HAMILTON – Colgate Athletics is pleased to announce its Trailblazers of Distinction in conjunction with the Patriot League to recognize the accomplishments of impactful women leaders during the Title IX era.
The Patriot League worked closely with staff from each of its institutions to identify and honor individual women and memorable teams for contributions to their respective athletics departments, campuses, and society at large. The Trailblazers of Distinction were selected in concurrence with the Patriot League's celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX and aligned with Colgate's yearlong celebration of 50 years of women's athletics.
"The process of selecting Colgate's Trailblazers of Distinction allowed the committee to learn about many of the amazing women who set the foundation for the success of women's athletics at Colgate. It was an impressive slate of nominees," said Deputy Athletics Director Juliana Smith. She continued, "It was a tall task to select only five women to highlight for this honor as countless women who have worn the Colgate uniform exemplify the virtues we hold dear within Colgate Athletics - thoughtful, driven, enthusiastic, cohesive, and bold."
"As we celebrate 50 years of women's athletics at Colgate, we are fortunate to have so many stories to tell of incredible student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff who have brought great distinction, success, and joy to the university and its community," commented Colgate's Vice President and Director of Athletics, Dr. Nicki Moore. "I'm looking forward to our student-athletes and the rest of the Colgate community learning more about Vicky, Dorothy, Thayer, Autumn, and Dr. Miller as we honor them and the generations of women student-athletes and influencers whom they represent throughout this year."
Each Trailblazer of Distinction represents the Patriot League's vision for their achievement of athletic potential in addition to values of integrity, character, and personal development. Collectively, the women and teams recognized have served as shining examples of the importance of the journey toward inclusion and gender equity.
Throughout the year Colgate will be featuring trailblazers who made an impact on the development of women's athletics programs at the University. Each individual will be featured by reflecting on their time at Colgate, highlighting the impact athletics has had on their careers, and shedding light on their personal highlights and achievements.
Monumental victories, conference championships, and other significant moments in the history of women's athletics at the University will be highlighted as part of the celebration throughout the year.
When the Patriot League became an all-sport conference during the 1990-91 academic year, it initially offered 22 sports; 11 men's and 11 women's. The ability to provide an equal complement of sports was in part due to the contributions made by some of the Trailblazers of Distinction, whose collegiate athletics careers concluded before the formation of the League. The paths they paved for future generations who were afforded more opportunities to compete are why it is essential to recognize their accomplishments.
Colgate Athletics Trailblazers of Distinction
Vicky Chun – Volleyball '91, Volleyball Head Coach 1994-96, Athletics Director 2012-18
Chun excelled as a student-athlete, coach, and administrator at Colgate before becoming the first woman and first Asian American to serve as Director of Athletics at Yale when she accepted the post in 2018. At Colgate, Chun was selected as the Patriot League Volleyball Player of the Year in 1991 and Coach of the Year in 1996. She was selected as the NACWAA National Administrator of the Year (FCS Division) in 2010.
Dorothy Donaldson – Softball '05
Donaldson was inducted into Colgate's Hall of Honor in 2017 after being a commanding force in Patriot League softball during her four years as a Raider. She remains the leader in career home runs with 39 and ranks in the top five of all other offensive categories. She was awarded the title of Patriot League Player of the Year in 2004 and earned All-Patriot League First Team honors four times.
Thayer Lavielle – Women's Lacrosse, Ice Hockey '93
Lavielle was a women's club ice hockey and lacrosse student-athlete who worked with fellow students to transform women's ice hockey into a varsity sport at Colgate. She currently serves as the Executive Vice President at global sports and entertainment agency Wasserman, working to achieve its goal of raising the visibility and inclusion of women in sports and music. Through The Collective, Lavielle also spearheaded the formation of The Collective Marketplace in 2021 and The Collective Think Tank, a global consortium of academic institutions and industry-creating research around women in sport.
Autumn McKenzie – Volleyball '97
McKenzie won Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 1993 and was a First Team All-Patriot League selection her final three seasons with the Raiders. She was also a First-Team AVCA Division I District 1 honoree in addition to receiving Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP as a senior. She is currently a public speaker, writer, and blogger.
Dr. Merrill Miller – Sports Medicine
Miller has been a staple of the athletic training department at Colgate for more than 30 years. She was the first and only female head physician for a number of years on the NCAA Division I level and continues to serve as the Director of Health Services for Colgate. Dr. Miller has been given the John LeFevre Athletic Appreciation Award, Maroon Council Award, Senior Class Award, and the Maroon Citation during her tenure in Hamilton, N.Y.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.
