LOUISVILLE – Shippensburg University women's field hockey senior Kristen Brooks was the recipient of the NCAA's 'Elite 88' award on Thursday afternoon at the 2010 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 management major who has compiled a 3.97 grade-point average through six full semesters of coursework. She is a multiple selection to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II National Academic Team.

She becomes the first athlete to win the 'Elite 88' award twice in the same sport – having won the award at last year's field hockey national championships hosted by Stonehill College.

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.