Hannah Shepard '26 Embodies Holistic NCAA Division III Philosophy

Written by Mia Kaczmarek '27 (major: sport management | minor: communication & journalism)
- ECGulls.com Contributor

BEVERLY, Mass. – Senior distance runner Hannah Shepard (Keene, N.H.) already knows what she'll tell her kids someday about her time at Endicott College. It won't be about her own races.

"I'll talk about my teammates," the senior said. "The people I got to watch and cheer for. That's what I'll remember."

That perspective, prioritizing people and being a great teammate, has shaped everything Shepard has done at Endicott.

A standout student-athlete for the Gulls' cross country and track and field programs, a member of the dance ensemble, a semester-abroad student in Dublin, Ireland, and a double major with a 3.78 GPA, Shepard has spent four years discovering just how much the NCAA Division III experience allows you to do if you're willing to embrace all of it.

Shepard first fell in love with running at a fifth-grade Turkey Trot. By high school, she was training seriously, but watching some athletes treat the sport as a full-time job made her reconsider what she wanted from college athletics.

"Division III is competitive, and everyone cares, but there's not the same pressure," she said. "You're able to do the other things you're passionate about."

At Endicott, Shepard made sure she did exactly that.

In addition to competing for the Gulls, she pursued her second lifelong passion: dance.

With her mother as her instructor since she was three years old, Shepard wasn't ready to give it up.

After discovering Endicott's dance ensemble, she reached out to both her coach and the dance director before arriving on campus to make it clear she wanted to do both.

From the beginning, that level of communication made all the difference.

"She plans, communicates well, and exhausts every option to make things work," said cross country and track and field head coach Spencer Lange. "I never question her effort or her commitment to this team."

Balancing both commitments required more than just time management; it required the right mindset.

For Shepard, it was never about what she had to do, but what she got to do.

Whether it was early morning practices, late-night rehearsals, or shifts at Beantrust Coffee Shop, she approached each part of her schedule with the same energy and intention.

"I don't look at it as things I have to do," she said. "I look at it as things I get to do."

That mindset showed up in one of her most defining athletic moments.

During the 2024 conference championship meet, Shepard's dance performance and competition were originally scheduled for the same day. However, when the 3,000m steeplechase was moved up a day, from Friday to Thursday, she saw an opportunity to step up for her team in a new way.

Despite never having competed in the event, Shepard volunteered to take it on, knowing it could help the Gulls gain valuable points in their pursuit of a conference title.

With the support of her coaches, she embraced the challenge, delivering a fourth place finish in an NCAA D3 New England Championship qualifying time of 12:06.91. Her four points scored in the event also helped the Gulls secure their second straight conference title.

"She wanted to find a way to help the team," Lange said. "And she did. That willingness to step outside her comfort zone and try something new is what makes her so special."

While Shepard's impact on the program is rooted in moments like that, her body of work across four years speaks for itself.

A consistent force for the Gulls, she has earned multiple All-CNE athletic and academic awards in her career.

Shepard is the only student-athlete in women's cross country program history to earn All-Conference honors in every season. She also claimed CNE Rookie of the Year accolades in 2022 and All-New England honors in the 4x800m relay during her time on the track, further highlighting her athletic achievements.

In the classroom, Shepard's accomplishments are just as impressive.

A four-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete, the first in program history to reach that mark, she is well on her way to collecting her fifth CNE Academic All-Conference award this spring, all while maintaining a 3.78 GPA as a double major in Expressive Arts Therapy and Psychology.

Her ability to excel across seasons, events, and disciplines has established her as one of the most well-rounded and decorated distance athletes in program history, someone whose impact extends far beyond results and into the standard she set for what it means to be a Division III student-athlete.

That same drive carried her to Dublin for a semester abroad, where she completed an internship connected to her goal of becoming a therapist.

She was the only Endicott student in the program, but quickly built connections through running and dance, while staying in touch with her teams through weekly updates and shared videos.

Now preparing for graduate studies at Lesley University, Shepard reflected on an experience that extends far beyond athletics.

Her advice to incoming student-athletes is simple: be present.

"You can do athletics, academics, clubs, studying abroad, and still have a social life," she said. "Be present in each of them, and you won't graduate with any regrets."

For Shepard, that's what the Division III experience really means—and she's spent the last four years proving it. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - Hannah Shepard '26 | Bradley Griffin '28)