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College Sports Communicators announce Academic All-America Hall of Fame Class of 2025

By Cort Street, CSC Intern and Barb Kowal, CSC Director of Operations and Professional Development

An Olympic gold medalist softball pitcher who dominated on the mound while an undergraduate, a former small college volleyball standout now an award-winning pathology doctor and professor, a former trailblazing national field hockey standout, coach and administrator, and one of the most prolific women’s basketball players in history highlight the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

This Class of 2025 features four individuals with tremendous accomplishments as student-athletes with distinguished professional careers and philanthropic efforts and advocacy for change:

• Dr. Alarice (Huang) Lowe – An acclaimed volleyball scholar-athlete at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), now a Stanford Medicine Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Laboratories professor whose award-winning medical research is creating change on a global scale
• Cat Osterman – A highly-decorated three-time USA Olympic medalist and three-time USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year who dominated collegiate softball while pitching at the University of Texas and who has now turned her attention to professional sports front office management in the new Athletes Unlimited Softball League
• Jenepher Shillingford – A trailblazer since the 1950’s, this former Ursinus College scholar-athlete and USA field hockey star became a leading advocate for women in athletic leadership and coaching 
• Jackie Stiles – The renowned, record-breaking women’s basketball national player of the year at Missouri State University (then known as Southwest Missouri State) now focused on helping a new generation of athletes reach their full potential through her advocacy, leadership, and training prowess

Created in 1988, the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Hall of Fame recognizes former Academic All-Americans who received a college degree at least 10 years ago, have achieved lifetime success in their professional careers, and are committed to philanthropic causes. Honorees are chosen each year by a select committee of CSC members, leaders and past Academic All-America Hall of Fame inductees.

“Induction into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame is the most prestigious academic honor that can be bestowed on a student-athlete. This year’s distinguished Hall of Fame class includes four outstanding women who have served as trailblazers in their respective sports as well as in their professional careers,” said Kevin Trainor, 2024-25 CSC President and University of Arkansas Senior Associate AD for Public Relations & Former Student-Athlete Engagement. “We look forward to celebrating the many accomplishments of Cat, Jackie, Jenepher and Alarice as part of our CSC All-Star Night of Honors.”

With the addition of these four individuals, a total of 178 Academic All-Americans have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception.

The four inductees will be honored during the All-Star Night of Honors presented by ESPN on Monday, June 9, 2025, held as part of the CSC Unite 25 convention at the World Center Marriott in Orlando. Award-winning ESPN reporter and 2019 CSC Jake Wade Award winner Holly Rowe serves as emcee. It takes place with a 5 p.m. (Eastern) reception followed by the awards ceremony. 

“The 2025 class represents the best of the best in collegiate athletics,” noted Jason Yaman, CSC Executive Director. “These four women initially etched their names in record books before going on to have a similarly significant impact in their professions and local communities.  We are thrilled to officially welcome them into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame in June as we celebrate them and their achievements.”

“This year’s Academic All-America Hall of Fame class and honors exemplify the pinnacle of excellence in both academics and athletics. From the dominance of Cat Osterman and (Dick Enberg Award recipient) Ruth Riley Hunter on the national stage, to the trailblazing leadership of Alarice Lowe and Jenepher Shillingford, and the record-breaking brilliance of Jackie Stiles — these extraordinary individuals have not only excelled in their sports but have used their platforms to inspire, educate, and uplift their communities," noted Chris Masters, chair of the CSC Academic All-America Hall of Fame Committee and the UIC Senior Associate AD-External Operations. "They remind us that greatness isn't limited to the field of play, but is most powerful when coupled with intellect, character, and service. We are honored to induct these incredible women into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame and look forward to celebrating their achievements next month in Orlando.”

All #CSCUnite25 attendees holding convention badges are welcome to attend the event.

Those without a #CSCUnite25 convention badge may purchase tickets to the event at CollegeSportsCommunicators.com/tickets.

Here is a closer look at the 2025 inductees into the CSC Academic All-America Hall of Fame:


Dr. Alarice (Huang) Lowe
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Class of 2000
Volleyball

Her leadership on the court helped transform MIT’s volleyball program. Her pioneering spirit away from it is creating change on a global scale.
 
Alarice Lowe, playing under her maiden name of Huang, shined during her time with MIT’s volleyball program, leading the team to a 93-43 record in four years that included two NCAA tournament appearances. Lowe served as team captain for the 1998 and 1999 seasons and earned 1999 NEWMAC All-Conference Team and NEWVA All-Region First Team honors as a senior. She graduated as the MIT record holder for assists in a season, career assists, assists/set in a season, and assists/set in a career, all of which still rank in the top ten in school history.
 
