2023-24 Meg Votta Memorial Scholarship Recipient: Mykaela Reed
For Mykaela Reed, one small step out of her comfort zone led to the journey of a lifetime on the rugby pitch. While Mykaela had previously played many sports, none stuck with her until she was encouraged to attend a preseason practice for Corning Rugby Club during her freshman year of high school. She was hooked from the beginning and the sport’s camaraderie sparked an excitement she had never experienced before.
With the Corning RC, she has had the opportunity to play at various positions on the field, most successfully at fullback. In her time with Corning, she helped the club place second in the 2022 New York State Championship and helped her team in becoming the first New York State Champion team in club history in 2023. She was invited to join the East Coast’s Elite Girls Rugby League where she and her teammates competed against teams from across the country. Individually, she has been named Player of the Match in several games and was recognized as the 2023 Club Woman of the year. She also served as captain in her senior season.
Reed graduated from Corning-Painted Post High School with a 4.0 GPA. She was heavily involved in her school’s class council serving as both secretary and media manager, held lead roles in the drama club, served as the treasurer in the Skills USA Club, acted as the digital media editor for the yearbook, and was inducted into the National Honor Society, National Thespian Honor Society, and National Technical Honor Society in 2022 and 2023. When she was not on the pitch or participating in extracurricular activities, Mykaela volunteered with various organizations within her community and even worked a part-time job at a local coffee shop.
“To maintain her academics and the ability to perform at a high level in all extra-curricular activities is a testament to the person Mykaela Reed is. When many young adults could have fallen under her circumstances, she rose to the occasion and excelled beyond reasonable expectations. Miss Reed’s personality, positive energy, and kindness allows her to shine in any environment and makes her one of the best students I have had the privilege of coaching. Mykaela has a fighting spirit and will not let obstacles prevent her from achieving success,” said Corning Rugby Club Coach, Michael Larrabee.
She will continue her academic and athletic career at Siena College in Loudonville, New York. While playing for Siena, she will pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a registered nurse licensure.
“The COVID-19 pandemic cut my first rugby season short and it became evident to me that this was not a sport I would be ready to give up in four short years. I knew my goal was to play rugby in college. I am the first in my immediate family to go to college making the entire application process very new and confusing. Advice from recruiters and coaches has made this year much smoother for me and my family. These mentors have been instrumental in my college decision and the entire recruitment process has allowed me to help my younger teammates get a head start to find the best school for them. This experience and the leadership I have been given on my team this year showed me that coaching is definitely in my future. My coaches inspire me every day to hit harder, run faster, think smarter and lead better. My goal is to have this same effect on a new generation of players, passing on the knowledge, skills, and opportunities I have been given,” said Reed.
