For Middlebury senior Meg Simon, the path to meaning in her life has always revolved around teams. The daughter of professional hockey player and coach Ben Simon and his wife, Beth, a former golfer at Notre Dame, Meg’s family moved 50 times to accommodate Ben’s playing and coaching career, leaving Meg and her sister, Kate, to adapt quickly to new environments and communities, but always starting with teams.
“I grew up with good and authentic family members who set great examples,” Simon said.
“‘Do it right or don’t do it at all’ has been an approach I have applied to athletics with hockey and golf, but also to my other teams like the Yellow House, Special Olympics and Middlebury Youth Hockey,” she said. “They are teams, too, that I want to show up for and be there with purpose and a smile.”
“You are there to help fill their bucket, but in actuality they are the ones filling my bucket with the joy, excitement and energy they bring to any event, from a Special Olympics basketball game to a cupcake-making event for a bake sale,” Simon said. “When something matters, you make time for it and make the most of the time with the people you are part of that team with.”
On the ice and links, Simon has seen success, winning a NESCAC championship in both hockey and women’s golf at the school, along with two semifinal appearances in the national tournament as part of Bill Mandigo’s consistently strong hockey program. Her coach has seen that on-ice commitment translate into a parallel and steadily expanding community effort, leading the program’s volunteer activities.
“She is the first person I have ever nominated for this award,” recently retired head coach Bill Mandigo said.
“We always have had a freshman and a junior lead the efforts for the team, and Meg has just taken it and extended it in so many ways,” he said. “She is a warm and sensitive human being who everyone on campus knows.”
“She has extended herself in so many ways and in many directions, and one of the great things about her is that everybody likes her and no one can say no to her when she goes and asks people to do things,” Mandigo said. “I was thrilled when she got to be one of the final five.”
The Yellow House in Middlebury is a residence where adults with intellectual challenges and developmental disabilities can live independently, learn essential vocational skills and build friendships with the support of the local community. Many of the Yellow House residents are staunch supporters of the women’s ice hockey team and have teamed up to be vocal and loyal supporters during the Panthers’ home games.
“Abby always sits next to our bench in the arena,” Simon said. “She is our biggest fan, who we came to know through a Special Olympics basketball game.”
“She bags our groceries at the supermarket and loves to cheer the Midd teams on, especially the hockey team,” Simon said. “What started as volunteering has quickly turned into true friendship and appreciation.”
“It starts with simple things like a smile, remembering people’s names and making them feel important with little acts of kindness,” she said. “Middlebury is a small school and a small town — you learn to know everyone and build those connections among individual teams that support each other and groups.”
Having moved so often as a child, Meg has found that her athletic teams have often led to other community engagements, with a focus on being part of something bigger than herself. Her mother, Beth, has always shown the way with activities such as participating in Better Halves, an organization for girlfriends and wives connected to NHL teams across the league wherever Ben played. It was an opportunity to give back to the community and be a force for good.
“Mom and Dad taught me to be good and authentic,” Simon said.
“I watched growing up how she connected with people and always treated people with respect, a smile and a kind word,” she said. “She showed me how individuals can come together and accomplish great things and that the team was always bigger than myself.”
“Successful teams come from a collection of successful individuals, and I have loved stretching myself, whether at a team or public skate, a Special Olympics competition or any other event,” Simon said. “Time management is hard, but if it is important, Mom taught me to show up and show face always.”
Simon is just a semester away from graduation, and while she doesn’t know quite yet where the path will take her next, she is going to continue her journey looking for those teams and communities where she can connect and be connected in a way that fills everyone’s buckets.
“I am so honored to be considered for this award, and especially to be the first nominee for Middlebury with all the great hockey history in both the men’s and women’s programs,” Simon said.
“I have already won just by coming this far through the process, but I have never focused on any recognition, just the opportunity to help people and grow with my teammates to be better people and more active on campus and in the community,” she said.
“As I am graduating, I get to pick the next hockey freshman who will take over the volunteering leadership, and I am excited that I have found another Midwesterner, like myself, to take on the challenge and opportunity going forward,” Simon said. “I took over from another player who was from the same part of the country, and maybe there is another connection there with some similar backgrounds and values that helped our program be successful on campus and in town.”
“I would really hope that my lasting legacy would be people remembering how I treated them and truly engaged in their lives and growth as a person,” she said.