(SALEM, VA) - Trine University senior Emma Lee has received the Elite Scholar-Athlete award for the 2026 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.
Lee, an Elementary Education and Special Education Dual Licensure major, completed her senior year with a 4.0 grade-point average. She received the award during the championship banquet Tuesday in Salem, Virginia.
The Cottage Grove, Wisconsin native becomes the first Trine softball player to earn the honor. She also becomes the second Thunder student-athlete in the past three years to receive the award, joining Evan Lumbrezer from Trine's 2024 NCAA Division III men's basketball championship team.
Earlier Tuesday, Lee was also named an NFCA All-American for the first time in her career.
Trine says Lee has been a standout both offensively and defensively during her four seasons with the program. The senior center fielder posted career-best numbers this season in RBIs, hits, slugging percentage and home runs while ranking among the top 20 nationally in six statistical categories.
The Elite Scholar-Athlete award, formerly known as the Elite 90 award, recognizes student-athletes competing at the finals site of NCAA championships who also hold the highest cumulative GPA among their peers. Eligible recipients must be sophomores or above academically and have participated in their sport for at least two years at their school.