Alyssa Scholten, a junior on the Calvin NCAA Division III Volleyball National Champion team, was named the recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 Award last week at the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship banquet in Oshkosh, Wis.
Scholten, who has a 4.0 grade-point average majoring in speech pathology, became the fifth Calvin student-athlete to earn the prestigious athletic and academic honor since inception in 2009.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, 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 his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
Scholten, a middle hitter from Byron Center, Mich., is one of two Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association student-athletes to receive the Elite 90 Award this fall. Alma's Kaitlyn Arnold was named the Elite 90 Award winner at the 2016 NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championship. All-time, 10 MIAA student-athletes have received the Elite 90 Award 14 times.
All-Time MIAA Elite 90 Award Winners
Kellen Beckwith | Olivet | Men's Swimming & Diving | 2009-10 |
Melissa Oosterhouse | Calvin | Women's Tennis | 2009-10 |
Kellen Beckwith | Olivet | Men's Swimming & Diving | 2010-11 |
Brad Wasink | Calvin | Men's Soccer | 2011-12 |
Chelsea Wiese | Hope | Women's Swimming & Diving | 2011-12 |
Michelle Kerr | Hope | Women's Cross Country | 2013-14 |
Jayne Kessel | Hope | Volleyball | 2013-14 |
Jayne Kessel | Hope | Volleyball | 2014-15 |
Brett Stoughton | Calvin | Men's Swimming & Diving | 2014-15 |
John Admiraal | Calvin | Men's Soccer | 2015-16 |
Michelle Kerr | Hope | Women's Cross Country | 2015-16 |
Kaitlyn Arnold | Alma | Women's Outdoor Track & Field | 2015-16 |
Kaitlyn Arnold | Alma | Women's Cross Country | 2016-17 |
Alyssa Scholten | Calvin | Volleyball | 2016-17 |