During the 2009-10 academic year, the NCAA launched a new academic achievement award -- the Elite 88. The award was later rebranded as the "Elite 90" Award and is now known as the "Elite Scholar-Athlete" Award. The Elite Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in their sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite Scholar-Athlete Award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
| Year |
Sport |
Recipient |
Institution |
GPA |
Class |
Major |
| 2024-25 |
Women's Hockey |
Elizabeth Fagerlind |
Augsburg |
4.000 |
Sr. |
Accounting and Finance |
| 2024-25 |
Women's Indoor Track & Field |
Hailey Gregg |
Bethel |
4.000 |
Sr. |
Elementary Education |
| 2023-24 |
Women's Indoor Track & Field |
Annessa Ihde |
Bethel |
4.000 |
Sr. |
International Relations |
| 2022-23 |
Women's Hockey |
Kayla Vrieze |
Gustavus |
3.989 |
Sr. |
Public Accounting |
| 2021-22 |
Women's Tennis |
Grace Riermann |
Bethel |
4.000 |
Sr. |
Mechanical Engineering |
| 2021-22 |
Men's Golf |
Nate Loxtercamp |
Saint John's |
4.000 |
So. |
Accounting |
| 2021-22 |
Men's Hockey |
Austin Koss |
Augsburg |
4.000 |
Jr. |
Finance and Marketing |
| 2021-22 |
Women's Hockey |
Kayla Vrieze |
Gustavus |
3.987 |
Sr. |
Public Accounting |
| 2019-20 |
Volleyball |
Hunter Weiss |
Saint Benedict |
4.000 |
Jr. |
Biology |
| 2018-19 |
Men's Golf |
Preston Kopel |
Saint John's |
4.000 |
So. |
Economics |
| 2018-19 |
Women's Basketball |
Kaia Porter |
St. Thomas |
3.940 |
So. |
Biology |
| 2018-19 |
Women's Hockey |
Madison Kolbow |
Hamline |
3.950 |
So. |
Biochemistry |
| 2016-17 |
Women's Basketball |
Paige Gernes |
St. Thomas |
4.000 |
Sr. |
Biology |
| 2016-17 |
Men's Soccer |
Andrew Stuempfig |
St. Thomas |
4.000 |
So. |
Mechanical Engineering |
| 2016-17 |
Men's Golf |
Mack Farley |
Saint John's |
3.960 |
Sr. |
Accounting and Economics |
| 2014-15 |
Women's Outdoor Track & Field |
Elizabeth Weiers |
Gustavus |
4.000 |
Sr. |
English |
| 2014-15 |
Men's Cross Country |
Brian Anderson |
St. Thomas |
4.000 |
Sr. |
Accounting |
| 2014-15 |
Men's Golf |
Alex Kapraun |
St. Thomas |
3.975 |
Sr. |
Actuarial Science |
| 2013-14 |
Women's Outdoor Track & Field |
Elizabeth Weiers |
Gustavus |
4.000 |
Jr. |
English |
| 2013-14 |
Women's Indoor Track & Field |
Lauren Rice |
Augsburg |
4.000 |
Sr. |
Communication Studies |
| 2012-13 |
Women's Hockey |
Carolyn Draayer |
Gustavus |
3.972 |
So. |
Communication Studies |
| 2012-13 |
Volleyball |
Kia Johnson |
St. Thomas |
3.961 |
Sr. |
Biology |
| 2012-13 |
Football |
Keegan Bragg |
St. Thomas |
3.982 |
Jr. |
Mechanical Engineering |
| 2011-12 |
Women's Hockey |
Marah Sobczak |
Gustavus |
3.858 |
Jr. |
Physics |
| 2011-12 |
Men's Golf |
Michael Mortensen |
St. Thomas |
3.935 |
Jr. |
Actuarial Science |
| 2010-11 |
Women's Hockey |
Sara Yungner |
Gustavus |
3.958 |
Sr. |
Biology |
| 2010-11 |
Volleyball |
Kia Johnson |
St. Thomas |
3.960 |
So. |
Biology |
| 2009-10 |
Women's Hockey |
Nara Higano |
Gustavus |
4.000 |
So. |
Physics |
| 2009-10 |
Women's Golf |
Kathryn Hauff |
Saint Benedict |
3.950 |
So. |
Political Science |
| All-Time NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award Winners |