Senior Media and Communication major Delaney Bell’s perseverance and dedication helped turn a difficult moment in high school into a standout collegiate basketball career at Arcadia.

Before hitting the court with the Knights, the Bensalem, Pa. native had to make a difficult decision after a particularly tough year. 

“I did not have a great experience my sophomore year,” she said. “I had almost walked away from a sport I had grown up loving.”

Instead, Bell recommitted herself to the game.

“The summer going into my junior year, I worked out and got shots up close to every day to get better, and it ended up paying off in the end,” she said. “If I had decided to walk away, I wouldn’t have been able to experience playing at the collegiate level.”

Bell’s efforts on the court paid off, as she was named back-to-back Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year while playing for a team that continues to grow.

“My first year was the first time in Arcadia history that the team won a playoff game, and my sophomore year was the first time we hosted a playoff game as well as made it to the MAC championship,” she said. “I am proud that we have been able to beat ranked opponents and make Arcadia University a recognized program.”

Off the court, Bell, who is also minoring in Sport Management, has been heavily involved on campus as secretary of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, vice president of The Hidden Opponent, and a student in the Honors Program. At this year’s Honors Convocation, she received the Kusum Kulkarni Award for Academic Excellence.

“Since day one at Arcadia, Delaney Bell has been a consistent standout. She is responsible and attentive, hard-working, and relentlessly committed to improvement,” said the faculty member who nominated Bell. “These are the qualities that have earned her universal respect from her peers and faculty in the Department of Media and Communication, and across the campus. The faculty of the Department celebrates Delaney for her remarkable undergraduate accomplishments.”

While the accolades stand out, Bell’s time with her teammates means the most to her.

“My favorite memory at Arcadia has been playing with my best friends on the court,” she said. “We have made so many memories, and it makes it so much better knowing that I am playing with them and for them.”