University of New Hampshire Athletics
White Named America East Women's Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
7/8/2026 12:15:00 PM | General, Women's Track & Field, Academics
BOSTON – Sophomore Ruth White (Orono, Maine) of the University of New Hampshire was named the America East Women's Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Wednesday.
White, who has a 3.98 cumulative GPA in pursuit of a mechanical engineering degree, is the eighth UNH Wildcat named America East Women's Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year; the list of previous recipients includes UNH Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Elle Purrier and Rosie Donegan.
Her other academic accolades in the 2026 outdoor season included College Sports Communicators Cross Country/Track & Field Academic All-District Team and America East All-Academic Team.
White earned All-America Honorable Mention with a 22nd-place finish in the 10,000-meter run at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Oregon on June 11.
White advanced to the NCAA championship meet by racing to ninth place in the NCAA East First Round at the University of Kentucky on May 28 with a season-best time of 33 minutes, 8.83 seconds – 21 seconds faster than her No. 27-seeded time of 33:29.85 April 17 at the Virginia Challenge.
White was named the America East Track Athlete of the Week on April 14 after she broke the 5,000m school record with a time of 16:03.28 at the Friar Invitational. She won the 5,000m at both UNH home meets this season – the Jim Boulanger Invitational in early April and UNH Wildcat Invitational later that month.
She went on to earn a silver medal at the America East Championship with a second-place effort in the 10,000m.
White ended the 2026 outdoor season with the fastest America East women's time in the 10,000m and third-fastest time in the 5,000m.
White has made the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll all three times – 2024 and 2025 cross country and 2025 track & field. She was named the America East Outdoor Track Performer of the Year in 2025.
White is the fifth UNH student-athlete to earn a sport Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the 2025-26 academic year. Zachary Hooper (men's cross country), Abbi Maier (women's soccer) and Nicole Poulakis (field hockey) were feted in the fall and Audrey Mahoney (women's swimming and diving) was honored in the winter season.
White and the four other distinguished 'Cats are under consideration for the conference Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards that will be announced later this month.
UNH Recipients
America East Women's Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
2026 – Ruth White
2018 – Elle Purrier
2017 – Elle Purrier
2016 – Rosie Donegan
2015 – Anne Twombly
2004 – Lesley Read
2002 – Amy DeCamp
1993 – Alison Poulin
GoCatsTravel
Whenever or wherever you travel to cheer the Wildcats, book your hotel at GoCatsTravel.com — it is the same rate as anywhere else, and 50 percent of proceeds go back to Wildcat Athletics. Pick your team, book your stay.
White, who has a 3.98 cumulative GPA in pursuit of a mechanical engineering degree, is the eighth UNH Wildcat named America East Women's Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year; the list of previous recipients includes UNH Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Elle Purrier and Rosie Donegan.
Her other academic accolades in the 2026 outdoor season included College Sports Communicators Cross Country/Track & Field Academic All-District Team and America East All-Academic Team.
White earned All-America Honorable Mention with a 22nd-place finish in the 10,000-meter run at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Oregon on June 11.
White advanced to the NCAA championship meet by racing to ninth place in the NCAA East First Round at the University of Kentucky on May 28 with a season-best time of 33 minutes, 8.83 seconds – 21 seconds faster than her No. 27-seeded time of 33:29.85 April 17 at the Virginia Challenge.
White was named the America East Track Athlete of the Week on April 14 after she broke the 5,000m school record with a time of 16:03.28 at the Friar Invitational. She won the 5,000m at both UNH home meets this season – the Jim Boulanger Invitational in early April and UNH Wildcat Invitational later that month.
She went on to earn a silver medal at the America East Championship with a second-place effort in the 10,000m.
White ended the 2026 outdoor season with the fastest America East women's time in the 10,000m and third-fastest time in the 5,000m.
White has made the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll all three times – 2024 and 2025 cross country and 2025 track & field. She was named the America East Outdoor Track Performer of the Year in 2025.
White is the fifth UNH student-athlete to earn a sport Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the 2025-26 academic year. Zachary Hooper (men's cross country), Abbi Maier (women's soccer) and Nicole Poulakis (field hockey) were feted in the fall and Audrey Mahoney (women's swimming and diving) was honored in the winter season.
White and the four other distinguished 'Cats are under consideration for the conference Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards that will be announced later this month.
UNH Recipients
America East Women's Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
2026 – Ruth White
2018 – Elle Purrier
2017 – Elle Purrier
2016 – Rosie Donegan
2015 – Anne Twombly
2004 – Lesley Read
2002 – Amy DeCamp
1993 – Alison Poulin
GoCatsTravel
Whenever or wherever you travel to cheer the Wildcats, book your hotel at GoCatsTravel.com — it is the same rate as anywhere else, and 50 percent of proceeds go back to Wildcat Athletics. Pick your team, book your stay.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Women's Track & FieldThursday, May 28
Thursday, May 14
Wednesday, May 06
Tuesday, May 05