Hamden Resident Named SHA’s 2019-20 Scholar-Athlete

HAMDEN, CT — (Contributed article): Meaghan Cameron, daughter of Russell and Annette Cameron of Hamden, has been named this year’s Sacred Heart Academy Scholar-Athlete for her cumulative grade point average, varsity sports participation, community service, self-discipline, integrity, and leadership.

Under normal circumstances Meaghan would have been honored at the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) Scholar-Athlete Awards dinner, but instead her achievements were announced over social media and she was featured on Fox61 News with other students who won this award.

Since freshman year, Meaghan has been immersed in the rigor of Sacred Heart’s college preparatory curriculum. She came to the Academy in large part due to the opportunities within the Science Department as she has known from a young age that she wants to a pursue a career in medicine and has chosen courses such as AP Biology in preparation. She is a member of the National, Science, and Spanish Honor Societies and, as a junior, was awarded the Trinity College Book Award for “outstanding academic achievement and strong potential for competitive college work.”

In addition to being an outstanding student, Meaghan is an accomplished member of the indoor and outdoor track and field teams. Since Meaghan started running in freshman year, the teams have won their conference divisions. She was named captain of both teams, has broken many school records including the indoor 300 meter, 600 meter, and 4x200 meter records and the outdoor 400 meter and 4x400 meter records. She has also won numerous awards and medals in many different events and holds a state title for the 4x400 relay team. She was named All Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) in 2017 and Winter SCC Scholar-Athlete in 2020.

Meaghan’s devotion to her sport has shown her first-hand that hard work and dedication truly pay off.

“I would like to thank Coach Pat Redding for giving me the opportunity to excel at a sport I am passionate about and also my family for supporting me every step of the way,” she said.

Despite her demanding academic and athletic commitments, Meaghan still found time to serve her school and community. She spent summers working with young children at her church’s Vacation Bible School and she regularly served the Connecticut Food Bank distributing food to soup kitchens and food pantries. At Sacred Heart, she volunteered at the Holly Berry Festival, served as a tutor, and assisted in admissions as a member of Key Club.

“Meaghan joins a distinguished group of young women at Sacred Heart—scholar-athletes who have taken on the challenge of our rigorous academic program while excelling in athletics,” said President Sr. Sheila O’Neill, ASCJ, Ph.D., ’71. (Hamden). “We are proud of Meaghan, who has always set high standards for herself and worked tirelessly to achieve her goals, while inspiring others to bring their best. We know that her success here at Sacred Heart will translate into an outstanding tenure at UConn, where she will enroll in the fall as a biology major.”