Jenna McCarlie is graduating today with a degree in Dentistry from Queen’s University Belfast.

Jenna has worn many hats throughout her time in Queen’s; student, international athlete, hockey team captain, and today, a proud graduate.

While completing her final year of her degree, Jenna represented Ireland’s senior indoor hockey team in South Africa and Malaysia. And, as captain of Queen’s women’s 1st XI, she led the squad to their most successful season ever when they became Ulster Premier League champions and won the EY Hockey League Division 2, securing promotion to the top tier of Irish hockey for the first time in the University’s history.

Reflecting on this, Jenna said:

“It’s been a huge honour to lead such a talented, dedicated group of girls. This success has been years in the making with the foundations being laid by Queen’s hockey alumni who gave us the opportunity to compete at the top level in Ulster.

“I’m also so proud to have played a part in securing the chance to compete at the top level in Ireland. I also want to pay tribute to Head Coach Simon Bell and Assistant Coach Drew Campbell whose influence and commitment over the years were central to the team’s success.”

Growing up in a sporting family, both Jenna and her sister were also competitive sailors, travelling to competitions all over Ireland, the UK and Europe, but it was at age 15 that Jenna had a difficult choice to make between the two sports.

As she explains:

“It was my Nana who first inspired me to pick up a hockey stick when I was still in primary school. She was a big hockey player herself and at the time, she was Vice-President of Larne Ladies Hockey Club. At age 15, I got my first call up to Ulster and Ireland underage hockey squads, and although a very difficult decision at the time, I knew I had to make a choice between my two great sporting loves.”

With the decision made, and hockey coming out top, a new challenge arose for Jenna – balancing elite sport with academic commitments is. Jenna credits a strong support network of family and friends, along with the Queen’s Elite Athlete Programme which gave her access to high level coaching and a community of athletes, for helping her thrive in both arenas.

Jenna describes this support:

“The Elite Athlete Programme and being surrounded by people in my life who understood the challenges of juggling sport and study, made me a better athlete, better student, and better person.”

Jenna starts her first role as a dentist in Northern Ireland this September and hopes to give back to Queen’s by teaching in the School of Dentistry.

In looking ahead to her sporting career, Jenna has her sights set on one day securing her first senior outdoor cap and playing in a major tournament – the ultimate dream being to represent Ireland at the LA 2028 Olympics in the US.

When asked what advice she would give to other students balancing their passion with sport alongside completing a degree, she said:

“Get involved in sport. Get involved at any level. Because the people you meet, the skills you gain, and the memories you make will last a lifetime.”