Stonehill College

Equestrian has set and upheld a long standard of excellence at Stonehill, and Kelly McDonald ’98 helped propel the Skyhawks to national prominence over the course of her career.

McDonald began an amazing six-year stretch in the program’s history in 1997 when she captured the individual national title in the novice fences at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Championships. Kelly claimed several regional accolades as well during her storied career in several events, as Stonehill rose from a fledgling program to become a regional power while competing against teams across all divisions. Her individual crown was a precursor to what would follow in 2003 when then Head Coach Sheila Murphy led the Skyhawks to the IHSA team national championship in the event held in Tennessee.

McDonald also shined in the classroom at Stonehill, where she was named as the recipient of the Father William Gartland, CSC Student-Athlete Award during her senior year of 1998.