BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (June 16, 2026) – The NEC revealed its 2026 Spring Scholar-Athletes and Academic Honors where Howard University saw 33 Bison across three programs (men's & women's golf and women's lacrosse) acknowledged for their academic excellence. The announcement came Tuesday.
 
NEC Women's Golfer of the Year Marley Franklin (Los Angeles) headlined the day, earning the scholar-athlete award in her respective sport. Franklin led the Bison to their first NEC title in program history while winning the individual crown. Off the green, she was selected to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) At-Large All-District Team. The media, journalism & film major maintained a 3.76 GPA (grade-point-average).
 
Overall, all 33 Bison made the NEC Academic Honor Roll after earning a 3.2 GPA during the 2026 spring campaign.
 
The honorees included Franklin, Chase Coleman (Houston), Layla Collins (Houston), Leah Croom (Falmouth, Mass.), Rylie Davis (Houston), Lena Durette (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Victoria Earle (Buffalo, N.Y.), Paris Fieldings (Chesapeake, Va.), Sydnee Gaines (Middle River, Md.), Adriyana Garrison (Wilmington, N.C.), Deborah Giddins (South Orange, N.J.), Naomi Green (Rockford, Mich.), Mitchell Grey (Mississauga, Canada), Taylor Harris (Kennesaw, Ga.), Morgan Horrell (Dallas), London James-Golas (Annapolis, Md.), Kennedy Johnson (Acworth, Ga.), Marlon Jones (Berkeley, Calif.), Nyah McKinney (West Orange, N.J.), Mia Melendez (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Laniah Moffett (Waterbury, Conn.), Gabrielle Nelson (Cincinnati), Kyla Newkirk (Durham, N.C.), Francisco Perez (Los Mochis, Mexico), Mathis Perroni (Metz, France), Michael Perusse (Pearland, Texas), Laina Ramey (Bowie, Md.), Chloe Ronsholdt (Stafford, Va.), Madison Sandy (Arlington, Va.), Tea Vasquez (Oakland, Calif.), Cecilia Vitti (Detroit), Sawyer Walker (Rehoboth Beach, Del.) and Taylor Williams (West Chester, Pa.).
 
Additionally, 16 Bison were named to the NEC Commissioner's Honor Roll after producing a 3.75 GPA during the 2025-26 academic year: Collins; Croom; Davis; Earle; Franklin; Green; Harris; Horrell; James-Golas; Johnson and Nelson.
 
Collectively, the conference recognized a league-record 1,685 student-athletes with 633 (NEC record) making the Commissioner's Honor Roll.
 
During the 2025-26 academic year, 3,786 NEC student-athletes earned Academic Honor Roll recognition, representing more than two-thirds of all conference competitors and the second-highest total in conference history. The Commissioner's Honor Roll followed suit with 1,437 student-athletes earning recognition, the second-most all-time.
 
Howard Director of Golf Sam Puryear and the men's golf team look to four-peat as NEC Champions while the women's squad seek back-to-back titles in spring 2027.
 
For lacrosse, head coach Karen Healy-Silcott and the Bison look to capture their first NEC crown next spring.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com and/or the NEC website at www.northeastconference.org.