WASHNGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College Department of Athletics recently announced junior student-athletes Jaden Wan (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock) and Nathan Plotner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) as the 2026 recipients of the Paul Reardon Award. The two recipients will be honored later this spring at the college's annual Honors Convocation on Tuesday, April 7.

The Reardon Award is designated for a junior (male and female) who exemplifies excellence in the classroom and athletics. Nominees must have a minimum of a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average and be a significant contributor to their team(s). Community service and examples of leadership on campus are required for consideration. Reardon, a pioneer in the W&J athletics department, served as Director of Athletics at the college for 33 years and coached multiple sports during his time at W&J. The Reardon Award was first handed out in 1987.

Wan holds a 3.79 cumulative grade-point average as a junior biology major.

Throughout her time at W&J, Wan has accumulated multiple academic awards. She is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society; a fellows program Thrive Scholar recipient; a Temple Medical Scholars Program member; a Rule, Hughes, Murphy Award Recipient; a Beta Scholar; and recognized on the Dean's list.

Showing her athletic abilities, Wan has played in a total of 75 basketball games for the Presidents, scoring 434 points and grabbing 215 rebounds. For her career, she is shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 37.2 percent from three-point range and 78.9 percent at the free throw line. The Presidents' Athletic Conference selected Wan as its Newcomer of the Year following her freshman campaign in 2023-24. Additionally, the league named her as its PAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month this past December. Wan and her teammates captured the PAC Tournament title on Feb. 28. The conference title qualified the Presidents for the NCAA Tournament for a second-straight season.

In her spare time, Wan is the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Member, Student Government Association Representative and Finance Committee, Special Olympics Club Unified Sports Chair, and member of the Asian Culture Association Executive Board. Additionally, Wan serves as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Plotner has compiled a 3.76 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in accounting and minoring in communication arts.

Plotner has also excelled academically, earning a spot on the PAC Spring Academic Honor Roll in each of his first two years as a student at W&J. Plotner has secured a spot on the W&J Deans List in each of his first semesters.

The Parkersburg, W.Va. native has also shined on the hardcourt for the Red and Black. Plotner has racked up 980 points, 582 rebounds, 179 blocks and 131 steals over the course of 83 games (57 starts). This past season, Plotner recorded career highs in points (420), blocks (83) and steals (61). He has converted 59.8 percent of his shot attempts during his three-year career.

Earlier this month, Plotner secured his second-straight Defensive Player of the Year award from the PAC. The junior helped guide the Presidents to a PAC Tournament title and an automatic bid into the 2026 NCAA Tournament. For his role in lifting the Presidents to the top of the conference, he earned PAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors and a spot on the PAC All-Tournament Team. Plotner is a two-time All-PAC Second Team performer. Plotner and his teammates knocked off 13th ranked Mount Union by an 82-77 score in NCAA First Round action this past Friday (March 6). The victory was the first for the W&J men's basketball program in the NCAA Tournament in 32 years (1993-94).