BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Navy junior Laura Fern Jones was selected as the Patriot League Women’s Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year when the League office announced the sport’s academic honors on Thursday. She was among the 11 student-athletes named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team.
All nine Patriot League women’s rowing member institutions were represented on this year’s Academic All-Patriot League Team. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology led the way with three student-athletes named to the squad, while Boston University, Bucknell, Colgate, Georgetown, Holy Cross, Lehigh, Loyola Maryland and Navy each had one selection.
Fern Jones becomes the second straight Mid and ninth overall to garner Patriot League Women’s Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, joining Tenlea Radack (2025), Hanna Price (2021), Megan Hanson (2018-19), Kathleen Heinbach (2015-16), Jacqueline Penichet (2013), Kerry Hannon (2009), Madeline Boe (2006) and Shaunnah Wark (2005).
The Kinston, N.C. native maintains a 4.00 cumulative GPA as a chemistry major ranking first in the Academic Order of Merit for the United States Naval Academy's Class of 2027, fourth in the Military Order of Merit and fifth in the Overall Order of Merit.
Boston University junior Ingrid Eshuis (political science and French studies minor, 3.63 GPA), Bucknell junior Kalena Gatesman (mechanical engineering and management for engineers, 3.93), Colgate sophomore Stella Curcio (chemistry, 3.92), Georgetown junior Phoebe Opler (environment and sustainability, 3.90 GPA), Holy Cross senior Ella Lynch-Bartek (chemistry, 3.94 GPA), Lehigh junior Grace Ioffe (biology, 3.80 GPA), Loyola Maryland senior Beata Turnquist (English and secondary education minor, 3.90 GPA), MIT juniors Elizabeth Jackson (aerospace engineering, 3.80 GPA), Madeleine Laws (chemical and biological engineering, 4.00 GPA) and Michelle Peng (materials science and engineering, 3.90 GPA) were each honored on the Women’s Rowing Academic All-Patriot League Team.
To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the Academic All-Patriot League Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and be a starter or key player in their sport. Freshmen or students in their first year of academic study at their school are not eligible for the honor.
These honors recognize student-athletes who excel in their sport and the classroom. The awards are voted on by Patriot League women’s rowing sports information directors, who are not eligible to vote for their student-athletes.
2026 Patriot League Women’s Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Laura Fern Jones, Navy, Jr., First Varsity 8+, Kinston, N.C./Arendell Parrott Academy
*Fern Jones carries a 4.00 GPA as a chemistry major at the United States Naval Academy.
*The junior ranks first in Academic Order of Merit for the United States Naval Academy's Class of 2027, fourth in the Military Order of Merit and fifth in the Overall Order of Merit.
*She raced from the second seat at last week’s Patriot League Championship, helping the Mids finish fourth in the First Varsity Eight+ Grand Final.
*The Kinston, N.C. native was a member of Navy’s First Varsity 8+ that was named Boat of the Week on March 31.
2026 Women’s Rowing Academic All-Patriot League Team
Ingrid Eshuis, Boston University
Kalena Gatesman, Bucknell
Stella Curcio, Colgate
Phoebe Opler, Georgetown
Ella Lynch-Bartek, Holy Cross
Grace Ioffe, Lehigh
Beata Turnquist, Loyola Maryland
Elizabeth Jackson, MIT
Madeleine Laws, MIT
Michelle Peng, MIT
Laura Fern Jones, Navy
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.