Holy Cross Scholar-Athlete Earns Watson Award

WORCESTER, Mass. – Meghan Mahoney, a 2005 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and member of the women’s varsity ice hockey team, has received the prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship for her self-designed research project titled "Life Without Title IX: The International Development of Women’s Ice Hockey." Mahoney was one of five alternates when the Watson fellowships were announced in March; and received official word this month that her project was accepted.

Mahoney, an English major with a creative writing emphasis and philosophy minor from Utica, N.Y., will be studying in South Africa, New Zealand and one of the following countries: Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland or Iceland.

"During my time, I hope to play as much hockey as possible," she said. "I have proposed to play in women’s club leagues in each of my chosen countries to find out how the game is taking shape in those countries that aren’t already dominant, well-known forces in the game. I may also attempt to train with each nation’s national team in order to expand my playing time, as well as coach youth teams and perhaps even observe physical education classes in local schools in order to discern how females are treated in athletics in general. My goal is to assess how strongly girls are encouraged to play sports and how equally they are treated in countries that may not have laws such as Title IX. The law has made a large impact on the growth of women’s ice hockey here in the U.S. and I want to see whether such legislation is being implemented in and effecting other countries, as well as whether or not the game can develop strongly without it."

In addition to playing varsity ice hockey, Mahoney was a member of Habitat for Humanity International for two years (going to Zambia her first year, and leading a trip to Papua New Guinea this past June); president of the English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta; president of the Literary Society; a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, Phi Beta Kappa and the Philosophy Honor Society, Phi Sigma Tau; a member of the English department Student Advisory Committee; on the editorial staff of The Criterion; and a SPUD (Student Programs for Urban Development) participant.

Mahoney is one of 50 college seniors nationwide selected to receive a 2005-2006 Watson. The fellowship with a stipend of $25,000, is a one-year grant for independent study and travel outside of the United States.