Lincoln’s champion is the NCAA Woman of the Year nominee

Malen Iglesias, Lincoln Alumn, is a nominee for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) award: Woman of the Year. Meet one of our learners, athlete, and superstar. 

Photo credits: Fairfield Stags Twitter official account

Malen Iglesias knew what her calling was when she started playing field hockey at only seven years old in a local club called Club Banco Nacional de Desarrollo (Ba.Na.De.) in Argentina. Now she is a midfielder superstar nominated for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) award: Woman of the Year (the winner will be announced at the NCAA Convention in January 2023).  

After working 60 semester hours at Fairfield University, maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.90, participating with distinction as a member of a varsity team, and scoring and assisting epic goals with her team, the results were in. In 2022 she was named Fall Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the Northeast Conference (NEC), a collegiate athletic conference member of the NCAA, in the United States. Before that, in 2021 she was named NEC Player of the Year. 

Besides the athletic achievements, Malen was also part of the NEC Academic and Commissioner's Honor Roll in the last three years at Fairfield. Now, she has a degree in Management and Marketing and is pursuing her Masters in Sport Coaching at Ohio State University. So how did our learner become such a powerhouse? 

What is an athlete: the will of steel

Before competing in NCAA Division I, which is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics considered by the NCAA in the United States, she started as a learner with a lot of passion for hockey, a will of steel, and a knack for challenges. During her junior year of high school, she realized she could attend college in the United States while competing in the sport she loved. We interviewed Malen, to know more about her self-navigating journey.

A Lincoln learner is someone who is always open to new challenges and continuously looks to better themselves in every aspect of their lives.

As a Lincoln learner, how did you become the athlete you are today? 

Having attended Lincoln made the opportunity of going to college abroad more realistic for me as I had the help of our guidance counselors as well as other teachers. In addition to this, Lincoln played a huge role in the development of my values which have guided me to where I am today. Growing up surrounded by people from different nationalities and cultures has allowed me to be more open-minded and appreciative of how different we all are and how our differences are what make us unique and valuable.

How are you experiencing this great achievement of being nominated for Woman of the Year and Named NEC Fall Scholar-Athlete Of The Year?

It is an honor. I am very grateful for all the opportunities I had. The nomination says my name, but it belongs to a lot of people behind the scenes. And being named NEC Fall Scholar-Athlete of the Year was something I was not expecting at all. This award validated all the hard work I put in throughout my college career. With the support of my teammates and coaching staff at Fairfield University, I was able to become the best version of myself on the field and in the classroom. 

The first 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 went to the NEC Player AND Scholar-Athlete of the Year‼️

🏑 Malen Iglesias, @Stags_FH#WeAreStags 🤘 pic.twitter.com/WZZMwASWT2

— Fairfield Stags (@FairfieldStags) May 12, 2022

Witnessing your story and how you went from Lincoln School to having such an amazing career is inspiring. How do you feel when you think of the Lincoln community?

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of the Lincoln community is ‘family’. I started attending Lincoln in Pre-K 4 back in 2004. I grew up there and will always cherish all the memories I made during my time there.

How would you describe a Lincoln learner?

A Lincoln learner is someone who is always open to new challenges and continuously looks to better themselves in every aspect of their lives. A Lincoln learner appreciates and values different cultures, and backgrounds and is proud of where they come from. 

What would you say to our younger students? A tip from one learner to another?

I would say that no challenge is too big. Don’t let anyone say you can't achieve something and fight for what you believe is best for you and those around you.