They each led their teams to championships on the field this season and now the Colonial Athletic Association is recognizing them for their successes in the classroom as the University of Delaware's Esmée Peet and Ben Sampson were named CAA Scholar-Athletes of the Year for the fall sports season.

Peet, a senior majoring in international business/MIS who competed on UD's national championship field hockey team, is a four-time CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award recipient and has made the Dean’s List in each semester while being named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Academic Squad and Chi Alpha Sigma

“I know I speak on behalf of the entire team and coaching staff in congratulating Esmée and also thanking her for what she has done for herself, our program and the University during her four seasons,” said head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. “She is an example of what is means to be a true student-athlete. She lives to compete, to be challenged, to challenge herself and others academically and athletically. Her competitive drive and the way she goes about things have not only allowed Esmée to contribute to the goals and dreams she has, but also those of others now and in the future. As players and coaches, we are positive that Esmée will continue to be a scholar-ambassador of herself and for the University of Delaware.”

A three-time All-American, the midfielder contributed nine goals and seven assists for a Blue Hens’ squad that went 23-2 and captured the NCAA title this season. She received first team All-CAA and All-Region honors for the fourth straight years and finished her career ranked fourth in goals (48) and points (120) at UD.

Peet joins Kim Wagaman (2002) and Leah Geib (2003, 2004) in earning CAA field hockey scholar-athlete accolades.

Sampson, the men’s soccer selection for the second time in his career (2014), is a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering with a concentration in signal processing, communications and controls. Just a few weeks ago, Sampson became the first-ever CAA men’s soccer player to be honored as the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year.

“Our men’s soccer program has grown in stature on the national stage in recent years both on and off the field, and we have done so without shying away from the most challenging of majors,” said Ian Hennessy, who recently completed his 11th season at the helm of the Blue Hens men’s soccer team. “Over twenty percent of our players are engineers, and Ben has led this group with an astonishing career at UD. I speak on behalf of all our department in congratulating Ben and Esmée in bringing home the double, in the CAA’s most prestigious award for all of its student-athletes.”

Sampson, who made the Dean’s List in every semester and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in electrical engineering last May, is a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma and Eta Kappa Nu honor societies. On the field, Sampson received first team All-CAA and third team NSCAA All-Region honors this season after helping lead the Blue Hens to a conference title and an NCAA berth. The defensive midfielder contributed four goals this season, had 24 career points (10 goals, 4 assists) and was part of 24 shutouts. Sampson set UD records for career games played (85) and starts (84).

Sampson joins Matt Haney (2005, 2006) as UD recipients of CAA men’s soccer scholar-athlete honors.

The CAA honors one scholar-athlete in each of its 21 championship sports. Nominees for the award must be a starter or important reserve on their team and must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25. The winners were selected by a vote of the media relations directors at each CAA institution.