Scholarship Support Opens Doors for Student-Athlete Alex Gencarelli ’26

Posted On

March 4, 2026

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Catholic Identity

Internships & Outcomes

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On paper, Alexandra “Alex” Gencarelli ’26 has the kind of schedule that demands precision: two varsity sports, multiple campus jobs, a paid research role, and part-time work with the New England Revolution.

In person, she seems less hurried than grounded—someone who has learned how to move through competing commitments with composure.

That composure has been shaped by discipline on the field, mentorship in the classroom—and the practical support that made it all possible.

Gencarelli first received the Yawkey Scholarship in her sophomore year. The award helped ease the financial weight of her undergraduate education and reduced what she will carry beyond graduation.

“If I wasn’t to receive this scholarship, my loans would be even more, post-grad,” she said. “It definitely added ease to the financial bill.”

That relief translated into flexibility. Like many student-athletes, Gencarelli juggles several part-time jobs—supporting game-day operations, serving as an office assistant in Mission and Ministry, working as a desk assistant on campus, and earning stipends through research. Scholarship support allowed her to balance those responsibilities while pursuing experiences aligned with her goals, not simply her paycheck.

Discovering a Path in Sport Management

A senior from Westerly, Rhode Island, Gencarelli is majoring in Sport Management with a minor in Leading for Social Impact—two programs that reflect Emmanuel’s evolving academic landscape. She is also playing her final collegiate seasons as a defender on both the soccer and lacrosse teams, positions that require anticipation, steadiness, and a willingness to protect the whole.

“I like a challenge, and I like to be challenged,” she said.

She arrived at Emmanuel without a fixed academic plan. Pre-law once seemed plausible; an introductory business course shifted her thinking. The turning point came through practical advice from home.

“My mom said, ‘You’re pretty passionate about sports—why don’t you make it into a career?’”

Sport Management stood out because it felt tangible. Guest speakers brought the realities of the sports industry into the classroom, emphasizing work ethic over glamour. One message resonated: success depends less on obsession and more on adaptability.

“It’s a busy environment,” Gencarelli said. “And I’ve been used to that, being an athlete growing up.”

Learning the Business of Sports

Her education quickly moved beyond theory.

She interned with the New England Revolution and continues to work part-time as a brand ambassador in the organization’s marketing department. On match days at Gillette Stadium, she helps execute fan activation zones, youth activities, halftime programming, and community initiatives—including collaborations with Special Olympics and the team’s unified program.

“It’s very hands-on,” she said. “You’re learning in real time.”

Back on campus, she has extended that interest into digital media, running social media for Emmanuel’s Men’s Basketball program. Designing graphics and managing in-season content has deepened her understanding of how storytelling, branding, and athletics intersect. For Gencarelli, sports are not only competition—they are communication.

Researching Leadership and Legacy

At the same time, another opportunity broadened her perspective in ways she did not expect.

Through Associate Professor of Management Kelly Basile, she became a research assistant on a Mission and Ministry oral history project documenting the legacy of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. The work—interviews, archival research, and contributions to a forthcoming book—required research certification and introduced her to academic publishing. She is assisting as a co-author on a chapter focused on women’s leadership. The research has strengthened her analytical writing and deepened her understanding of leadership across sectors—skills that complement her professional ambitions.

It is also emblematic of Emmanuel’s academic culture, where faculty members invite students into work that stretches them beyond their declared major.

When asked about mentorship, Gencarelli points to Professor Dan Holbrook, her faculty advisor; Dr. Basile, her research mentor; and Professor Anne Marie Pasquale, Dean of Business and Management. Their guidance, she said, has helped her think strategically about what comes next.

Looking Ahead

She has already been accepted into Boston College’s graduate program in Sport Administration, though financial considerations will shape that decision. If graduate school is not feasible, she hopes to step directly into a full-time role—ideally with a professional sports organization or a Division I athletics department. She is also intrigued by the intersection of athletics and fashion, noting Boston’s growing sports branding landscape.

What she understands now, more clearly than when she first toured campus, is the reach of the Emmanuel community.

“When I first toured, I didn’t yet understand how strong Emmanuel’s network was,” she said. “Now when I hear, ‘We love Emmanuel students,’ I feel proud—and grateful.”

Over four years, she has seen that reputation reinforced through alumni connections, faculty mentorship, and a campus culture where it is, as she puts it, “really hard to fall through the cracks.”

Athletics has shaped that experience as deeply as academics. Women’s soccer claimed back-to-back championships during her time on the team, and women’s lacrosse added another title last year. For Gencarelli, those wins represent momentum—not just for teams, but for women’s sports at Emmanuel.

“A turning point,” she said.

As a defender—center back in soccer, defense in lacrosse—she occupies a position built on awareness and responsibility. It is an apt metaphor for how she has approached her college career: steady under pressure, attentive to the bigger picture, and committed to protecting opportunity when it appears.

Scholarship support gave her room to pursue that opportunity. Athletics taught her how to sustain it. Research broadened her understanding of leadership. Professional experience clarified her direction.

For Gencarelli, the future is still unfolding. But the foundation is clear: a career in sports built not only on passion, but on preparation—and strengthened by the community that made it possible.