SUWANEE, Ga. -- Following a vote of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference's Senior Woman Administrators, Colorado College's Alison Mueller-Hickler has been selected as the 2026 SCAC Woman of the Year.
In addition to being recognized as SCAC Woman of the Year, she will be nominated for the fifth annual Division III Commissioner's Association (DIIICA) Student-Athlete of the Year award.
“We are so proud of Alison and her incredible career and this is a wonderful way to finish it," said Colorado College Vice President and Director of Athletics Lesley Irvine. "She is one of the best female runners in CC’s history and not only excelled in this way she was also a leader within the department, in the classroom and on campus. Congratulations Alison on this outstanding honor."
Selection criteria for the DIIICA Student-Athlete of the Year awards include academic achievement, athletics excellence, service, leadership, and a personal statement submitted by each nominee. Conferences may submit two nominations per award if one represents an international student or ethnic minority. Graduating seniors are the only student-athletes eligible.
The initial round of voting was conducted by commissioners within each of the ten regions, with the top male and female honorees advancing as finalists for the Awards Committee to select the Division III Commissioner's Association Men's Sport and Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year.
Mueller-Hickler becomes CC’s third SCAC Woman of the Year honoree in the last four years and fifth overall selection since the institution joined the conference prior to the 2006-07 academic year. Kendall Accetta was named the league’s WOTY in 2024, Kate Brush in 2023, Isabelle Aragon-Mensel earned a share of the award in 2021, and Melanie Auguste won the award in 2009.
A native of Katy, Texas, Mueller-Hickler graduated with a 3.91 cumulative grade-point average as Environmental Science major with a minor in History and was selected to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team as junior and senior. A four-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll recipient and member of the Colorado College Dean’s List all eight semesters, Mueller-Hickler was named a USTFCCCA All-Academic athlete as a junior.
"Alison's athletic career at Colorado College has been filled with impressive results and awards," said CC head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach Alex Nichols. "At the same time, she has established herself as an impactful campus leader and mentor. I am incredibly proud of what she has done for this program and grateful for her contributions to the entire Colorado College community."
Mueller-Hickler produced an outstanding 2025-26 campaign in both cross country and track & field, including being named the SCAC Runner of the Year after winning the 2025 individual cross-country title and helping the Tigers to a top 25 result at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship Meet. CC finished 23rd powered behind an All-American performance from Mueller-Hickler, who finished 26th individually out of 290 runners. Her senior cross-country season was also highlighted by securing NCAA Division III West Region Champion and Runner of the Year honors. A two-time captain of the CC cross country team, Mueller-Hickler is a four-time SCAC Team Champion and four-time All-SCAC honoree in cross country.
She followed that up this past spring by finishing seventh in the 10,000-meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, earning her second All-American honor in that event. Mueller-Hickler finished 10th in the 10K at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor T&F Championships. A member of the 2024 CC Tigers’ SCAC Team Title squad, Mueller-Hickler closes out her career a two-time SCAC Champion in the 10K (2024, 2026), four-time All-SCAC honoree in T&F and holder of the CC record in the outdoor 10K, Indoor 3K and indoor 5K.
Mueller-Hickler, who was named the recipient of the Laura Golden award as Colorado College's top female student-athlete among the 2026 graduating class, was very active in the campus community, such as SAAC representative, including an officer from 2024-26, CC residential advisor, highlighted by Employee of the Year in 2025 and the Mentorship Award recipient in 2026.
“I strive to be an inspiration for my teammates to be better students, athletes, and a positive representation of Colorado College at all levels,” said Mueller-Hickler in reflecting on her time at CC and persevering through adversity.
“Being an athlete is a major part of my life; however, I am determined to not have my personal bests define who I am. Although I found myself ridiculously busy throughout my time at Colorado College, I would not have had it any other way because, to me, my loaded schedule was a privilege and a way I could make my community a better place while also living in dedication to my Mama’s memory."
Mueller-Hickler was one of eight outstanding nominees considered by the SCAC Woman of the Year Committee. The other candidates were:
Samantha Graham, Volleyball, Austin College
Josie Leffingwell, Tennis, Hendrix College
Madelyn Flanery, Softball, LeTourneau University
Kendra Humphries, Track & Field, McMurry University
Jessie Wright, Swimming & Diving, University of the Ozarks
Trinity Provost, Track & Field, University of St. Thomas
Taylor Vannett, Softball, Texas Lutheran University
To read about past winners of the SCAC Woman-of-the-Year award, click here.
Year-by-year SCAC Woman of the Year Honorees:
2026 - Alison Mueller-Hickler, cross country and track & field, Colorado College
2025 - Arden Neff, track and field, Southwestern University
2024 - Kendall Accetta, cross country & outdoor track and field, Colorado College
2023 - Kate Brush, swimming, Colorado College
2022 - Kelly Jurden, softball, Texas Lutheran University
2021 - Isabelle Aragon-Menzel, volleyball, Colorado College / Ally Longaker, basketball, Austin College
2020 - DeAnna Hernandez, softball, Texas Lutheran University / Abby Holland, basketball, Trinity University
2019 - Molly McCullough, cross country & outdoor track and field, Trinity University
2018 - Britney Sullivan, outdoor track and field, Trinity University
2017 - Amanda Lochte, softball, Texas Lutheran University
2016 - Brigette Lee, golf, Trinity University
2015 - Emily Jorgens, soccer, Trinity University
2014 - Lilly Duarte, cross country & outdoor track and field, Southwestern University / Shelby Eaves, volleyball, Austin College
2013 - Rachel Thibodeau, volleyball, Southwestern University
2012 - Sharwil Bell, basketball, Rhodes College / Abigail Loar, soccer, Trinity University
2011 - Hayley Emerick, swimming and diving, Trinity University
2010 - Lauren Reich, cross country & outdoor track and field, DePauw University
2009 - Melanie Auguste, basketball, Colorado College / Amanda Stier, swimming and diving, DePauw University
2008 - Katie Doogan, swimming and diving, DePauw University
2007 - Liz Bondi, basketball & tennis, DePauw University
2006 - Christyn Schumann, outdoor track and field, Trinity University
