PROVIDENCE, R.I. – (MyKeeneNow)  The Little East Conference (LEC) recently recognized three outstanding graduates as the 2023-24 Student-Athletes of the Year. Keene State College’s Jeff Hunter and Haile Ratajack, along with University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s Cameron Rodgers, received this honor. They will now contend for the Division III Commissioner’s Association (D3CA) Student-Athlete of the Year Award, with Ratajack also vying for the NCAA Woman of the Year nomination.

The LEC Student-Athlete of the Year award acknowledges remarkable achievements in athletics, academics, leadership, and community service. Recipients must have completed their collegiate eligibility in their primary sport. This accolade aligns with the standards of the NCAA Woman of the Year program.

Jeff Hunter, from Hudson, Massachusetts, concluded his time at Keene State College as one of the most celebrated men’s basketball players in the school’s history. Hunter’s stellar performance led the Owls to three consecutive LEC titles and two appearances in the NCAA Division III Sweet 16. Over the past two seasons, he was honored as the LEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, earning Region II Player of the Year and All-America honors from D3hoops.com and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). He was also a finalist for the Bevo Francis and Trevor Hudgins Awards, participated in the NABC Division III College Senior All-Star Game, and will play for We Are D3 in this summer’s The Basketball Tournament (TBT) alongside several LEC alumni.

Hunter’s career at Keene State is marked by numerous individual records. He ranks first in field goal percentage (59.6), rebounds (1,395), blocked shots (238), games played (120), and games started (116). Additionally, he stands second in career field goals made (803), third in career blocked shots per game (1.98), fourth in career points (1,923) and career rebounds per game (11.6), and eleventh in career free throws made (294).

Hunter graduated with a degree in occupational and health safety, and a minor in construction management. He frequently appeared on the LEC All-Academic and Academic Honor Roll lists. Beyond the court, Hunter dedicated time to community service, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, KSC’s Global Food Pantry, and local elementary schools in Keene.

Reflecting on his college experience, Hunter shared, “The moments I’ll remember most as a Keene State Owl aren’t the LEC Championships or All-American awards, but the joy on the faces of community members who supported us. I spent countless hours after games signing autographs and taking pictures with kids who saw me as a role model. I had someone who inspired me to chase my dreams, and I wanted to be that person for others.”

Haile Ratajack, from Brewster, New York, had an extraordinary career with Keene State’s women’s lacrosse team. She was a three-time All-Region selection by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Association (IWLCA) and earned All-LEC honors. Ratajack received three major LEC awards: 2021 LEC Rookie of the Year, and LEC Midfielder of the Year in both 2021 and 2022. She made the First Team All-LEC list for four consecutive seasons (2021-24).

In her final collegiate season, Ratajack set a program record with 72 goals, becoming the Owls’ all-time leader in goals scored (235). She also holds program records for ground balls (251), caused turnovers (230), and free position goals (35), and ranks second in career points (287) and fourth in draw controls (191). Her 62 caused turnovers in both 2022 and 2024 are the second-highest single-season totals in Keene State history.

Ratajack graduated with a degree in studio art, consistently making the LEC All-Academic and Academic Honor Roll lists. She was actively involved in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), participating in projects with Special Olympics of New Hampshire, Read Across America, and Keene Parks & Recreation youth programs.

In her personal statement, Ratajack expressed gratitude for her college experience: “Keene State equipped me with vital skills and mindsets for life’s challenges. I learned to become a mentor, fostering hard work and success in others. These experiences have shaped me into a resilient and empathetic leader, and I look forward to applying these skills in all areas of my life.”