NJCAA Region III is proud to announce the 2019-2020 recipients of the Male and Female Student Athlete of the Year, Athletic Director of the Year, Athletic Trainer of the Year and Community Service awards.
The Female Athlete of the Year is Kayla Carder from North Country Community College. She is a sophomore who has been a two year member of the basketball team.
In 2020, Kayla was named 1st team NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball All-American, 1st Team All-Region III, and for the second time, 1st Team All-Mountain Valley Conference. She scored 1,136 points and pulled down 751 rebounds in her two years. She led the Saints to back to back NJCAA Region III Championships.
North Country CC Athletic Director Chad Ladue had this to say about Kayla, “I could not be happier for Kayla and her family. She is one of the toughest kids I have ever seen. The injuries that she has had to fight thought most athletes would have walked away. She truly is what North Country is all about.”
According to NCCC head coach Jarrod Dumont, “Kayla has had such an amazing career here at North Country and after winning back to back regional titles this individual award really solidifies her greatness in a Saints Uniform. She has been nothing short of amazing ever since she has arrived on campus, a team leader a friend who you can always count on, I am very proud of her.”
Ms. Carder is still considering options to continue her academic and athletic endeavors.
The Male Athlete of the Year is Jordan Bushey from Niagara County Community College. He is a sophomore who has been a member of the Wrestling program. .
Jordan transferred to NCCC and joined elite company on the mats, becoming the sixth National Champion in program history. The 174-pounder was 35-2 this past winter on his way to 2020 NJCAA Wrestling All-American and Region III/Eastern District I Wrestler of the Year honors. The team captain won individual crowns at six different tournaments, helping NCCC to its 23rd Regional title.
Head coach Keith Maute offered the following thoughts, “Jordan is a great leader on and off the mat. We are thrilled to have him join the elite company of our school history as our 6th National Champion.”
Mr. Bushey plans to continue his athletic and academic career at a 4 year institution .
The Athletic Director of the Year is Justin Hoyt from Hudson Valley Community College. He has served as the NJCAA Region III Assistant Women’s Director for the past three years. In addition, he chairs the sports of Track and Field as well as Football, while also serving on the region’s Standards & Ethics Committee. On the national level, Justin is the vice-chair for Women’s Basketball, and serves on the Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Women’s Tennis committees.
Mr. Hoyt is cited by his peers for his commitment and dedication to both his institution and the Region. Justin is known for developing programs to enhance his student athletes’ experience and administering his competitive athletic programs with the highest level of integrity. He always has the student's best interested and is truly a joy to work with. Justin has become one of the leaders in Region III in a short period of time and we are lucky to have him on our leadership team.
The 2019-20 Region III Community Service Award has been voted on and Hudson Valley Community College has won the honor once again. This is the second year in a row that HVCC has won the award. Justin Hoyt, Athletic Director at Hudson Valley had this to say, “It’s a tremendous honor to receive the Region 3 Community Service Award again, and it’s a true testament to our student-athletes. We put an emphasis on helping serve our community and we hope to continue to foster those relationships in the Capital District and beyond.”
Some of the activities and organizations that HVCC student athletes worked with in 2019-2020 include:
- Troy Boys and Girls Club
- Race Away Stigma 5K Race and Fun Walk
- Fall Fest Vikings Cup Challenge
- Girls on the Run Half Marathon
- Volleyball Dig Pink Night
- NJCAA Day
- Pumpkin Palooza
- Military Appreciation Day
- Rashad Barksdale Annual Thanksgiving Day Community Dinner
- Omega Psi Phi Annual Feed the Community Day
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Rensselaer County
- Ronald McDonald House Charities
- Northeastern Regional Food Bank
- HVCC Athletics Community Day
Herkimer College head athletic trainer Kyle Roepnack was named the 2019-2020 Region III Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Region III Athletic Directors. Roepnack, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Springfield College, has been a certified trainer since 2008 and has been employed as the head athletic trainer at Herkimer College since 2005.
Roepnack is the chairperson and one of the founders for the Region III Health and Safety Committee, a member of the NJCAA Student Athlete Safety and Welfare Council, and the NJCAA representative on the National Athletic Trainer’s Association Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine. He continues to work closely with students, student-athletes, faculty, staff, Region III, and the NJCAA.
“Kyle is an energetic, committed and competent employee who works diligently to represent our athletic department at Herkimer in the highest magnitude,” said Donald Dutcher, the College’s dean of students and athletic director.
