award is on merit, academic performance and community involvement, versus athletic performance. One student per sport each year is selected by a committee of National Office members, board members and member Athletic Directors. Megan's campus involvement and academic achievements helped her stand out as a candidate.

Lucey, a four-year graduating senior captain for Penn State Scranton's Women's Cross Country has medaled in the top 5 at many invitationals throughout her career, and has finished in the top ten in the PSUAC all four seasons, including placing 9th in the 2022 PSUAC Invitational.  Megan is a stand-out student on campus who is involved in everything from academic clubs and activities to making a difference in the health care field. Megan has attained a high GPA every semester of her college career in one of the most demanding Nursing majors at Penn State. She is a member of Nurses Association and four year member of the Campus Honors Program. She was chosen to be a student representative for Campus Academic Integrity Committee, which helps review and determine appropriate sanctions for a variety of academic infractions.

In addition, Megan worked as a Peer Tutor and has worked as a Peer Mentor helping students acclimate to campus life and during first year seminars. Megan has been recognized for her outstanding academics by being named the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence Gero Scholar in 2022, awarded to a student who demonstrates academic excellence, commitment to the CGNE's mission and vision, and interest in pursuing a PhD and career in nursing science. She has also earned multiple honors program certificates, she is a multi-year 1st place recipient at the Annual Campus Research Fair for nursing categories from 2020 though 2022 and she received the Evan Pugh Scholar award in 2021.

A dedicated runner, Megan travels over an hour to practice every morning to get her workouts in before class, always improving her course times. She is a cheerleader for every runner in the PSUAC which has earned her two-time PSUAC John Fritz Sportsmanship Award. She is a three-time USCAA National All- Academic and four-time PSUAC Academic All-Conference recipient. Over the COVID pandemic Megan worked as Peer Health Ambassador helping keep her campus safe and healthy during a difficult time. She was a Student Activities game room attendant, who worked to ensure the safety and fun of students on campus.

"The dedication that Megan has to her running, her peers and her academics is unmatched," commented Head Coach Sara Rinkunas. "She never complains and always puts in 110%.  This girl can do anything she puts her mind to"  

Megan is also a published author in the health field, working on research with Dr. Michael Evans and a team from 2019-present. During this she was a co-authored for four published articles and a lead author for one. At work, she is patient transporter at Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton and a Nurse extern at Geisinger Community Medical Center. 

During the national championship race, Megan left it all on the course during her final lap as a Lady Lion at Bells Mill Park, finishing the 6K course in a humid, rainy Chesapeake, VA at 31:12.