ALMA, MI – Alma College Swimming and Diving's Lily Smith was named the 2025-26 MIAA Senior Impact Award Winner, as announced by the league at the MIAA Championship presented by Collegiate Credit Union on Satutday. Now in its fifth year of existence, the Senior Impact Award honors swimmers and divers who exemplify the values of the MIAA and Division III through excellence in the classroom and their communities. On the women's side, Alma has won the award every year since it's inception. The Scots have also won once on the men's side, allowing them to lay claim them nine of the ten honors awarded by the league since 2022.
Smith is a senior from Davison, Michigan, majoring in Business Analytics with a minor in a Art and Design. She carries a 3.97 GPA, is a seven-time Dean's List honoree during her time at Alma, and is on track to earn the honor in her final semester as a Scot. As a result of her academic excellence, involvement on campus, and community impact, she has been nominated for the Barlow Trophy, one of the top honors that a student can earn at Alma College.
Smith is part of the Leadership Council for the Scots Swimming and Diving program. "Lily leads our team by creating a positive, safe, and supportive environment for the team." said Head Swimming and Diving Coach Chris Hamstra. "She is also responsible for planning, communicating, and leading our volunteering opportunities as a program. She takes her role as a leader in our program seriously, and gives her full effort. We are a better program because of her dedication and leadership."
Smith also serves as a representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), helping to share the student-athlete voice and perspective on Alma's campus.
Academically, Smith is a part of the Alma College Honors program, presenting research in 2025, and serving as a moderator for other honors research being presented. She is also a part of the Sigma Tau Delta English honor society, focusing on the intellectual growth of english studies. Smith also serves as a tutor and note taker, turning in notes to the Student Success Office so others can access them in a timely manner.
In terms of volunteering, Smith is involved with Feed My Starving Children, the Alma Riverwalk Clean Up, Dalis to the Rescue, and Toys for Tots. She maintains a minimum of 20 hours of community service each semester.
A complete listing of Alma College Student-Athletes to win the award can be found below:
Jennifer Ostrowski (2022)
Raegan Stambaugh (2023)
Marissa Luzac (2024)
Megan Neeley (2025)
Ryan Gray (2025)
Lily Smith (2026)
