Academy of Notre Dame 2025 defender Anya Dunn has been named the Michael Pansini Memorial Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
The award recognizes senior and junior lacrosse players who excel in academics, service, and athletics.
Anya Katherine Dunn Profile:
Grad Year: 2025
Position: Midfield/Defense
College Commitment: Johns Hopkins University
Club team: HHH Philly
Expected College Major: Economics with a minor in Computational Medicine and Computer Assisted Surgery
Academic Honors
- Student Council – Athletic and Activities Committee
- Mathletes – Varsity Captain
- Academy of Notre Dame de Namur Honor Corps
- Academy of Notre Dame de Namur Distinguished Honors Every Semester for all 4 years
- Academy of Notre Dame de Namur STEM Scholars program
- Academy of Notre Dame de Namur STEM Scholar of Promise Scholarship winner Class of 2025
- National Honor Society, Academy of Notre Dame de Namur Chapter 2023 – 2025
- Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Sciences (PJAS): First Place 2022
- Delaware County Science Fair: Medicine and Health 1st Place 2022
- Delaware Valley Science Fair: Medicine and Health: Second Place 2022
- Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Sciences (PJAS): First Place 2023
- Delaware Valley Science Fair: Medicine and Health: Third Place 2023
- Delaware County Science Fair: Medicine and Health 2nd Place 2023
- Award for Individual Academic Excellence
Athletic Honors
Lacrosse Honors – Notre Dame
- Led team in scoring as sophomore.
- Selected as a Varsity Captain (Grade 11 and 12)
- PASLA All-Academic 2024, 2025
- 4-year starter
- 2025 PAISSA finalist
Lacrosse Honors (Club, Region)
- HHH Philly 2025
- USA Lacrosse U-18 National Development Team Combine Attendee 2024
- Inside Lacrosse Top 100 Senior Rankings
- National Player Rankings #29 LacrosseMagazine.com
- US Club Lax Top Rising Stars Prospect List Class of 2025
- 2024 IL Women Committed Event Standout Player
- 2023 Best in Class Committed All-Tournament Team
- 2023 ILWomen I.D. All-Tournament Team
- HHH Committed Games All-Star Team 2023
- Nike American Select 2023 (Players Who Impressed List & Tournament honors)
- USA Lacrosse National Tournament Team Philly 2023
- Under Armour Command Team Philly 2022
- 2022 & 2023 ILWomen I.D. Invitee
- Nike American Select 2021
- USA Lacrosse National Tournament Team Philly 2022-2024
- HHH Club Lacrosse – Coach for 2033 age group
- PAGLA – Youth Official
Volunteer Service Work
- Cedar Knoll Farm (Co-Founder) Grow and Donate organic produce to regional groups.
- Team Jesse Foundation
- Shootout for Soldiers
- Nemours Hospital Cerebral Palsy Events
- Habitat for Humanity
- Morgan’s Message
- One Love
- Delaware Food Bank
- Peer Tutoring
- I Can Bike
- Headstrong Foundation Club at NDA, Founder & President
- PJPII CYO
Honoree Questions:
How do you define leadership?
“The only way to effectively project leadership is by example. While there are many traits which can demonstrate leadership, there are a number which must be exhibited on a consistent basis. For any given activity, whether it be in school, in athletics, a club, or even in a business, a leader must identify the group’s goals and must make a personal commitment to make their own goals perfectly congruent with those of the group. Next, a leader must commit to lead by personal example which means be the hardest worker in the group every minute of every day. It is also crucial to manage the needs of a group on an individual basis. One size definitely does not fit all. Some people respond to public encouragement; others require private conversation with franker language. However, every discussion must relate directly with the attainment of group’s goals. An effective leader must be their own harshest critic.”
How do you balance academics, service, and athletics?
“Balance is the perfect word. If you do not develop a plan and a set of priorities, you will fail. In academics, service, or athletics, it is imperative to surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable -iron sharpens iron. I have always loved STEM. Since I was in 8th grade, I have known that I have wanted to attend an elite academic university. To be considered, I knew that I needed to achieve a near-perfect academic record in the most challenging courses available. I took 9 AP and 10 Honors courses and maintained a 4.4 GPA. I also made a commitment play for a top 10 Division 1 lacrosse program that would challenge for the national championship every year. To ensure that I attained those two goals, I spent the 90 minutes before school began studying at Starbucks and then committed thousands of hours to develop my game. To be the best you need to play against the best; so I worked hard and earned a spot on the top club in the Philadelphia area, HHH Philly, for the opportunity to be coached by the best in the business, Coach Colleen Magarity Kelly, even though it required an additional hour of travel each way. At HHH I was mentored by great coaches and competed against other elite players at practice and played against the other top clubs every tournament. It motivated each of us to become better every day. Again, iron sharpens iron. Without Coach Colleen and my HHH girls, I would not be the player that I am today. I have been very Blessed, and I love to help those in need. Being a servant leader has helped me better delineate my priorities as I realized what was truly important in life. To juggle those priorities, I willingly sacrificed the things that many teenagers value. I learned that if you hunger for success, you cannot love to sleep late. I wake up at 5 AM to study or workout almost every day of the week and I forewent many weekend parties and trips in pursuit of my goals. The people who truly want you to succeed are supportive of your goals and resist the urge to sidetrack you when they know you have a 5 AM workout the next day. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the incredible love and support of my parents, grandparents, and siblings who have unfailingly supported and encouraged me!”
What are your future goals?
“I have a passion for STEM and am captivated by science and research. I have competed in and won several State Science Fairs and developed a genuine passion for exploring the process by which research leads to real-world health solutions. I want to pursue a career in medicine. I also care deeply about service. I formed a HEADstrong Foundation Club at my school to raise money and awareness for cancer research. I will be playing for the HEADstrong team at Lake Placid this summer. Playing for Coach Tim McCormick at Johns Hopkins starting in Fall 2025, will allow me to compete for a National Championship at the premier medical school in the world.”
What is your expected major at Hopkins?
“I intend to major in Economics with a minor in Computational Medicine and Computer Assisted Surgery. That academic path will provide exposure to a diverse field of study while affording me the academic flexibility to exploit the cutting edge scientific and medical advances that will be developed over the next 4 years. Residing at the intersection of data, healthcare, technology, and decision-making is a rare privilege that absolutely captivates me.”
High school coaches from the 5-county area, Delaware, South Jersey, the Lehigh Valley and Central PA may nominate a player (junior or senior) for the Michael Pansini Memorial Scholar-Athlete of the Week by e-mailing us at golax@phillylacrosse.com.
