Woman of the Year

Brookdale Community College student-athlete Zoey Hagan (Atlantic Highlands) was honored as Woman of the Year by the New Jersey Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (NJAIAW) along with other New Jersey college and university women who have made significant contributions to their institutions and community through athletic accomplishments, academic excellence, service, and leadership.

Hagan is a business management major at Brookdale and played as a catcher and 3rd baseman on the Jersey Blues softball team. She helped the team finish 3rd in the nation, with an overall 33-12 record. In addition, the team was crowned the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIX and Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) Champions. Hagan finished the season with a .400 batting average, 60 hits, 14 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs, 38 RBIs, 34 runs, and a fielding percentage of .934 with 123 putouts, 32 assists, and only allowed 12 stolen bases.

“Being a part of the Brookdale softball program has shown me how much love I have for the game,” said Hagan. “Having a big role on the team, being involved in Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) and working with the faculty members in the athletic office has taught me a lot about leadership and accountability.”

Hagan is named on both the 2022 NJCAA and GSAC First Team. In addition, she was awarded April 10th’s GSAC Player of the Week for her performance at the plate, and while at bat, she smashed three home runs in three double-header matchups.

Coach Bo Scannapieco sang her praises, “Zoey is a very industrious and conscientious student-athlete who displays excellent leadership qualities on the field.”

Hagan led the SAAC as Vice President in the fall of 2022 and quickly became President in the spring of 2023. She was the point of contact for all student members of the club working closely with the club’s advisor David Tompkins and Student Life & Activities. Demonstrating her dedication to positively impacting her community, Hagen helped deliver food and clothing to Lunch Break in Red Bank in December. In addition, she helped oversee the Student-Athletes Honor Jersey Blue Employees Event in February.

“I am so honored to receive this award,” Hagan said. “I would just like to thank my family, coaches, and teammates who have helped me get to where I am today.”