UT Martin’s Mykaela Waterfield Brings Home NCEA Distinguished Alumni Award
1/26/2026 3:00:00 PM | Equestrian
WACO, Texas – The National Collegiate Equestrian Association announced its Distinguished Alumni Award recipients today and the University of Tennessee at Martin's Mykaela (Van Selus) Waterfield is one of nine members in the organization's Class of 2026 award winners.
Waterfield is the NCEA's Media & Communication honoree and becomes just the third Skyhawk recipient of this prestigious honor, which was first awarded in 2016. She joins Kelsy Abell (Community Engagement) and Brittany Kasprack (Health Sciences/Services), who both brought home this accolade in 2017.
The NCEA Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to a woman who, at least six years after the completion of her undergraduate degree at any NCEA dues paying institution, has made significant contributions in a professional field. Nine categories are selected each year, including Equine Industry Coaches/Trainers, Equine Industry Professional Riders, Equine Industry Medical/Pharmaceutical, Education, Business, Health Sciences/Services, Media & Communication, Community Engagement and Young Alumni.
Waterfield currently serves as the director of Enrollment Communications and Operations (ECO) at UT Martin, which powers the technology and communications that drive the student journey. The ECO manages the university's application and enrollment systems, ensuring smooth data integration, accurate processing and timely admissions decisions. Waterfield and the ECO team creates and delivers digital and print communications that keep prospective and admitted students connected and informed. By combining technical expertise with strategic outreach, ECO streamlines operations, enhances the student experience and supports enrollment and institutional goals in partnership with Undergraduate Admissions and Graduate Studies.
A Littleton, Colo. native, Waterfield competed for the Skyhawk equestrian team from 2011-15, chalking up All-American second team accolades in flat during her junior campaign. She racked up 24 career head-to-head victories (third-most in flat in school history and eighth-most overall across all events) and garnered five MOP's over her storied career. She managed nine victories during both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, which are the fifth-most flat triumphs in UT Martin single-season history.
Waterfield also was an interim assistant coach for the Skyhawk equestrian program for the 2020-21 season, stepping in to help keep the program stable during an incredibly challenging season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has taken part in the UT Promise Mentor program, Weakley County Young Professionals organization and was Chair of the Blessed Expectations Outreach.
"Mykaela exemplifies every trait of a NCEA Distinguished Alumni," UT Martin head coach Kim Leiter-Janes said. "She is a true horsewoman, a servant leader, a talented and humble athlete and natural leader in every sense of the word. I have had the honor of being her coach as well as coach alongside her and I have watched her lead with integrity, dedication and heart in every role she has taken on. Her impact on Skyhawk equestrian is enduring – she has left a legacy for our student-athletes to continue to look up to. UT Martin – and myself, personally – is forever grateful for her service, loyalty and unwavering dedication to this program and this university."
A 2015 NCEA Academic All-American first team selection, Waterfield earned her degree in agricultural business from UT Martin in 2015. She also graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Science in education in higher education leadership from UT Martin in the summer of 2020.
Waterfield is the NCEA's Media & Communication honoree and becomes just the third Skyhawk recipient of this prestigious honor, which was first awarded in 2016. She joins Kelsy Abell (Community Engagement) and Brittany Kasprack (Health Sciences/Services), who both brought home this accolade in 2017.
The NCEA Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to a woman who, at least six years after the completion of her undergraduate degree at any NCEA dues paying institution, has made significant contributions in a professional field. Nine categories are selected each year, including Equine Industry Coaches/Trainers, Equine Industry Professional Riders, Equine Industry Medical/Pharmaceutical, Education, Business, Health Sciences/Services, Media & Communication, Community Engagement and Young Alumni.
Waterfield currently serves as the director of Enrollment Communications and Operations (ECO) at UT Martin, which powers the technology and communications that drive the student journey. The ECO manages the university's application and enrollment systems, ensuring smooth data integration, accurate processing and timely admissions decisions. Waterfield and the ECO team creates and delivers digital and print communications that keep prospective and admitted students connected and informed. By combining technical expertise with strategic outreach, ECO streamlines operations, enhances the student experience and supports enrollment and institutional goals in partnership with Undergraduate Admissions and Graduate Studies.
A Littleton, Colo. native, Waterfield competed for the Skyhawk equestrian team from 2011-15, chalking up All-American second team accolades in flat during her junior campaign. She racked up 24 career head-to-head victories (third-most in flat in school history and eighth-most overall across all events) and garnered five MOP's over her storied career. She managed nine victories during both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, which are the fifth-most flat triumphs in UT Martin single-season history.
Waterfield also was an interim assistant coach for the Skyhawk equestrian program for the 2020-21 season, stepping in to help keep the program stable during an incredibly challenging season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has taken part in the UT Promise Mentor program, Weakley County Young Professionals organization and was Chair of the Blessed Expectations Outreach.
"Mykaela exemplifies every trait of a NCEA Distinguished Alumni," UT Martin head coach Kim Leiter-Janes said. "She is a true horsewoman, a servant leader, a talented and humble athlete and natural leader in every sense of the word. I have had the honor of being her coach as well as coach alongside her and I have watched her lead with integrity, dedication and heart in every role she has taken on. Her impact on Skyhawk equestrian is enduring – she has left a legacy for our student-athletes to continue to look up to. UT Martin – and myself, personally – is forever grateful for her service, loyalty and unwavering dedication to this program and this university."
A 2015 NCEA Academic All-American first team selection, Waterfield earned her degree in agricultural business from UT Martin in 2015. She also graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Science in education in higher education leadership from UT Martin in the summer of 2020.
Meet The Skyhawks - Payton Bundy
Friday, January 23
Meet The Skyhawks - Kate Mills
Friday, January 23
Meet The Skyhawks - Elise Mason
Friday, January 23
Meet The Skyhawks - Daphne Stavig
Friday, January 23