The North Atlantic Conference announced that Laura Pulito of the University of Maine at Farmington and Evelyn Miller of Colby-Sawyer College were recently selected as the NAC Women of the Year.

Pulito, a two-sport student-athlete from Bridgton served as a captain for both the women’s cross country and women’s outdoor track and field teams. She was also the UMF indoor track and field club team captain and vice president.

On the cross country course, she took sixth place in 2015 and fifth place in 2017 at the NAC Championship, earning All-NAC First Team recognition and helping her team claim runner-up honors both seasons.

She was named UMF’s Most Valuable Runner for the 2015 season, while also being named to the NAC cross country and track and field sportsmanship teams in 2016.

She was an all-conference honoree in 2016 (1,500-meter run) and 2017 (4×400 relay), while claiming the title of NAC champion in 2018 in two events (800 and 1500).

She qualified for and competed at the 2018 Division III New England Championships in the 800 and the 4×800 relay, while receiving the Team Coach’s Award in the 2018 season. She holds school records in the 200, 400, 800, 4×400 and 4×800 events at UMF.

“Laura’s self-motivation, discipline and desire to become the best possible runner is only out-weighted by her compassion and desire to help her fellow student-athletes, either by tutoring them or sacrificing her training to help another person,” former UMF cross country and track and field head coach Dan Campbell said in a news release. “Laura is truly a very special young lady that has a lot to offer in the world around her.”

Pulito graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Secondary Education English, while also minoring in both environmental studies and creative writing. She was named to the dean’s list (high honors) all eight semesters and was a fall and winter/spring NAC All-Academic team honoree throughout her career. She was a Parks & Woods Scholarship finalist for Excellence in English in both 2016 and 2017, while serving as a peer mentor and a writing tutor at UMF.

“Laura developed steadily over her career at UMF,” school Director of Athletics, Fitness & Recreation Julie Davis said. “She trained hard and smart, and she grew into a confident competitor. Her team could rely on her for grit, points and encouragement. She also became an invaluable leader and an inclusive teammate.

“Meanwhile, she excelled academically and made a significant impact via thoughtful and unselfish engagement in various teaching, service and volunteer activities. Her initiative and modeling facilitated a ripple of engagement among many around her. We are fortunate to have had her in our program and look forward to her thriving in what she does next.”

She has spent time working as a counselor at Camp EcoVenture, a substitute teacher, practicum student, lifeguard and as a mentor to middle school students.

Pulito volunteered her time at several events and groups, including Mariah’s 5K Run, the Lake Auburn 5K and Half Marathon, the Hospice House 5K and Half Marathon, the Fryeburg Academy Track Meet, with the New Commons Project at UMF and, as a youth track coach for the Farmington Recreation Department and with Kid’s Night Out.

University of Maine at Farmington’s Laura Pulito was recently named NAC Women of the Year. (UMF athletics)

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