Kaitlyn Bernier Selected as Little East Conference Woman of the Year

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Little East Conference (LEC) has named recent UMass Dartmouth graduate Kait Bernier its 2021-22 Woman of the Year in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the classroom, in the community and in intercollegiate athletics as a soccer and track & field student-athlete.
 
As the LEC's Woman of the Year recipient, Bernier advances to the national ballot for NCAA Woman of the Year and Division III Commissioner's Association (DIIICA) Student-Athlete of the Year consideration. This is the first year of the DIIICA award, while the NCAA Woman of the Year program was established in 1991.
 
Bernier is just the second Corsair to be named the LEC Woman of the Year since the NCAA format changed to allow conference recipients in 2006. The first was former women's basketball and lacrosse standout Colleen Kane in 2016.
 
"Majoring in engineering, while also participating in three seasons of sports was never easy, but it taught me many lessons," Bernier said as part her application's personal statement. "Persevering through every obstacle throughout my academic and athletic career has made me who I am."
 
A native of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Bernier earned a near-perfect 3.98 grade point average while completing her bachelor's degree in bioengineering this past spring, and plans to pursue her master's in biomedical engineering and biotechnology at UMass Dartmouth in the fall. She has received a number of accolades in recognition of her academic performance, including annual selection to the LEC All-Academic Team, U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team and Chancellor's List, while maintaining UMass Dartmouth's Dean's Scholarship all four years. Bernier was named the 2022 UMass Dartmouth Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year after being named the University's Freshman Outstanding Academic Award recipient following her arrival on-campus.
 
Bernier's first season as a member of the track & field team in 2019-20 was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She returned in dominant fashion, winning LEC outdoor titles in the 200m (26.53) and 400m (59.26) on her way to being named the 2021 LEC Outdoor Rookie Track Athlete of the Year. Her success continued into this past season, which saw her named the 2022 LEC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year after she won the 400m with a time of 58.59 that ranked her 21st in the nation, and placed third in the 200m (26.71).

A four-year member of the women's soccer program, Bernier produced 15 points in 55 career matches. She scored the game-winning goal in her first collegiate contest against Fredonia on Aug. 31, 2018.  Bernier registered a career-high five points, on two goals and an assist, to lift the Corsairs to a victory at Salem State this past fall.
 
Named the 2022 UMass Dartmouth Female Athlete of the Year, Bernier finished her undergraduate career as the UMass Dartmouth indoor 400m record-holder (57.73), while ranking in the top-five in the indoor 200m (fourth, 26.32), outdoor 200m (fifth, 25.99) and outdoor 400m (second, 58.00). In addition to her LEC honors, she was a two-time All-Division III New England performer and was named All-Region by the USTFCCCA four times.
 
Bernier said, "While my time as an athlete was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I am grateful for the time I have had. I have been given the opportunity to teach those younger than me the importance of being part of a team while also acknowledging the importance of one's studies."
 
Bernier also found time to volunteer in a number of local efforts, organizing and participating in a variety of book, clothing, food and toy drives that benefit local organizations, and assisting at an elderly care facility. She also served as a peer tutor and was a part of campus cleanup campaigns each of her four years attending UMass Dartmouth.
 
"Student-Athlete. To many, this specific group of students pursues their academic goals while also participating in sports as a way to balance their life and provide an opportunity to make some friends," said Bernier. "To me, the experiences, lessons, and community involvement have made me into the woman I am today, one that is extremely self-driven, hardworking, and confident."