Bishop Ludden High School and Niagara University basketball star,“Joan the Jet” was three-sport star athlete at Bishop Ludden (basketball, softball, field hockey). Joan was selected as an outstanding athlete in her senior class (1976) and led Bishop Ludden to consecutive CNY City League and Section III Class B Basketball Championships. She was named  MVP on both softball and field hockey teams. She was invited to the World University Games tryouts and was the first woman ever awarded an athletic scholarship to Niagara University. At Niagara she was a 4-year captain/starter who scored 1106 points during her career, leading Niagara to third place in AIAW National Championship. She was an Academic All-American; Bishop Ludden Distinguished Alumni Award winner; GTE Academic All-American Hall of Famer; Niagara University Athletic Hall of Famer; and on the MAAC Basketball Hall of Fame Honor Roll.