NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Department of Athletics is proud to announce that women's cross country standout Mikayla Numkena and women's volleyball standout Juun Shin have earned NJCAA Region 15 Athlete of the Month honors for September.
The recognition follows an outstanding opening month for both student-athletes, who helped lead their respective programs to early-season success.
Sophomore Mikayla Numkena earned the recognition following an impressive season-opening performance at Stockton University's Osprey Open on September 19.
Competing against a field consisting primarily of NCAA Division II and Division III programs, Numkena completed the women's 6K course in 24:19.8, placing 25th overall out of 124 runners and finishing as the top NJCAA competitor.
Her performance marked the fastest reported NJCAA Division III women's 6K time nationally through September 19 and earned the Tuba City, Arizona, native USTFCCCA NJCAA Division III Women's National Athlete of the Week honors.
Numkena's effort helped propel the Tigers to a sixth-place finish among 14 teams, placing FIT ahead of every NJCAA Division III program in the field.
The September recognition adds to an impressive collegiate résumé for Numkena, who was named FIT Women's Cross Country Most Valuable Player in 2025 after finishing 23rd at the NJCAA Division III National Championships.
Juun Shin | Women's Volleyball
Sophomore setter Juun Shin earned Region 15 recognition following a strong September in which she directed the Tigers' offense and helped FIT open the season with seven victories in its first eight matches.
The Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, native made an immediate impact in FIT's season-opening five-set victory over Raritan Valley Community College on September 3, recording 28 assists, 23 digs, five service aces, four kills and 2.5 blocks.
Shin continued her impressive play throughout the month, recording 33 assists against Word of Life Bible Institute before adding 28 assists, 19 digs and four service aces in a sweep of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Her September highlights also included a 42-assist performance in FIT's four-set victory over Union College on September 17. She followed that effort with 35 assists in a straight-set victory over Borough of Manhattan Community College on September 24, helping the Tigers extend their winning streak to five matches and improve to 4-0 in Region XV competition.
The honor adds to Shin's growing list of collegiate achievements. As a freshman in 2025, she earned NJCAA Division III Third Team All-America recognition, Region XV Setter of the Year honors and First Team All-Region recognition after leading the region with 7.17 assists per set.
