On Sunday, June 21, Jessica “Jess” Gardner of Hartford, Conn., was recognized for her outstanding volunteer commitment to Hooplandia, the Northeast’s Ultimate 3x3 Basketball Tourney + Festival, with an MVP Award. The recognition was presented by Anne-Alise Pietruska, Director of Marketing at Eastern States Exposition, event presenter and host site of Hooplandia.

Gardner grew up in Webster, Mass. She is a recent graduate of Westfield State University (WSU), where she took “student athlete” to unprecedented heights as a collegiate basketball player of five years with impeccable time management skills. During her undergraduate career, she was recognized on the Dean’s List multiple times, was commended for her work as a devoted residential assistant, was elected to the Ed Hockenbury Sr. All-Tournament Team for Norwich University and inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma (ΧΑΣ) National College Athlete Honor Society for excellence in the classroom and on the court.

She was introduced to Hooplandia thanks to Greg Sanocki, who first worked in WSU’s Marketing department and later became digital content manager for Hooplandia and the larger Eastern States Exposition. They met during Gardner’s sophomore year, when she was closely involved with the university’s Marketing team due to her active involvement on campus. Sanocki reached out a couple years later to recruit Gardner to the festival’s promotional road show team.

Gardner earned her bachelor's degree in movement science and sports medicine from WSU in May of 2025.

Off the court, Gardner is a residential learning coordinator at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. Through her position, she helps incoming students adjust to campus life and learning. She has a critical role in helping students navigate their new way of life during a significant milestone.

“My job is really important in making sure that everyone feels safe and included,” Gardner explained, and it is this sense of responsibility that she carries with her to the courts of Hooplandia each summer.

When she first entered college, she had hopes of becoming a physical therapist because she believed the role would allow her to assist others, which she takes joy and pride in, and remain near to athletics, which have proven a guiding light in her life.

“I wanted to help people,” she said, “and I love sports, so I wanted to stay close to them. However, as I was going through college, I learned that I like working with college students specifically. That’s why I have stepped into higher education as a professional.”

At Hooplandia, Gardner is a second-year scorekeeper, a vital role to ensure tournament play runs smoothly and efficiently.

“I’m a scorekeeper, which I love doing,” said Gardner. “It’s really competitive at Hooplandia, and the coaches really get into it.”

When asked what has made her return to Hooplandia time and time again, she shared, “As a retired college athlete, it keeps me close to the game. What’s so special about it is that girls are so involved. That’s something that I didn’t have growing up—women’s basketball wasn’t huge when I was younger. Seeing how many girls are here and how developed they are becoming at such young ages brings me so much joy.”

Aside from the festival’s inclusive atmosphere, she emphasized that the intensity of the competition and the buzz of being around the game are both rewarding for her, too. When asked what advice she would offer to young ballers and rising stars, she recommended pushing oneself beyond their comfort zone within the context of competition.

“Take the rails off,” she said. “I know it’s scary when you’re little, but the only way you’re going to get better is by playing people who are better than you, and that took me a long time to learn. Even as a college player, there were times when I didn’t want to play against the people that were bigger than me, but that’s the only way you’re going to develop and get better. Don’t be scared, even though it’s terrifying,” she concluded with a lighthearted laugh.

Leadership at Eastern States Exposition, event organizer and host site of Hooplandia, extends its thanks to all the incredible volunteers that help make this festival possible for passionate players from Western Mass. and beyond each summer. Learn more about how you can get involved at Hooplandia.com, or by emailing Info@Hooplandia.com.