Hempstead, NY - Hofstra junior Cara Scanio earned one of the highest honors in the sport of lacrosse as today she was named the recipient of the Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award for NCAA Division I women's lacrosse. 

"Cara is a shining light in this world, a shining light in her community, a shining light on our campus, and a shining light in our program," commented Hofstra Head Coach Shannon Smith. "She is everything you want in a player, person, teammate, and friend. I am at a loss for words for how proud I am of her every day and how thrilled I am that she has been named the recipient of such a prestigious award. She makes the world a better place."

The Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award recognizes the accomplishments of six student-athletes who help their teams achieve success in ways that may not be measured in goals, saves or ground balls. This honor places value on kindness and generosity, characteristics that are often undervalued in the competitively charged environment of college lacrosse.

As Cara says, "I have become more thoughtful, compassionate, and open minded since my mom died. Be kind to everyone. You have no idea what others are dealing with." She wants to become an oncology nurse and is sure to change the world!

"Kindness and generosity signify exactly who Cara is," said Cara's Coach, Shannon Smith. "Cara has survived and persevered with so much grace, positivity, and gratitude. She is truly an inspiration to our team, coaching staff, and athletic department."

Scanio is one of the most inspiring members of the Hofstra women's lacrosse team, having faced multiple personal hardships in her life, yet thriving within her role on the team and being a beacon of light off the lacrosse field as well. 

During her junior season of high school at Massapequa High School, Scanio tore her ACL. After arriving at Hofstra in the fall of 2019, Scanio had to undergo another surgery to properly repair her injury. It was during this time, Cara's mom (Suzanne Scanio) was diagnosed with breast cancer that ultimately spread to her brain as well. Suzanne Scanio would valiantly battle breast and brain cancer before succumbing to the dreaded disease a year later when Cara was a sophomore in college. 

In a time of unbelievable grief for her family, Cara became a beacon of light. Cara and her family founded The Suzanne M. Scanio Foundation, a non-profit organization to assist in helping families facing hardship or grief. On top of being an NCAA Division I student-athlete and balancing all the demands of that, Cara has organized various events, clothing drives, and most recently hosted the inaugural 5K Run / Walk for The Suzanne M. Scanio Foundation. 

Cara has shined in so many areas at Hofstra. She co-runs Hofstra's Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and she has helped organize Hofstra's involvement with Morgan's Message. Morgan's Message strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics.

One Love educates young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships, empowering them to identify and avoid abuse and learn how to love better. The One Love Foundation was created in 2010 to honor the memory of Yeardley Love, a University of Virginia senior who was killed by her ex-boyfriend just weeks before graduation.

2022 YRL Unsung Heroes
WDI: Cara Scanio, Hofstra University '23, from Massapequa, NY
MD1: Jeremy Winston, Jacksonville University '22, from Dallas, TX
WD2: Grace Heighway, Walsh University '22 from Westerville, Ohio
WD3: Abigail Eberle, St. Lawrence University '22, from Burlington, Connecticut
MD3: Gilmathan Del Valle, University of Massachusetts Boston, from Chelsea, MA