ORONO, Maine – Helen Shearer, a senior student-athlete at the University of Maine, has been recognized as the America East Women’s Cross Country Scholar Athlete for the fall season. The conference announced the honor on .
Shearer, who is pursuing degrees in Kinesiology-Physical Education and French, achieved the recognition with a cumulative grade point average of 3.94. Her path to Maine included a prior stint at the United States Military Academy at West Point, joining the Black Bears program in .
The America East honor acknowledges Shearer’s academic achievements alongside her athletic performance. She competed in four meets for the University of Maine, achieving a second-place finish at the New England Intercollegiate Athletic Association (NEICAAA) Championships on , with a time of 17:28.3. This performance earned her recognition as a member of the All New England team and contributed to the Black Bears’ second-place finish at the event.
Prior to the Scholar Athlete award, Shearer was named the America East Female Performer of the Week following her performance at the New England Championships. Her contributions extended to team success, playing a key role in the University of Maine women’s cross country team securing its first America East Conference Championship in program history. Shearer finished sixth at the championship meet with a time of 17:42.20 and was subsequently named to the America East All-Conference First Team.
The America East Conference, founded in , is a collegiate athletic conference operating within the NCAA Division I framework. The Scholar-Athlete awards recognize student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically across six fall championship sports: men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball. Nominees are initially selected by their respective institutions, with a limit of one nominee per sport, before being voted upon by the conference’s Student-Athlete Engagement committee.
To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete award, student-athletes must be projected starters or prominent reserves and maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.50. Shearer’s 3.94 GPA clearly surpasses this requirement, highlighting her dedication to academic excellence alongside her athletic commitments.
As an America East Scholar-Athlete, Shearer is now automatically eligible for the conference’s Female or Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, which are scheduled to be announced at the end of the Spring Semester. This further recognition underscores the significance of her achievements and the potential for continued success.
Shearer’s athletic record also includes a time of 4:37.70 in the 2026 indoors season at the Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White event, according to records from Army West Point, where she previously competed. Her 2025 XC time at the America East Cross Country Championships was 17:42.2.
The University of Maine’s athletic program, known as the Black Bears, competes within the America East Conference. The conference’s commitment to fostering an environment for student-athletes is reflected in the recognition of individuals like Shearer, who demonstrate a balance of academic and athletic prowess.
The selection of Shearer as the America East Women’s Cross Country Scholar Athlete represents a significant achievement for both the individual and the University of Maine. It highlights the university’s commitment to supporting student-athletes in their pursuit of academic and athletic excellence, and it underscores the importance of recognizing those who embody the values of the America East Conference.
