Shippensburg University

EASTON, Mass. - Shippensburg University women's field hockey junior Kristen Brooks was the inaugural recipient of the NCAA's Elite 88 award on Thursday night at the annual banquet for the Division II Field Hockey Championships. The award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average at the site of a national championship competition. 

Brooks is a marketing and international management major who has compiled a 3.96 grade-point average through four full semesters of coursework. She has twice been selected to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II National Academic Team.

The Elite 88 award was founded by the NCAA to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. It is presented to one student-athlete at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s 88 championships.

The Shippensburg University field hockey team will take on the No. 1-ranked Bloomsburg Huskies at 2 p.m. on Friday from W.B. Mason Stadium on the campus of Stonehill College. The winner of this national semifinal will advance to the National Championship game to be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday.