Embry-Riddle senior Isabelle Navren claimed the top academic honor for NCAA II women's soccer as she was voted the 2023 Women's Soccer Academic All-America Team Member of the Year by the College Sports Communicators. Navren was also named to the Academic All-America first team and was joined on the prestigious squad by Marie Myhrvold Seim who was a second team selection.
"I'm very happy and grateful to win this award," Navren stated. "Being the first to win it in Embry-Riddle's Division II era is very surprising because there are a lot of very good athletes who are very strong academically at Embry-Riddle." The culture of our women's soccer team follows Embry-Riddle's Student-Person-Player philosophy and everyone is expected to do well in the classroom as well as on the pitch. The team is very competitive and at the same time very supportive of each other and we want each other to do well."
Navren, who was also named to the Academic All-America first team, is the fourth student-athlete in Embry-Riddle Athletics history to garner Academic All-American of the Year honors joining Katrina Morgan (women's soccer, 2006), Kristina Marova (women's tennis, 2014) and Ellie Staker (women's track & field, 2015).
"I would like to congratulate Bella on winning the Academic All-America Team Member of the Year award," Embry-Riddle women's soccer head coach Liam McIlhatton said. "It is a fantastic achievement that she has worked so hard for and adds to the list of awards that she has collected over her career at Embry-Riddle. It comes as no surprise to me as I know how driven she is to succeed at everything she does. It has been great to see her develop on and off the field and I have no doubt that she will continue to be successful in her life after Embry-Riddle."
A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Navren is making her second appearance on the Academic All-America team after earning third team honors in 2022. Wednesday's honor is just one of many that Navren has received throughout her illustrious career with the Eagles. She earned a starting role as a freshman in 2019, starting in each of the 74 games she played in, and closed out her time wearing the Blue & Gold ranked fourth on the Eagles' all-time assist list (29), 10th in career points (69), ninth in career goals (27) and tied for sixth in game-winners (10).
In 2023, Navren was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region first team for the second time, making her the first two-time first team selection in program history. She also made her second appearance on the D2 CCA All-South Region roster and was a three-time All-Sunshine State Conference first team honoree. Navren was a two-time SSC All-Tournament selection and in 2022, she was tabbed as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Navren completed her undergraduate degree in accounting and finance with a perfect 4.0 grade point average and currently has a 4.0 in pursuit of her MBA. She has been named to the Sunshine State Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll four times and has received the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award four times. A two-time CSC Academic All-District selection, Navren was voted the 2022-23 Sunshine State Conference Female Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Myhrvold Seim earned her second Academic All-America honor after being named to the third team in 2022. The Bergen, Norway native also completed her bachelor's degree with a 4.0 GPA in accounting and finance and is also working toward her MBA, also with a 4.0. She has been named to the SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll four times and is a three-time recipient of the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award.
Myhrvold Seim holds the distinction of being the only Embry-Riddle women's soccer player to start every one of the Eagles' 76 games in the last four seasons. She made Embry-Riddle Athletics history this season becoming the first woman and only the second student-athlete to earn first team All-Sunshine State Conference honors four times. She is only the ninth women's soccer student-athlete in SSC history to do so. The 2023 season also saw Myhrvold Seim earn United Soccer Coaches All-Region and D2 CCA All-Region honors for the second time in her career.
Myhrvold Seim led the Eagles with 21 points on nine goals and three assists and scored three game-winners this year. She ranks in the Eagles' all-time top 10 in points (8th, 78), goals (T6, 30) and game-winners (T3rd, 14).
In their four years wearing the Blue and Gold, Navren and Myhrvold Seim led the Eagles to four SSC tournament titles, two conference regular season titles, four NCAA II South Region tournament appearances and two finishes in the round of 16 on the national stage.
Sydney Jones - Women's Basketball
The Power of an MBA: Unlocking a World of Fulfilling Career Opportunities
Written by Ashley Mueller
Sydney Jones (’22, ’24) always hoped to attend a college where she could pursue her studies in Aerospace Engineering while also playing basketball at a competitive level. While researching top Aerospace Engineering schools in the country, Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University soared to the top 10 rankings, proving it to be the best fit.
“Around my junior year of high school, I started being recruited by several NCAA Division I schools. However, none of them offered Aerospace Engineering, only Mechanical,” she said. “After visiting the Embry‑Riddle campus, it truly felt like ‘home,’ and I believe it gave me the best opportunity to pursue the best of both worlds: earn a prestigious degree and play women’s basketball in one of the most competitive NCAA Division II conferences in the country.”
Campus Involvement
When Jones isn't in the classroom or on the basketball court, you can find her balancing roles in several different clubs and organizations on Embry‑Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus, including the Student Government Association (SGA), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
In SGA, Jones served as the Director of Community Relations, where she aimed to bridge all groups on campus to make everyone feel welcome and valued in the Embry‑Riddle community through outreach events, student activities, service projects and more.
Also, Jones has been a member of the NSBE since her first year on campus, leading her to seek professional and network opportunities.
“NSBE has provided mentorship, academic resources and a social community for me ever since I first stepped foot on campus,” she reflects. “Now that I’m one of the more senior members, I hope to give back and mentor to younger members so they can achieve their own dreams!”
Jones was awarded the Steve and Vicki Ridder scholarship through her commitment to academic achievement, campus and community involvement, personal holistic growth and a drive to excel in athletics.
Embracing New Opportunities
After completing her B.S. in Aerospace Engineering at Embry‑Riddle, Jones decided to return to her alma mater and is earning her MBA.
Pursuing a master's degree from Embry‑Riddle was always on the agenda for Jones, but it was never intended to be an immediate post-graduation plan. The turning point in her journey was due to an unexpected injury during her junior year combined with the setbacks of COVID-19.
“I definitely wanted to end my collegiate basketball career on a high note, and I've always had an interest in project management. I felt that an MBA would be the perfect complement to my engineering degree," she continued. “The MBA program has already taught me valuable skills in finance, marketing, organizational behavior and operations research that are extremely relevant to being a successful project manager!”
Future Awaits
Since a young age, Jones has been mesmerized by the wonders and capabilities of an airplane and is motivated by the pursuit to make air travel more sustainable and environmentally friendly— hoping to one day see urban air mobility and aircraft powered by electric propulsion become a reality.
Having completed five internships during her time at Embry‑Riddle with four different companies (GE Aerospace, Collins Aerospace, Textron Aviation and two with Lockheed Martin), Jones is one step closer to making her dreams come true.
In Jones’ most recent internship, she was an F-35 estimating intern at Lockheed Martin in Ft. Worth, Texas. Jones was an owner of about half a dozen F-35 proposals where she calculated potential savings of proposed cost reduction initiatives (CRI), totaling over $1 million in savings.
“It was the first time I had done work outside of an engineering or production operations team, so I was undoubtedly nervous,” she expressed. “However, everyone on the team was super friendly and helpful and always willing to give me assistance when I needed it.”
She added, “Estimating is a core skill for Program Managers at Lockheed Martin, so I am thankful to have learned some of those competencies over the summer. I also wanted to do something that aligned with my MBA, and this role did just that."
Finding Success
Thanks to her dedication, hard work and the unique hands-on experience she gained from Embry‑Riddle, she has accepted a full-time offer to return to Lockheed Martin as a Stress Analysis Engineer in the world-famous Skunk Works Division.
“Skunk Works is Lockheed Martin’s ‘Classified Projects’ division, so I am ecstatic to work on a cutting-edge technology that only a handful of people know of!”
With a bright future ahead of her, Jones is leaving behind a piece of advice for future Eagles at Embry‑Riddle.
“College is what you make it, so make it great! There are many opportunities out there for everyone, and sometimes all you need to do is ask. A person who takes the initiative is highly sought after, so don’t ever be afraid to ask for a challenge, an opportunity or to network with someone.”
Julia Mautner - Women's Tennis
Aerospace Physiology Major Accelerates Success Thanks to Unique 3+1 Program
Written by Jonathan ONeill
For Julia Mautner (’23), an agreement between Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University and Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida Campus in Port Orange is allowing her to earn a B.S. in Aerospace Physiology degree at Embry‑Riddle and also shave a year off the time it takes to reach her ultimate goal of becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic at Palmer.
The “3 + 1 program” allowed the German native to complete three years in the undergraduate program at Embry‑Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus, where she was also a key member of the tennis team, and then earn her undergraduate degree after finishing her initial year of coursework at Palmer.
We caught up with Julia recently to discuss the program, her goals and the highlights of her Embry‑Riddle experience.
Tell us about your background and why you chose the U.S. for college
I was born and raised in Munich. I’ve played tennis my entire life and I wanted to be able to keep playing, but I also wanted to get a degree. However, in Germany there are no college athletics which makes it hard to combine sports and studying, meaning I had to choose between tennis or getting a degree, or going to the U.S. where you can do both at once.
Even though tennis is an individual sport, I’ve always enjoyed playing with a team, which made Embry‑Riddle look even better. Moreover, I always knew that I wanted to study something related to healthcare or chiropractic and the options for that in Germany were limited.
Why did you decide on the 3 + 1 program at Palmer College?
I heard about D.D. Palmer and Palmer College of Chiropractic even before coming to the U.S. However, the first time I heard about the college being only about 15 minutes away, in Port Orange, was in my sophomore year at Embry‑Riddle. My Anatomy and Physiology professor, Dr. Alesha Fleming, is a Palmer graduate and she inspired me and helped me through the whole process.
She told me about the 3+1 program, which allowed me to start Palmer after the third year at Embry‑Riddle and then graduate with transfer credits at the expected term after four years.
Even though studying in the U.S. was the best opportunity for me to keep playing tennis, I knew I wanted to be able to go home with a degree (or two!) as soon as I could. Taking a shortcut and going to a school that was only 15 minutes away from my newfound home in Daytona Beach was the best thing I could imagine.
Why did you choose the Aerospace Physiology degree at Embry‑Riddle?
When I made the decision to study in the U.S. I was looking for a school with great academics, a good location and a great tennis team. I visited multiple schools in Florida, and Embry‑Riddle was the one that made me feel at home right away. The beautiful, modern campus right near the beach with great academics seemed like the perfect match.
Even though Embry‑Riddle is mainly known for its Aerospace Engineering and Aeronautical Science degrees, to me it is much more than that. The Aerospace Physiology bachelor’s program opened doors in all healthcare fields and prepared me perfectly for graduate school at Palmer by meeting all the requirements regarding classes and labs.
What were some academic and personal highlights of your Embry‑Riddle experience?
My academic highlights were my anatomy classes, as these were my main interest. Another highlight was the clinical rotations class, where we helped out at AdventHealth Daytona Beach with COVID-19 vaccinations.
The personal highlights are hard to narrow down as there were so many, and personally it was the little things that made my experience incredible: Living in the dorms the first two years with your friends next door, having the Boundless Café just three elevator stops away, doing study nights in the library or just hanging out in the student union in between classes. I also enjoyed going to watch other sports like soccer and basketball and attending the homecoming concerts.
What were some highlights of playing competitive tennis at Embry‑Riddle?
Playing tennis at Embry‑Riddle was my favorite part of the whole experience. Coming here at age 17 and being an international student wasn’t easy, but the team welcomed me right away and became my family away from home.
Every day on the court, every practice and every match were all highlights for me, but if I had to pick out one, it was when we beat Augustana, and I rallied to win the deciding match after having match points against me in the final set.
Why do you want to be a D.C. and how is Embry‑Riddle helping you reach that goal?
Playing competitive tennis my whole life came with a lot of injuries, which many medical doctors had a hard time treating. After I went to a chiropractor for the first time, my health got a lot better and my performance on the court also improved.
Since there is not a D.C. degree in Germany, studying chiropractic abroad was the only option. And even though I chose Embry‑Riddle without knowing of its proximity to Palmer, it helped me get all my requirements and provided a great foundation for becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic.
What’s next for you now?
I’m currently in my sixth quarter at Palmer (of 12 quarters and an additional quarter of internship), and I’m planning on graduating with my Doctor of Chiropractic degree in September 2025.
In the meantime, I’m still helping with the tennis team at Embry‑Riddle as a volunteer assistant coach, because being part of this team has been an absolute blessing for me.
After graduation, I’m planning on going back home to Munich, and opening my own practice.
Anything else you would like to add?
Coming to Embry‑Riddle has been the best decision I could have made and I’m so thankful for all the great people I’ve met here, the experiences I’ve had and the great education I’ve received.
I always felt that everyone was there to help me, especially professors such as Dr. Fleming and AJ McGahran, but also Coach Dave Paschal, who has had a big impact on me becoming the person that I am today.
The 3+1 program allowed me to take a shortcut while staying in my newfound home with my friends and my Embry‑Riddle family.
Forever an Eagle!
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
Last season was another dominating season for both the men's and women's track & field programs. The two squads each won a fifth consecutive Peach Belt Conference title in outdoor track & field. A trio of Eagles represented the Blue and Gold on the national stage as Ukeyvia Beckwith became the first Eagle to win an NCAA II national championship, doing so in the outdoor 800m. Mikaela Miles earned All-American status in the indoor triple jump and Ryan Flournoy competed in the outdoor javelin.
Reigning PBC Coach of the Year Mike Rosolino discusses his expectations for both programs as a PBC indoor championship is now up for grabs. He also touches on which student-athletes could make a run at a national championship.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Malcolm Whitlow
The final Embry-Riddle Male Athlete of the Month honor of 2023 goes to Malcolm Whitlow, with the Lincoln, Nebraska native averaging 15.8 points, 3.2 assists and 2.6 rebounds in December along with 40.1% (13-for-32) shooting on three-pointers and a perfect 12-for-12 at the free throw line. The standout performance for the 6'1 shooting guard came on December 8 when he scored 24 points in a home overtime win over Florida Tech, which earned him the Embry-Riddle Male Athlete of the Week award.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Keturah Balabyekkubo
Keturah Balabyekkubo took home December's Embry-Riddle Female Athlete of the Month award after averaging 12.5 points, six rebounds and two steals per game while shooting 58% from the field. This was highlighted by her 15 points in ERAU's 64-62 at Florida Southern on December 2.