At Rensselaer, we are proud to recognize the student-athletes who are members of the Class of 2020. We thank them for their hard work, dedication and tremendous efforts in representing the Institute in a first-class manner academically and athletically. We wish them well as they continue to complete the semester and become Rensselaer alumni / alumnae. 

While at Rensselaer:
Goalie ... Went 3-0 with 5.33 goals against average as senior ... Career-high nine saves in win at Oneonta in 2020 ... Computer and Systems Engineering major ... Dean's Honor List ... National Society of Leadership and Success ... Relay for Life co-Chair in 2020 ... Brothers, James '13 and Troy '16, played lacrosse at Rensselaer (goalies).

Favorite sports memory during career?
"I have too many to list, here's a few:
- Our fall ball themed practices (especially that time Coach dressed up as Gru from Despicable Me, complete with a bald0cap and fake nose);
- Playing Buzzball on Saturdays and winning the Winter Buzzball Olympics of the Universe '17, '18, '19, '20;
- When Coach rounded up like 20 pairs of snowshoes for the team and we had a snow shoe practice one day when fields weren't plowed;
- Playing 'minute to win it' after practice on Wednesdays;
- When Becca DeRosa says, "Show me the Gabagool";
- Decorating CT's office for his birthday!;
- When Shyla took a btb shot at William Smith during Liberty League Playoffs in 2018;
- When the team made us a Senior Day celebration with posters and gifts the same day we found out our senior season was over;
- Pretty much everything was my favorite, wow!" - March 2020

What makes Rensselaer so special?
"I think what makes Rensselaer so special is that it's a very specific kind of school. The people who come here know what needs to get done in the classroom, so there's no time to waste when you aren't getting school work done. That's why athletics at RPI is so much fun. It's how you get to be yourself, it's time penciled into your day where you actually can't just be a nerd. That's how things get funky." - March 2020

What are your post-graduation plans?
"I'll be working for Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey as a TLDP analyst, working with their supply chain teams." - March 2020

From the coaching staff:
"Maya brings depth to this team in intangible ways. Her compassion for her teammates and friends is palpable. She is a true giver and that is evident through her extensive community service. What will stay with me about Maya is her awareness of the bigger world around her: social, economic, political. She brought her awareness to the team every day and educated us all while offering perspective. I looked forward to her enlightenment." - April 2020

What others say:
"Maya is confident, supportive, and fun loving. Her vision and communication as well as her knowledge about lacrosse is unparalleled. She sees everything and shares everything; she acts as a third coach for the defense. She also holds herself to the highest standards and in an on-field position that can be mentally challenging, she tackles it head-on. During conditioning or the hardest parts of practice her's is always the voice that you hear and you wouldn't want it any other way." - March 2020

"Maya is one of the most selfless people on our roster. She works hard everyday and makes it a point to keep the team's spirits high while pushing everyone around her to work harder. Maya's energy and attitude is irreplaceable." - March 2020 

"You can always count on Maya to bring a smile to your face. No matter how bad of a day I was having as soon as I saw Maya she could always make me smile and laugh. On the field, she was always focused at the task at hand. As a goalie Maya worked harder than the rest of the team, committing to hours of additional goalie training and her work paid off. She is one of my closest friends and I can always count on Maya to brighten my day." - March 2020

"I've always been impressed with Maya's constant positivity. Even when the team is down and not playing our best, she is positive, recognizing everyone who needs support. She's been so important to the success of our defensive unit specifically these past three years." - April 2020

"Maya is by far our goofiest teammate and no matter the day or time is able to put a smile on everyone's face. Her infectious personality is irreplaceable. I can never thank her enough for all the laughs and impromptu Aaron Carter concerts over the years." - April 2020

"Maya Manchester: Always positive during practice no matter the circumstance. Her goofiness always kept everyone laughing and happy to be there." - April 2020

"Maya has a super outgoing and bubbly personality that can cheer anyone up and makes it incredibly easy to befriend her. She made me, as a freshman, feel as if we had been close friends for years, and made me feel that much more a part of our team." - April 2020

"Maya always lightens up practice. It does not matter how poorly things are going, she will make my day better. Even on her worst days she makes sure she brings everyone else up. She is one of the most trustworthy people I have ever met and I know I can go to her about advice on anything." - April 2020

"Maya brings so much joy and light to the team. You can't help but smile when she is doing her crazy dance moves. Beyond that, she is a great leader and voice to have on the field." - April 2020

"Maya is the coolest weirdo ever. She is always herself no matter the circumstance and it's something to be envy of. She is so intelligent and despite her insane workload, she was always helping friends and teammates if they were struggling with theirs. On the field she was always a positive voice and kept that positive attitude all the way until our last moments as a team. I appreciate Maya very much. She is still a weird person, though." - April 2020

All Senior Celebration Series pieces are available by clicking HERE.