Photo by: Joan McKee
Davidson Announces Heather J. McKee '87 Field Hockey Scholarship
12/18/2025 10:20:00 AM | Field Hockey, DAF
During her time attending Davidson College, Heather McKee '87 was instrumental in advancing women's sports at the college, regardless of the season.
Primarily a field hockey and basketball player, McKee utilized her talents across the board — and calendar — as the college's only known four-sport female athlete.
Now, as her alma mater's field hockey program just completed its 50th season with a 10-win campaign, McKee's legacy will take on an additional form — aiding future Wildcats, who will carry the torch into the program's second half-century.
An anonymous donor has created an endowed field hockey scholarship in McKee's honor with a $250,000 gift, the Davidson Athletic Fund announced today. The Heather J. McKee Field Hockey Scholarship will provide a partial scholarship that will benefit talented scholar-athletes in perpetuity.
The scholarship's announcement comes at a time when the Wildcats just posted their first winning season since 2011 and reached the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament for the first time since 2015.
"We're so grateful for all that Heather McKee gave to Davidson field hockey and Davidson athletics as a whole," said Davidson head coach Zoe Almquist. "This scholarship is such a wonderful way to honor her legacy. We're so proud she was one of ours! We are so grateful for this gift which will help to open opportunities for many future Davidson field hockey athletes!"
McKee's wife, Jane Campbell '87, said that the scholarship is a fitting tribute for someone who lived her life in an exemplary manner.
"This scholarship will ensure that future generations of Davidson scholar-athletes will learn about Heather," said Campbell. "Specifically, we hope they come to know about her amazing, record-setting accomplishments on the field, court and course, but also of her life of leadership and service. We are grateful for the generous gift that established the scholarship and hope that others will donate to the fund to further honor Heather's legacy."
After growing up in Charlotte, McKee was drawn to nearby Davidson, where she could pursue both high-level academics and athletics. She earned a B.A. in Psychology in 1987, while spending considerable time in Wildcats uniforms.
A sweeper and two-year team captain, she lettered four years in field hockey and earned multiple All-Deep South honors. And the sport took her places — she tried out for the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and played on the U.S. Junior Olympic team.
McKee also starred for the Davidson women's basketball team, for which she averaged 15 points per game and set the single-game scoring record. In a 1985 game against Coker, she scored 35 points, a mark that still stands.
She also excelled in the shot put, setting a school record, and when Davidson fielded its only women's golf team, McKee stepped to the tee box, club in hand, ready to go.
In 1987, she was awarded Davidson's prestigious Susan K. Roberts Award, which recognizes the female who exemplifies the Davidson spirit within intercollegiate athletics and campus leadership.
After Davidson, McKee obtained an accounting degree from Queens and later pursued a calling to the ministry. With Davidson College Presbyterian Church sponsoring her, she earned a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and continued leading a life of service in posts from Mars Hill to Wyoming and Wisconsin to Harvard.
Ultimately, life led her back to Davidson a decade ago, and McKee served as volunteer assistant with the college's field hockey team for one season. She spent the rest of her life giving back to a community she loved.
For more information on the scholarship or to learn more about supporting Davidson College Athletics, please reach out to the Davidson Athletic Fund at daf@davidson.edu or by calling 704-894-2396. You may also make a gift online to the Heather J. McKee Field Hockey Scholarship by going to the college's giving page. Under "I want to support," choose "Other" and then type in the name of the scholarship in the box that appears.
Primarily a field hockey and basketball player, McKee utilized her talents across the board — and calendar — as the college's only known four-sport female athlete.
Now, as her alma mater's field hockey program just completed its 50th season with a 10-win campaign, McKee's legacy will take on an additional form — aiding future Wildcats, who will carry the torch into the program's second half-century.
An anonymous donor has created an endowed field hockey scholarship in McKee's honor with a $250,000 gift, the Davidson Athletic Fund announced today. The Heather J. McKee Field Hockey Scholarship will provide a partial scholarship that will benefit talented scholar-athletes in perpetuity.
The scholarship's announcement comes at a time when the Wildcats just posted their first winning season since 2011 and reached the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament for the first time since 2015.
"We're so grateful for all that Heather McKee gave to Davidson field hockey and Davidson athletics as a whole," said Davidson head coach Zoe Almquist. "This scholarship is such a wonderful way to honor her legacy. We're so proud she was one of ours! We are so grateful for this gift which will help to open opportunities for many future Davidson field hockey athletes!"
McKee's wife, Jane Campbell '87, said that the scholarship is a fitting tribute for someone who lived her life in an exemplary manner.
"This scholarship will ensure that future generations of Davidson scholar-athletes will learn about Heather," said Campbell. "Specifically, we hope they come to know about her amazing, record-setting accomplishments on the field, court and course, but also of her life of leadership and service. We are grateful for the generous gift that established the scholarship and hope that others will donate to the fund to further honor Heather's legacy."
After growing up in Charlotte, McKee was drawn to nearby Davidson, where she could pursue both high-level academics and athletics. She earned a B.A. in Psychology in 1987, while spending considerable time in Wildcats uniforms.
A sweeper and two-year team captain, she lettered four years in field hockey and earned multiple All-Deep South honors. And the sport took her places — she tried out for the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and played on the U.S. Junior Olympic team.
McKee also starred for the Davidson women's basketball team, for which she averaged 15 points per game and set the single-game scoring record. In a 1985 game against Coker, she scored 35 points, a mark that still stands.
She also excelled in the shot put, setting a school record, and when Davidson fielded its only women's golf team, McKee stepped to the tee box, club in hand, ready to go.
In 1987, she was awarded Davidson's prestigious Susan K. Roberts Award, which recognizes the female who exemplifies the Davidson spirit within intercollegiate athletics and campus leadership.
After Davidson, McKee obtained an accounting degree from Queens and later pursued a calling to the ministry. With Davidson College Presbyterian Church sponsoring her, she earned a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and continued leading a life of service in posts from Mars Hill to Wyoming and Wisconsin to Harvard.
Ultimately, life led her back to Davidson a decade ago, and McKee served as volunteer assistant with the college's field hockey team for one season. She spent the rest of her life giving back to a community she loved.
For more information on the scholarship or to learn more about supporting Davidson College Athletics, please reach out to the Davidson Athletic Fund at daf@davidson.edu or by calling 704-894-2396. You may also make a gift online to the Heather J. McKee Field Hockey Scholarship by going to the college's giving page. Under "I want to support," choose "Other" and then type in the name of the scholarship in the box that appears.
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