VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Shippensburg University junior Lucy Kauffman was the recipient Thursday evening of the 2013 Elite 89 award at the 2013 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championships.

Kauffman is majoring in pre-pharmacy and minoring in biochemistry. She has compiled a 3.925 grade-point average through 65 credit hours. Last season, Kauffman was recognized by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) as a 2012 Gladiator by SGI Division II Scholar of Distinction and is a two-time selection to the NFHCA All-Academic Team.

In the five-year history of the award, Shippensburg has now been the recipient three times for Division II Field Hockey. Kristen Brooks was the first Elite 88 award winner in history back in 2009 and repeated the honor in 2010. West Chester's Nancy Stehman earned the award in each of the last two seasons.

The NCAA Elite 89 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, who must be at least a sophomore in both academic and athletic standing, with the highest grade point average at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 89 championships across all three divisions - I, II and III. Named the Elite 88 Award in its first two years of existence, it was renamed the Elite 89 for the 2011-12 academic year after the addition of one more NCAA championship.