Holding a bachelor’s degree in biology and earning CSC Academic All-America honors in 1999, she went on to earn her M.D. at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) before completing a residency and cytology fellowship at UCLA. Lowe then joined the faculty of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where she developed a research focus on Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and the application of new technology to improve clinical and molecular diagnostics while fulfilling her academic appointment as an instructor of pathology at Harvard Medical School. She has since joined the Stanford University of School of Medicine as an Associate Professor of Pathology and as an award-winning researcher.
 
Lowe’s breadth of research and publications have received recognition from across the nation. She has received the Merck Manual Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education, the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Cytopathology Young Investigator of the Year, and the American Society for Clinical Research Top 40 Under 40 Award for her exceptional work in the field. In 2024, she received the Stanford Medicine Department of Pathology Clinical Teaching Award.
 
Away from medicine her philanthropic efforts are as impressive as she invests in organizations that give support to low socioeconomic areas both in the United States and around the globe. Throughout work with Servant Partners, Compassion International, Adom Partnership, Starlight Homeless Ministries, and Youth Dynamics, Lowe is focused on youth development, legal assistance, social justice and the fight against poverty and HIV. She is also involved in global outreach to international pathologists who are striving to learn new techniques and research methods.
 

Cat Osterman
University of Texas, Class of 2007
Softball

Her arm carried a nation to Olympics glory, but her legacy was forged before her time on the international stage while competing at the University of Texas. She becomes the first Academic All-America Hall of Fame inductee in UT athletics history.

During a decorated career on the Forty Acres, Osterman was a three-time USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year (2003, 2005 and 2006) and four-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American. A two-time ESPY Award winner for Best Female College Athlete, the talented lefthander compiled an amazing career record of 136-25 with a 0.51 ERA and 2,265 strikeouts while helping the Longhorns to three Women's College World Series appearances in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

At the end of her storied collegiate career, Osterman was the NCAA career record holder for strikeouts-per-seven-innings (14.34), No. 2 all-time in career strikeouts (2,265) and No. 2 all-time in career shutouts (85). A three-time selection as Big 12 Conference Female Athlete of the Year (2003, 2005 and 2006), she still holds UT career records in victories (136), ERA (0.51), shutouts (85) and no-hitters (20).

Her No. 8 jersey was officially retired by Texas in 2022 as she became only the third Texas female student-athlete to have her jersey retired.

During a redshirt season of 2004, Osterman trained with the USA National Team as the only collegian and youngest member of the Olympic team that earned a gold medal in Athens. She went on to compete at two more Olympic Games for Team USA, helping the USA program to silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She highlighted an impressive comeback from retirement by earning a roster spot on the 2020 Olympic Team.

Also at the international stage, Osterman helped Team USA earn gold at the 2003 and 2007 Pan American Games and silver at the 2006 and 2010 World Championships. In her illustrious 20-year career with Team USA, Osterman held a 74-5 record with 0.44 ERA, striking out 1030 batters in just 519.0 innings of work.

Osterman earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2007 and later earned a master’s degree in educational and counseling psychology with a concentration in positive coaching from the University of Missouri (2015). She was selected to the CSC Academic All-America Team in 2003 and was a three-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 Conference Team.

Osterman was a recipient of the NCAA Today’s Top VIII Award in 2006, an honor presented to the top eight senior student-athletes in the country. She also was recognized as the Honda Awards Softball Player of the Year (2005-2006). Osterman was also the first softball student-athlete to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. In June 2020, Osterman was selected through fan voting as one of  ESPN's 11-member "Greatest All-Time Softball Team."

She was the No. 1 pick in the 2006 Pro Fastpitch X-treme Draft and the No. 1 pick in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft. In her eight-year professional career, she led her team to four Cowles Cup championships and was a six-time All-NPF honoree. Her No. 8 jersey was retired by the USSSA Pride after she became the first pitcher in league history to reach 1,000 career strikeouts.

Following her playing career, Osterman spent time as an assistant coach on multiple softball staffs, overseeing the development of pitching prospects at DePaul, St. Edwards, and Texas State. Now, Osterman has prioritized promoting and growing the game of softball, working as a television analyst for ESPN’s softball broadcasts and taking on the role of general manager for the Volts in the new Athletes Unlimited Softball League.

