EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (www.blugolds.com)--- Kayla Behnke, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, is the recipient of the Elite Scholar-Athlete award for the 2025 NCAA Division III Women's Indoor Championship.

Kayla, double majoring in Computer Sciences / Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics, currently carries a 4.0 GPA. Behnke was presented with the award during the NCAA Division III Indoor Championship on Saturday afternoon in Birmingham, Alabama. Kayla is the third Blugold in department history to win the award since the introduction of the award in 2009. Rachel Treadway of Blugold Swimming and Diving won the award durign the 2015-16 season and Erin Schoenfelder of Blugold women's track and field was the first UWEC student athlete to receive the award back in 2012-13 season.

The Elite Scholar-Athlete award recognizes the true essence of student-athletes by honoring the individuals who have reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in their sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among their 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.

Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken based on the number of credits completed.

For more information on the Elite Scholar-Athlete award winners, log on to https://www.ncaa.org/elitescholarathlete.