UW-Eau Claire’s Behnke Earns NCAA Division III Elite Scholar-Athlete Award

**Release and graphic courtesy of UW-Eau Claire Sports Information

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--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 Track & Field Championship.

Behnke is double majoring in computer sciences and mathematics, statistics and applied mathematics, and carries a 4.0 grade point average. She was presented with the award during the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championship on March 14. Behnke is the third Blugold to win the award, joining Rachel Treadway (women’s swimming & diving - 2016) and Erin Schoenfelder (women's indoor track & field - 2013).

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.

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