Among her community efforts, Osterman has served at RBI Austin since 2013. The non-profit organization provides year-round sports training, academic support, mentorship, and leadership development for middle and high school youth in the Austin, Texas area.
  Jenepher Shillingford
Ursinus College, Class of 1954
Field Hockey

Her impact was felt first on the field. Her voice away from it impacted generations of athletes to come, pre-dating Title IX initiatives and beyond. In her athletic administrative roles, as president of United States Field Hockey Association (1993-2000), as a member of the United States Olympics Committee (2001-2003) and various NCAA committees, Shillingford advocated for equality in women’s sports and cemented her influence in shaping women’s sports at both national and international levels.

Shillingford is an Honorary Academic All-America Hall of Fame inductee as her collegiate career at Ursinus College pre-dated the Academic All-America® program in her sports of field hockey, soccer and tennis. Field hockey was the sport most pivotal in her athletic career, marked by her selection to the All-Philadelphia Field Hockey Team in 1955 and her time on the United States Field Hockey Team from 1955-1957.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in biology and physical education from Ursinus College (1954) and her M.Ed. in physical education and sociology from Temple University, Shillingford served as assistant athletic director and coach at Immaculata College, where she led her women’s basketball team to league championships in 1972, 1973, and 1974. After 15 years there, Shillingford joined the physical education staff of nearby Bryn Mawr College in 1976, coaching field hockey, basketball, tennis and lacrosse before becoming director of physical education and athletic director in 1980.

She was head of the USA Field Hockey delegation to numerous World Cup competitions and at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Her collegiate leadership roles included time on the NCAA Council and on the NACDA Executive Board. Shillingford also served as president of the U.S. Women’s Lacrosse Association.

Her Snell-Shillingford Leadership Symposium, founded in 1999 and still active today, is an annual event empowering female college undergraduates to pursue careers in coaching and athletics through mentorship, leadership skills and advocacy. It is administered through the Centennial Conference and named for both Shillingford and her mentor, Eleanor Frost Snell, who served for four decades as Ursinus College professor of health and physical education, coach, and head of the women’s physical education department from 1931 to 1971.

Among her numerous honors, Shillingford was inducted into the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974. She earned the ECAC Katherine Ley Award in 1992 for her work in the promotion of women’s sports and received an honorary Doctor of Science from Ursinus College in 1993. Shillingford received the Women’s eNews Philadelphia Leadership Award in 2012. In September 2024, Bryn Mawr College celebrated the rededication of Shillingford Field with Shillingford in attendance, marking the completion of a state-of-the-art upgrade for the complex with is one of the first carbon-zero hockey turfs in the world, originally developed for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
 

Jackie Stiles
Missouri State University, Class of 2001
Basketball

Her relentless dominance on the court rewrote the NCAA record books. Her unyielding spirit off the court is continuing to inspire change.

From 1997-2001, Jackie Stiles established and secured her unforgettable legacy as one of the most prolific scorers in the history of college basketball. At Southwest Missouri State, now known as Missouri State, Stiles secured the NCAA career scoring record – a record of 3,393 points that she held for 16 years. She became the first ever NCAA Division I women’s player to score 1,000 points in a season while leading her team to the 2001 Final Four.

Throughout her career, she received numerous accolades, including the 2001 Wade Trophy as the nation’s top female basketball player, the 2001 Honda Awards Player of the Year, and selection to All-America teams three times.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sports and fitness promotion, Stiles was selected as the fourth pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft and immediately made an impact, winning WNBA Rookie of the Year honors. Stiles would retire from her playing career in 2006 due to injuries, but the impact of her legacy would continue.

Following her retirement, Stiles was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. At their 100th anniversary celebration, the Missouri Valley Conference named her the MVC Women’s Basketball Player of the Century and honored her further by renaming their player of the year award the “Jackie Stiles Award.”

Following her illustrious playing career, Stiles continued to be active in the basketball community, moving into the coaching profession with stints at Loyola Marymount, Missouri State, and Oklahoma.

Then, following ten years in collegiate coaching roles, she started her business career. Through NextGen Fitness, Stiles created a personal training studio through which she can give more personalized lessons while hosting camps and clinics for a new generation of athletes. Stiles also seeks to change lives through motivational speaking, coining the “Stiles Staples” as a set of values that athletes can apply to grow both as a player and as a person. Today, she is owner of J Stiles Total Training, is a partner in the Mental Game Academy, and continues to inspire, teach and train young students and aspiring athletes.