Grand Rapids, MI -- The Aquinas College Athletic Department is proud to recognize three outstanding members of the Saints community as this month's Saints of the Week: women's lacrosse student-athlete Vanessa Bailey, men's swim and dive standout Cooper Wasson, and faculty athletics representative Dr. Scott Brown.

Each recipient exemplifies the values of Aquinas through excellence in competition, academics, leadership, and service.

Female Saint of the Month - Vanessa Bailey (Women's Lacrosse)

A team captain and rising senior midfielder for the women's lacrosse program, Vanessa Bailey continues to make an impact both on and off the field. Earlier this year, Bailey was honored as the team's Champion of Character award recipient for the 2026 season, recognizing her leadership, integrity, and commitment to serving others.

In the classroom, Bailey has excelled as a Health Science major on the pre-dental track. Through the McNair Scholars Program under the mentorship of Dr. Natalia Hubbs, she earned first place in the Undergraduate Oral Presentations category for her research project titled "Optimizing the Isolation of Oral Bacteriophages from Saliva."

This summer, Bailey is gaining valuable professional experience in Texas, where she works at a supervised visitation center. In her role, she facilitates visits between children and their non-custodial parents while documenting behavioral observations.

Bailey's service to the Aquinas community extends beyond academics and athletics. She has become an invaluable member of the athletic department staff, quickly learning to manage in-game statistics and assisting at numerous events when her own athletic commitments allow.

"Vanessa was thrown into game-day statistics with very little experience and picked it up faster than anyone I've worked with," said SID Kennadie Minerich. "She's an incredibly quick learner who isn't afraid to ask questions, and once she understands something, she takes ownership of it. Her work ethic, attention to detail, and willingness to help wherever needed have made her an invaluable part of our athletic department."

Male Saint of the Month Cooper Wasson (Men's Swim & Dive)

Few freshmen made a bigger splash this season than men's swimmer and diver Cooper Wasson.

Wasson immediately established himself as one of the top divers in the NAIA, earning First Team All-American honors in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. At the NAIA National Championships, he finished eighth on the 1-meter board and seventh on the 3-meter board, capping off an impressive debut campaign.

During the season, Wasson posted a fifth-place finish at Aquinas' Senior Day meet that produced a national-qualifying score above the NAIA six-dive standard, helping solidify his place among the nation's elite divers.

His success did not go unnoticed by his peers. At the annual Nelly Awards, Wasson earned the student-voted Freshman of the Year honor, recognizing the immediate impact he made within the Saints community.

With a decorated freshman season already behind him, Wasson enters his sophomore year poised for even greater success.

"Cooper is incredibly deserving of this recognition -- not just for his athletic accomplishments but also for his character and impact on team culture. As just a freshman, he qualified for the national meet on both 1M and 3M boards, became an All-American and played a pivotal role in our men's team earning their first KCAC Championship title," said head coach Kristy Hepp. "In the classroom, Cooper is extremely dedicated to his studies and earns one of the highest GPAs on the team. He is loved by all of his teammates, is one of the most coachable athletes, brings a positive attitude every day, and is on track to play a strong leadership role on the boards for future seasons to come. I'm very proud of him!" 

Saint Support Super Star Dr. Scott Brown 

At Aquinas College, developing the whole person has always been about more than what happens in the classroom or on the field. It is about people who invest in others, who serve quietly, and who make a lasting difference in the lives of students. Few exemplify that mission better than Dr. Scott Brown, whose impact can be felt throughout campus through his teaching, mentorship, research, and unwavering commitment to Saints Athletics.

As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Dr. Brown oversees the Applied Sport and Exercise Science degree while helping prepare future professionals in the fields of sport performance, health, and exercise science. His influence has extended beyond the classroom and into Saints Athletics, where he serves as the Faculty Athletics Representative and as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the men's rugby program.

Brown joined Aquinas with more than a decade of experience as a strength and conditioning coach, educator, sports scientist, and head coach. His expertise in injury prevention and sports performance has translated into an impressive body of scholarly work, including more than 40 published journal articles and collaborations on two educational textbooks, Biomechanics of Training and Testing: Innovative Concepts and Simple Field Methods (2016) and Laboratory Experiences in Exercise Physiology (2020).

Beyond the classroom, Brown serves in numerous leadership roles across campus, including Faculty Advisor for the Human Science Honor Society, Kappa Omicron Nu, Faculty Representative for the Student Life & Athletics Committee, Faculty Advisor for the Outdoor Recreation and Disc Golf Clubs, and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for men's rugby.

His impact on Aquinas College continues to grow as he approaches another significant professional milestone. This year, Brown is being considered for tenure, a reflection of his outstanding contributions to teaching, scholarship, student mentorship, and service to the college community. His dedication to student success and commitment to advancing the field of kinesiology have made him an invaluable member of the Aquinas family.

"Dr. Scott Brown embodies what makes Aquinas College special," said Director of Athletic Communications Joey Sutherlin. "As a respected faculty member and our Faculty Athletics Representative, he plays an invaluable role in ensuring our student-athletes are not only competing at a high level, but also succeeding in the classroom and maintaining the standards that define the Aquinas experience.

"Beyond his work in academics, Scott's willingness to invest additional time with our men's rugby program and alongside Mackenzie Yob in the weight room speaks volumes about his commitment to the holistic development of our student-athletes. He truly understands that success is built through relationships, mentorship, and caring for the whole person.

"We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with his passion, knowledge, and servant leadership as part of our AQ family, and this recognition as our June Saint Support Superstar is incredibly well deserved."

Dr. Brown's contributions often happen behind the scenes, but their impact is visible throughout campus and across Saints Athletics. Whether mentoring students in the classroom, guiding future professionals in kinesiology, helping student-athletes achieve their goals, or investing extra hours in the weight room and on the rugby pitch, Brown continues to exemplify the servant leadership and commitment to excellence that define Aquinas College.

For his dedication to students, scholarship, and the holistic development of Saints student-athletes, Dr. Scott Brown has been named the June AQ Athletics Saint Support Superstar.

Final Thoughts
The Saints of the Week honor recognizes members of the Aquinas community who embody the values of excellence, leadership, service, and dedication. Whether competing at the national level, conducting impactful research, serving others, or mentoring the next generation of students, Vanessa Bailey, Cooper Wasson, and Dr. Brown each represent what it means to be a Saint. Their accomplishments continue to make a positive impact on Aquinas Athletics, the campus community, and beyond. Congratulations to all three on this well-deserved recognition.