Impact Of A Scholarship: Zoe Ehrlich Shyn

Prior to becoming a scholarship athlete and National Champion in both field hockey and lacrosse at the University of Maryland, Zoe Ehrlich Shyn grew up in the small town of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. It was uncommon but exciting for a student from her small private high school to go on to play sports at a major state university. She fell in love with the University of Maryland before she even committed.

“When I first stepped foot on campus, the athletic complexes were larger than life to me. It was so impressive for a girl from a small school outside of Philadelphia, so I was just in awe, and to see what it is now is really astounding in a really amazing way,” Shyn said. “I thought being recruited by Maryland was the most fun thing I ever experienced.”

While the University of Maryland was definitely a change from Shyn’s small town, she immediately adored the school’s field hockey team. 

“I was going from being a big fish in a small pond to being a minnow in a very big ocean,” Shyn said of the opportunity. “I went to Maryland because I wanted to play the best field hockey I could in college.”

During her time at Maryland, Shyn created a lot of great memories. She was able to win the lacrosse National Championship as a freshman in 1997 and the field hockey National Championship as a senior in 1999. 

“Winning a national championship in two sports is really special. To win your last game in any sport is a special thing. To do it twice is a pretty extraordinary experience,” Shyn said. 

While the wins are some of her fondest memories, she explained that her best experiences came celebrating these wins and making lifelong friends and memories along the way. 

“I’d have to say one of my favorite experiences... is after we won we went to Bentley’s and did our celebrating there, and then we went and jumped into the fountain at McKeldin Mall,” she said.

Shyn has a lot of gratitude for the opportunities she received when becoming a scholarship athlete. The experience meant a lot to her, and she explained that it allowed her to succeed academically and to surround herself with a great group of people. 

“Being a scholarship athlete at Maryland meant being given opportunities I wouldn't otherwise have had. It meant working hard and maintaining certain standards that were expected of me, which helped me perform well academically throughout my time at Maryland,” she said. “Being around other student-athletes, I was able to see how fortunate I had been, and also I made lifelong friends.”

Even after earning her degree, Shyn found she still benefited from being a scholarship athlete at Maryland. After graduating, Shyn had moved to the New York area and found she could rely on the University of Maryland alumni network to help continue her success as a young professional. 

“I really leaned into the Maryland student-athlete alumni network, and everyone was always more than willing to talk with me, email me, to look at a resume, and to help in any way they could. And I likewise paid that forward when I could,” she said. 

Shyn now works as a consultant in the wine industry and is a certified wine sommelier. She also coaches privately at the Chelsea Piers field hockey program. 

“Playing sports at Maryland, and being coached by Missy Meharg, has had a ripple effect on my life. The lessons I learned while playing sports at Maryland come up regularly in my professional life and certainly in my role as a coach and a mom,” she wrote.

Shyn is now living in Rowayton Connecticut, just outside of Manhattan, with her husband Steve, daughter Phoebe, and stepdaughter Olivia. Shyn mentioned she first met her husband when she was living in New York City in 2013, where they originally bonded over their love for wine. 

Shyn added that she now lives in a house divided when it comes to Big Ten sports, as her husband is a Michigan grad. However, she assured they both root for the Terps field hockey team.

“I am very happy to say that Maryland beat Michigan my senior year to win the National Championship [in field hockey],” she said. “Steve is from Ann Arbor and a season-ticket holder at the Big House, which I’ve been to several times, including to see Maryland play against Michigan. We definitely get competitive with our Fall sports!”

Shyn is very appreciative for the donors who funded her scholarship. She explained that without them, she may not have been able to experience many of her fondest memories as a Terp. 

“There’s no way a student-athlete could repay the Terrapin Club members for the opportunities that are afforded when you become a Terp. And all I can say is no athlete ever wishes those moments away. It is really the best stage of your life and someone helps give that to you,” she said. “I will always have gratitude for that time.”