GREENVILLE, S.C. – A successful season in the pool and in the classroom paid dividends for senior Mariel Mencia Martiez, as she was named as the women's swimming Conference Carolinas Scholar-Athlete of the Year, league officials announced Wednesday. 
 
The scholar-athlete awards, presented by Hudl, are awarded annually to one individual in each Conference Carolinas sponsored sport. The Scholar-Athlete of the Year winners are chosen by the Conference Carolinas Student-Athlete Affairs and Awards Committee.

To be considered, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or higher. In addition, the nominees for the award must have been named all-conference in their sport and also chosen academic all-conference.
 
The announcement marks the third straight season that the program has had the scholar-athlete of the year recipient. It is the second consecutive recognition for Menica Martinez, as Gillian Manning earned the program's first honor following the 2021-22 season. 
 
A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Mencia Martinez graduated with a 3.61 grade point average with a bachelor's degree in business administration, and currently holds a 4.0 grade point average obtaining a master's degree in sports administration. 
 
Mencia Martinez helped the Black & Gold to the program's first Conference Carolinas Championship title in February. The senior won the 50-yard Freestyle and the 100-yard Freestyle titles at the Conference meet, while swimming a leg on the 200-yard Medley, 200-yard Freestyle and 400-yard Medley relay teams that also won conference titles. Mencia Martinez departs Pembroke holding seven of the program's school records.