Essex Fells resident named Scholar Athlete of the Year
ESSEX FELLS – Field hockey player Elizabeth Denehy ’18 was named Scholar Athlete of the Year, according to Oak Knoll School Athletic Director Kelly Childs.
Denehy will be recognized by the New Jersey State Athletic Association, the New Jersey Independent School Athletic Association and the Union County Athletic Conference. Her name will be displayed on the perpetual plaque in Tisdall Hall as well.
“Congratulations to Elizabeth on earning one of our highest and most prestigious athletic awards at Oak Knoll,” Childs said.
Denehy, who has committed to playing field hockey at Harvard, has been recognized as a previous member of NJ.com’s All-State Second Team, the Harrow Sports/National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s All-Region team and the 2017 National Field Hockey Coaches Association / Keith Waldman – Optimal Performance Associates High School National Academic Squad.
Officials said Denehy has also made a tremendous impact off the field at Oak Knoll, as during her junior year, she was inducted into the Oak Knoll chapter of the Cum Laude Society, a society that recognizes academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence, justice and honor.
Earlier this year, Denehy, the founder of Oak Knoll’s Health and Nutrition Club, also helped to debut an after-school fueling station with the goal of providing faculty and students the opportunity to make healthier snack choices.
Each year, Oak Knoll honors four top senior athletes with the Women in Sports Award; Kelly E. Durkin Award; Scholar Athlete Award; and the Athlete of the Year Award.
The Scholar Athlete of the Year award is typically given to those students who excel in both athletics and academics.
The Kelly E. Durkin and Athlete of the Year awards will be announced at the senior athlete banquet in June, while Juli Porto ’18 – a three-sport athlete – represented the school at the celebration of National Women in Sports Day at Seton Hall University in February.
Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child is an independent, Catholic school in Summit, coeducational in elementary school from kindergarten through grade six; and all-girls in middle and high school from grades seven through 12.