LATHAM, N.Y. -- Penn College's Mia Patterson (Williamsport, Pa.) was named the United East Conference Winter Senior Scholar Athlete, announced by the league on Thursday. Patterson is the second Wildcat to be named to the seasonal award this season – Mitchell Campbell (men's cross country, 2025-26)  – and joins a list of Wildcats to earn the seasonal award which includes, Rosey Thomas (Women's cross country, 2022-23), Kaelynn Sheetz (women's soccer, 2023-24), Kayleigh Miller (women's basketball, 2024-25) and now moves into the finalist pool for the conference's Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year recognized at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.

To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must have met the following criteria:

1. A student-athlete must have a senior or graduate student class standing.
2. A student-athlete must be at least in his or her second year of competition at their current institution in any sport.
3. Must be a leading contributor to a team's success throughout the duration of his or her career.
4. Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
5. Evidence of active leadership and community service involvement throughout collegiate career

Patterson played in all 27 games for the Wildcats this season and helped reset the program record book when the team won a season-high 20 games and reached the conference semifinals for the second time in four seasons. The 4.00 GPA Nursing major was a six-time Dean's List recipient, admitted to both Chi Sigma Alpha and Sigma Theta Tau honor societies and earned the conference's 2026 Elite 21 Academic Award and named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team for the second time in her career. Patterson averaged 26.8 minutes on the court, she scored 241 points (8.9 ppg), grabbed 137 rebounds (5.1 rpg) and added 54 assists, 35 steals and 16 blocks for the Wildcats this season. Off the court, Patterson is an active volunteer participant in numerous events including Skills USA PA, National Girls & Women in Sports Day camps, Healthy Kids Running, the Williamsport Home and many more community service events with the women's basketball team around the Williamsport area and Penn College campus. 

"Mia doesn't just meet the standard of a student-athlete, she sets it. Her hard work and passion show in everything she does," Wildcats Head Coach Britni Mohney said. "Through the demands of nursing, being a student-athlete, and battling adverse moments throughout her career; Mia rises to the occasion.  Mia is a student-athlete with a team-first mindset.  Her energy elevates everyone around her; she holds her teammates accountable for their work and embraces the responsibility of being a true leader.  This recognition is a direct reflection of her dedication to excellence in all areas of her life."