By: University of Southern Maine Athletics

Rona Scott is someone you know. And not just because she's an imposing figure on the softball field, earning first team All-Little East Conference honors as the Huskies' first baseman during the 2021 season. 
 
Rona is someone you know because she's active in the Huskies' Athletic Department and beyond. You can find her working alongside of her peers as a member and officer of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a contributing member of Huskies' SADIE (Student-Athlete Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Committee). As a student-employee, you can find her confidently working in the high-pressure role of line judge during Southern Maine volleyball contests, and in the winter, when basketball season rolls around, Rona becomes an integral part of the Athletic Communications staff serving as a game-day statistician (and occasional copy machine paper jam trouble shooter). And when the snow melts and the spring seasons heat up, you can catch Rona hitting dingers and coming up with huge defensive plays at the USM Softball stadium.
 

"Like many of our student-athlete leaders before her, Rona has immersed herself in the array of opportunities available to her and has chosen to take full advantage of her educational experience and has sought out ways to grow not only athletically, but professionally and personally," said Kim Turner, Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator.  "Rona has an engaging personality and she has used her time at USM wisely and has truly grown into a leader for her team and for the student-athlete body."
 
Simply put, Rona is a presence on and off of the field of competition and is the embodiment of the NCAA Division III student-athlete experience.  So, it comes as no surprise that Rona is one of just 40 students selected to attend the NCAA Convention this January as part of the 2022 NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program. 
 
In its seventh year, the Division III Student Immersion Program was created to help diversify the coaching and administrative landscape in Division III Athletics.  Nominated by Athletic Department leadership, students that participate in the program will not only be exposed to Division III, its members and governance process, but will take part in a series of educational and networking sessions, take a DISC assessment and be assigned a mentor in the field of Athletic Administration.  Rona is just one of 40 ethnic minority students from across Division III Athletics to be selected for participation in the program. 
 
"Sports have always been a part of my life, and sport has helped shape me into the person that I am.  Participation in athletics has given me an opportunity to grow my confidence, and has given me a vessel to learn to use my voice and my strengths as a teammate and a leader," said Scott.  "The experiences I have had in competition and in practice have made me a better friend, a better colleague and I believe it will play a big role in defining and shaping my career aspirations."
 
A Biology Education major,  Rona has not only excelled in her sport, but has also been an all-star in the classroom earning William B. Wise Scholar-Athlete honors from the Huskies' Athletic Department, and similar honors from the Little East Conference.  Most recently, Rona was one of 14 members of the Huskies' softball team to earn National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athlete honors. 
 
"I've always seen myself getting into teaching as a profession, but I also want to explore the field of coaching, which if you think about it is another form of teaching," said Scott. "Playing for and observing Coach Jamo and seeing the joy and passion she brings to work every day – I mean, I feel like she hasn't worked a day in her life. She's just doing what she loves every day and that has left an impression on me."
 
Rona and the rest of the Huskies had an incredibly successful season in 2021 under the leadership of Coach Sarah Jamo, who was named the 2021 Little East Conference Coach of the Year. Hitting a solid .300 (27-for-90) at the plate with 26 RBIs and leading the LEC in double-plays and put outs, Rona helped Southern Maine to the 2021 LEC Regular Season Championship  - its first since 1998 - with a record of 15-1 in conference action.  On the strength of their performance, the Huskies also earned the programs third NCAA Division III National Championship bid, and its first since 1999.
 
And while those accomplishments are enough to fill up a Spring semester full of classes for any student-athlete, Rona continued on representing University of Southern Maine Athletics as one of three student-athletes chosen to participate in the NCAA's 2021 Student-Athlete Leadership Training (SALT) program.  Along with teammate Hannah Shields (Buckfield, Maine) and Franny Ramsdell (Wells, Maine) of the women's

basketball team, Rona took part in the two-day developmental program.  Entitled "What's Your Leadership DNA?," Rona, Hannah and Franny were able to take part in workshops to discover their leadership style and identity, and to enhance their leadership skills.
 
"It has been amazing to see Rona's growth over the last two years," said Jamo.  "She continues to push herself and her teammates to be stronger student-athletes on a daily basis.  She has brought a passionate and remarkable work ethic to everything that she does  - in the classroom, in the community and of course on the field.  This is a tremendous opportunity and honor for Rona, and I have no doubt that she would be an amazing coach. The sport of softball is lucky to have her."
 
The experience is bound to be eye-opening and educational for Rona, who will have a chance to network with leaders in a variety of roles in NCAA Division III Athletics, be exposed to its governance process, and to connect with other talented student-athlete leaders. 
 
"Being a student-athlete has shown me that I work better in a team environment and I thrive when working collaboratively. I'm tremendously excited for this opportunity and to connect with other student-athletes that have a similar experience and background as me," said Scott.
 
"I knew coming to Southern Maine I would be one of a very few Black student-athletes, and the chance to have open discussions and strategize ways to diversify our sports and NCAA Division III is something I am really looking forward to.  I'm hopeful that this programming experience will open the doors for more diversity in the athletic administration and coaching ranks moving forward, so I am excited to be a part of that progress." 
 
With a desire to be an advocate and commitment to looking for ways to learn and grow in her leadership abilities, Rona has managed to navigate a challenging first two years as an intercollegiate athlete (having her first season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and her 2021 season played in the shadow of the same pandemic) with an uncommon level of maturity and wisdom.
 
"I think anyone who has been a student or a student-athlete the last two years has had to navigate a unique circumstance," said Scott.  "But I saw it as an opportunity to grow. Student-athletes earn the privilege to play our sport at the intercollegiate level, and I see it as a privilege to be viewed as a leader."
 
Operating within the framework of the Five Pillars of USM Athletics – Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development, and Service to Community – the Huskies' Department of Athletics actively takes a role in seeking out a variety of learning experiences for it student-athlete.
 
"The Division III Student Immersion Program is a relatively new experience created by the NCAA, and when this year's opportunity was available, Rona was one of the first student-athletes we considered for nomination," said USM Director of Athletics Al Bean.  "Our student-athlete alumni have gone on to be leaders and experts in a variety of fields, and I expect no less from Rona as she continues to progress in her academic and athletic career as a Husky."