Thompson Arena thundered with applause last Tuesday night as Dartmouth hosted its annual Celebration of Excellence, honoring student-athletes who exemplified success in competition, the classroom and the community.
The ceremony, emceed by baseball’s Luke Carroll ’25 of baseball and women’s soccer’s Kellie Sutton ’25, highlighted athletes from across the Big Green’s 35 varsity programs. From Ivy League champions to community leaders, the evening showcased the breadth of excellence among Dartmouth’s athletes.
One of the night’s most anticipated awards was the “Moment of Excellence,” a fan-voted recognition for standout performances. This year’s winner, track star Jada Jones ’26, delivered two electrifying victories in the 200-meter dash: first, in the indoor Ivy League Heptagonal Championships with 23.77 seconds, and then at the outdoor championships with 23.55 seconds. She was the first Dartmouth athlete to win both events, cementing her place among the Ivy League elite.
“I’m so grateful to be surrounded by my teammates and my coaches and all the great athletes we have here at Dartmouth,” Jones said. “It wasn’t an easy decision to pick the Moment of Excellence, so I’m truly grateful for the award.”
Among the evening’s most prestigious honors was the Kenneth Archibald Prize, awarded to the top all-around graduating athletes. Billy Bender ’24 of men’s heavyweight rowing and Jasmine Drolet ’25 of women’s skiing were both recognized for their athletic dominance and academic achievement. Bender, who competed in the Paris Olympics last summer, led the varsity eight to an unbeaten dual season. Drolet, a First Team All-American, earned podium finishes at multiple carnivals and a top-three national result.
In the individual sport awards, John Steel Hagenbuch ’25 earned the Alfred E. Watson Trophy as the top male athlete of the year, thanks to an extraordinary nordic skiing season that included eight race victories and back-to-back national titles in the 7.5K classic. Cassidy Exner ’27 was named top female athlete, receiving the Class of 1976 Award after leading Dartmouth equestrian with a team-best average and postseason win record.
Academic excellence was also in the spotlight. The Class of 1948 Scholar-Athlete Awards went to Cooper Flinton ’26 of men’s hockey and Maya Kendall ’26 of women’s lacrosse. Flinton, who signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning following the season, described the honor as “a great one.”
“There are a lot of great people up for the award,” Flinton said. “It means a lot to know that people think of me this way.”
Kendall, who shattered Ivy League records with 188 draw controls and 22 in a single game, emphasized the collective effort behind her achievement.
“Honestly, I’m excited because our team has worked so hard for this, and this is just a testament to that,” Kendall said.
Kendall was Dartmouth’s first All-American since 2019.
Recognition was also extended to service and leadership. Football’s Micah Green ’25 earned the Class of 1950 Award for his wide-reaching civic engagement, including leadership roles in the Dartmouth Black Student Athlete Alliance and local voter outreach initiatives.
The spirit of trailblazing leadership was especially resonant in the awarding of the Agnes B. Kurtz Award to women’s hockey team captain Lauren Messier ’25, who led her team in scoring and delivered a string of clutch performances, including a game-winner over No. 7 St. Lawrence.
“It’s so special to be honored this way,” Messier said. “Agnes Kurtz is a huge deal to the school and to what it really means to be a female athlete at Dartmouth. It’s a huge honor, and I’m really appreciative of everyone and all the nominees in the category. We all share this, in my opinion.”
The evening closed with the Timothy Wright Ellis 1955 Memorial Award, which recognized Wyatt Ellison ’25 and Conor Shaheen ’25 of the men’s rowing teams for their humility, spirit and quiet leadership.
As the athletes stepped off the stage, one thing was clear: the Big Green’s excellence is not measured in awards alone. It’s built on character, community and a deep commitment to Big Green pride.
