George Fox University women’s golf standout Makensie Toole has been named the 2025 Northwest Conference Woman of the Year, the conference office announced Wednesday. With the honor, Toole will serve as the NWC’s official nominee for both the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year Award and the 2025 Division III Commissioners Association Women’s Sport Student-Athlete of the Year Award.
The NWC Woman of the Year award recognizes graduating student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and community service. Nominees must have earned a varsity letter and completed their undergraduate degree by summer 2025.
A five-year member of the Bruins women’s golf team, Toole graduated with dual degrees—a Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Public Relations) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (Marketing)—while maintaining a 3.86 GPA. A four-time Dean’s List honoree, she was a five-time WGCA All-American Scholar Athlete, a five-time NWC Scholar Athlete, and earned the 2024 George Fox University Business Award for Most Outstanding Marketing Student. She also helped lead her team to first place at the 2024 District National Advertising Competition, serving as director of strategy for the winning campaign.
Toole’s leadership and service work are equally distinguished. In 2025, she volunteered with Golf for Joy in Portland, handmaking and distributing bracelets for the charity’s Pro-Am event benefiting children’s cancer causes. From 2022–24, she served as a volunteer coach at the LPGA Portland Classic Girls Clinic, mentoring young golfers and fostering confidence and love for the game. On campus, she was a resident assistant in 2025, an athletics staff writer from 2023–25, and represented George Fox on the NWC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee from 2022–24. She also served as lead social media manager for the LPGA Portland Classic from 2022–25, overseeing pre-tournament and tournament content, writing for the official guide, and promoting the event’s charitable impact in the community.
On the course, Toole’s career is one of the most accomplished in NWC history. She was the 2021 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Individual Champion, a member of the 2023 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championship team, and a five-time First-Team WGCA All-American and All-NWC First Team honoree. She was the 2021 WGCA National Freshman of the Year, a five-time WGCA All-West Region honoree, medalist at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifier, 2023 Oregon Women’s Stroke Play Champion, and competed in the LPGA Portland Classic in 2022 and the 2024 professional Monday qualifier, where she placed fourth.
George Fox head coach MaryJo McCloskey praised Toole’s impact, saying, “Makensie is the kind of student-athlete who leaves a legacy far beyond her incredible play. Her courage, resilience, and servant leadership defined her time at George Fox. Even when injury kept her from competing at the Conference Championship this year, she showed up fully—cheering on her teammates, encouraging them with confidence, and continuing to lead in every way possible. From leading offseason power runs to serving as an RA, writing for athletics, announcing at various games, and being a steady voice of support—Makensie made everyone around her better. Her final performance at Nationals, playing through pain with grit and grace, was a true reflection of who she is—an athlete driven not by personal accolades, but by a deep desire to help her team succeed. That ‘team-first mentality’ helped guide the Bruins to an NCAA trophy finish—an incredible conclusion to an impactful and inspiring career. We are truly proud of all she’s accomplished—and even more grateful for the lasting impact she’s had on our program, our conference, and our community.”
Reflecting on the honor, Toole said, “I am extremely grateful to have been nominated for the Northwest Conference Woman of the Year, as my time in the NWC has meant the world to me. It has been a privilege to compete for George Fox, and this award reflects the incredible program that has challenged me to grow not only as an athlete, but also as a student and as a young woman. What I’ll take away most from my time in the conference is that excellence isn’t defined solely by trophies or victories, but by the dedication, resilience, and character you bring every day. I’m super thankful for my coaches MJ and Rick, my amazing teammates, and my family back home. They have all invested so much into me, and this recognition is just as much theirs as it is mine.”