NEWTON, NJ (Sussex County) – The Sussex County Community College (SCCC) Athletic Department would like to congratulate Sophomore student-athlete Reese Vanderhoof on being named the SCCC Woman of the Year and the Sussex representative for National Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) Day.
Vanderhoof accepts the award on behalf of all Female Student Athletes at SCCC and said, “I feel extremely honored to have been chosen for this award. All the women student-athletes around me deserve this award as much as me. Being a student-athlete is mentally challenging, as well as for others, I suspect, but seeing the girls on my basketball team all push through and be supportive of one another makes it all worth it.”
Vanderhoof is a leader for the Lady Skylanders on the basketball court and in the classroom. Earning herself 3rd team All-Academic Awards last year, she’s thriving in her Exercise Science courses at the College.
“I have loved playing basketball at SCCC. I did not plan to continue playing after high school, but then I heard about the team and decided to go for it once I started school. I am glad that I did because I was not ready to be done playing, and now I have a chance to continue playing at a 4-year once I graduate in May. After SCCC, I hope to attend a 4-year college to complete my exercise science degree. I also hope to continue my basketball career at a higher college level and improve my game. I plan to become an athletic trainer or physical therapist to help other athletes perform their best in the sports they love,” Vanderhoof said.
As Vanderhoof continues being a role model student-athlete at SCCC, she also works full-time during the week and says SCCC is the perfect place to balance college life, home life, family, and friends.
“I think it takes a lot of hard work to be a successful student-athlete. First, you must learn to focus on academics, then change to athletics when it comes to practice or game time. I find it mentally challenging but rewarding when you get good grades and perform well during your sport,” Vanderhoof said.
Under first-year Head Women’s Basketball Coach John O’Hara and Assistant Jay Hill, Vanderhoof has continued to prove her academic toughness, leadership qualities, and skills on the court.
