NEW LONDON, Conn — Stephania Lopez (Chicago, Ill./St. Ignatius College Prep), who graduated with a 3.77 cumulative grade point average, will leave behind a lasting legacy for her efforts in the pool, the classroom, and the entire Connecticut College community. She was one of four nominees from the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Woman of the Year honor.
The scholar-athlete and three-year captain earned Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Division III All-America laurels all four years, which included making the first team as a senior in 2021 after earning a spot on the second team as a freshman, sophomore, and junior. She was also named the athletic department’s recipient of the Tammy Brown award as the top female scholar-athlete in the graduating class.
By earning a place on the ACWPC All-America First Team this past spring, she became the third Camel student-athlete in any sport to individually be named an All-American all four years in a single sport in school history.
“Stephania is an outstanding player who has been an outstanding captain these last three years,” said head water polo coach Matt Anderson. “She has held our team together during the last two seasons since the pandemic started, and she continued to show why she is so loved and respected by many and not just her teammates.”
A Dean’s High Honors student, Lopez was heavily involved with campus life every year. She was a PICA scholar and a wellbeing Coach for the Office of Wellbeing and Health Promotion. Furthermore, Lopez helped the athletic department as a front desk monitor and with sports information.
Lopez was also the co-founder and first-ever President of the Connecticut College Athletes of Color Coalition (CCACC). In addition to advocating for the group, she organized meetings and events, engaged with other NESCAC Coalitions, and she served as a liaison between the Coalition and the Conn administration. Through these experiences, she was able to bridge the gap between BIPOC athletes on different sports teams and create a space for athletes of color to connect and support one another.
“Stephania was absolutely incredible in her role as President for the CCACC,” stated head women’s basketball coach Jackie Smith, who serves as an advisor for the group. “She is someone who people want to follow, a natural leader, and a great example of what we hope all Camel athletes become.”
A native of Chicago, Lopez earned her degree in behavioral neuroscience and plans to pursue a master’s degree in Public Health and Physician Assistant Studies.
“I am very happy that Nemo, as we call her, has taken on the challenge of being the President of the CCACC in addition to being a captain of the women’s water polo program and committed to becoming the best athlete she can be,” added Anderson. “The fact that she has been able to put her effort into something else once COVID disabled a lot of what the regular athlete does shows where she is headed as a person.
“Great things lie ahead for Nemo as a person, both personally and professionally, and I do believe great things lie ahead for the CCACC, and that she has had a big impact on that. Stephania has been wonderful to have around these last four years and will be greatly missed.”
Release courtesy Connecticut College Athletics Communications
