STONY BROOK, N.Y. — The America East Woman of the Year award recognizes the conference's senior female student-athlete who has best distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.

And Chelsie DePonte from Stony Brook women's soccer is the deserving 2021 winner.

She is the fourth Stony Brook student-athlete ever to win the award, joining Kylie Ohlmiller (2018), Olivia Burne (2014) and Lucy Van Dalen (2012).

Michael Watts (2019), Alejandro Fritz (2016) and Eric Speakman (2015) have won the companion male award while representing Stony Brook.

DePonte, a 5-foot-2 midfielder who hails from Honolulu, earned her undergraduate degree in business in May. She plans to return for the fall season as a graduate student.

She earned United Soccer Coaches All-Region, third-team Scholar All-American and first-team Scholar All-Region this past season as well as first-team All-America East. She also was an America East Spring 2021 Presidential Scholar-Athlete.

DePonte also has served as co-president of Positive Assurance With Support (PAWS), which promotes mental health among student-athletes.