Impact of a Scholarship: Alex Aust

Alex Aust is a busy woman. Alex Aust is a fearless woman.

She’s an Under Armour athlete.

She’s a member of the U.S. Lacrosse National Team. 

She plays professional lacrosse. 

She’s the Director of Finish Line Lacrosse.

She owns and runs her own fitness community. 

She owns, runs, and coaches a lacrosse select club.

She splits her time between Baltimore and Salt Lake City.

And, she was recently selected as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Top- 15 Finalist.

Aust owes it all to Maryland and being a scholarship student-athlete with the women’s lacrosse program from 2009-13. 

“The person I am, the woman I am today, is definitely due to my experience and upbringing at Maryland,” said Aust. “Going to Maryland was an amazing, unique experience while I was there for my four years -- so much so that I stayed for two more years (as Director of Lacrosse Operations) after and worked with Cathy (Reese) because I really didn't want it to end. 

“But now, being older and talking to friends and playing with other people, I just realize what we had at Maryland and it was really special. I've never met anyone that isn't proud to be a Terp. I can't tell you how many times in my professional world, I run into someone and that's the first thing they tell me -- that they are also a Terp. It really is a sense of community and pride that I'm not sure other other schools have.”

For Aust, having that scholarship and playing for the most illustrious women’s lacrosse program of all-time was something special. 

“I was proud to even have a spot on the team and, and to be offered any sort of financial scholarship from Cathy meant that she believed in me and wanted me to be a part of their program,” said Aust, who was a part of four ACC Championship teams and the 2010 National Champion team. “I did not take that lightly. I was super grateful for it, and took it as an opportunity to make the most out of my education.”

She graduated from Maryland in 2013 with a degree in Communication. 

In her current role as a coach and counselor working with up and coming lacrosse players, Aust can provide the perspective on the impact of a scholarship and the chance to play college lacrosse. 

“I am always thankful for my time at Maryland and the opportunity Cathy provided to me,” said Aust, who grew up in Sterling, Va., and prepped at the Bullis School. “Even now, I coach young girls and trying to help them understand the recruiting process is something I learned at Maryland. I say, even if a coach offers you a spot, with no money, that's something that you should be super grateful for.”

Aust’s fondest on-field memories as a Terp come from those classic match-ups with North Carolina in the early 2010s. The Terps beat the Tar Heels in the ACC Championship in each of her four years as a decorated attacker. 

“That rivalry, every game that we got to play against them was an incredible game,” said Aust, who, in an interesting twist, continues to hear about the Tar Heels on a daily basis as she’s engaged to former North Carolina men’s lacrosse standout Marcus Holman. 

Holman is currently an assistant coach at the University of Utah, hence her time out west as she splits her living across two time zones. 

“I loved competing at the highest level and all of those championship games were battles that I'll never forget,” said Aust. “Off the field, I would say the best part about being a Terp would be the tailgates that we had postgame. All of our parents coming out, all of the alumni coming out to games, it was a really cool atmosphere to finish a game and then be able to go to the parking lot and see the alumni or your friends and family. 

“Also, I loved being in the locker room and going to the South Campus Dining Hall and sharing meals with my teammates.”

With the multitude of ventures Aust is involved with, she consistently points back to Maryland building her into the success she has become. 

“As far as me being the woman I am today, my four years of Maryland taught me absolutely everything,” she said. “Taught me how to have confidence; how to be a great teammate; how to work with others; how to be resilient, and that stems directly from Cathy and the coaching staff there. I battled and learned everything. I needed to learn how to work hard; how to bounce back from failure or loss and just truly how important it is to fight for what you think is right. I'm still in female athletics and it basically goes hand in hand with what I learned at Maryland to give me the confidence and power to do whatever I set my mind to.

Among Aust’s long list of endeavors, many have a mutual connection back to Maryland. 

She has been an Under Armour Athlete since 2013 through a connection with fellow Terp alum Kevin Plank. In that role, Aust is sponsored by UA and participates in various campaigns for the worldwide athletic outfitter. She ‘wear tests’ apparel and plays a role in branding.

Along with Terp teammate Kristy Black Lach, they own and run a select girls lacrosse program featuring camps, clinics, and tournaments. Aust serves as the Director of Finish Line Lacrosse where she organizes and directs camps around the country.

Aust has been a member of the United States National Lacrosse Team since 2014 and continues to play professionally.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Aust started another company, The Sweaat Life. (Note the double A - representing Aust’s initials.) The Sweaat Life is a private online fitness training community developed for “at-home workouts on-demand, allowing participants to sweat whenever and wherever they want, most importantly together (virtually of course)” according to the official website. 

“All of the things that I am involved with, I think back to my training at Maryland, hearing Cathy’s voice in the back of my head, telling me to believe in myself,” said Aust, who speaks to Reese and the Maryland staff regularly. “That definitely is something that I constantly reflect back on when I do something or I put myself out there for another goal I am trying to reach.”

The most recent goal Aust has put in place is to become a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model and to be featured as the “Rookie of the Year” in one of the most recognizable magazines in the world. On April 5, Aust was informed she was one of 15 finalists. 

Aust’s path to being one of the final 15 under consideration is one she paved herself. She submitted a video back in August 2020 saying, “honestly it’s probably the most bizarre thing I've ever done, and just kind of put myself out there.” 

In December she had her first virtual casting with SI and then earlier this month found out she was a finalist. In May she will be shooting with the SI photographers at a secret location. From there, SI will pick a top six, all of whom will be included in the print magazine and one finalist will be selected as the Rookie of the Year.

Aust truly epitomizes what it means to be fearless as Maryland celebrates those women this month. She is thankful to Maryland, the Terrapin Club and all of its dedicated supporters for launching her prolific career.

“The support is vital,” she said. “It is a privilege to play at Maryland and a lot of people were behind us allowing us to be able to do all the things that we did. All of the hard work that big donors and everyone supplied for us, allowed us to be student-athletes, which I think is the most important part of the experiences. We didn’t have to worry about finances and other things, we could just show up and perform. Being at Maryland allowed us to do that.

“There is truly nothing like being a Terp. It's a connection that you have for the rest of your life. It comes with a lot of pride and, and it's an awesome network to be a part of.”