Kristina Frahm, a senior at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is the recipient of the Elite 88 award for the 2011 NCAA Division I Women's Bowling Championship.
Frahm, majoring in accounting, currently carries a 3.96 GPA. She was presented the award during the NCAA Championship Banquet on Wednesday evening, the night before the NCAA women's bowling championship is set to begin in Taylor, Mich.
"I am honored by this award," said Frahm. "It is justification for me for all the work I put in over four years. I have been through a lot but through it all I have kept up with my work athletically and academically and this award kind of shows that the work paid off."
The Elite 88, 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 88 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 who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed. For more information on the Elite 88 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite88.
"Kristina is an amazing young lady," said head coach Sharon Brummell. "She means so much to me personally but has meant more to this team and university. I don't think people know what she has been through, but to do what she has done and be a success on the lanes and in the classroom is nothing short of awesome. And she has done it on a national scale."
Frahm is having quite a week. Earlier in the banquet she was named a First-Team All-American by the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA), her second selection to the First-Team and fourth All-American nod.
Earlier last week she was presented with the Richard Bernstein Achievement Award for Excellence during the 58th annual Honors Convocation ceremony.
The Bernstein award is an unrestricted gift, awarded to a UMES senior graduating in business, accounting, science, engineering, construction management technology, and mathematics or computer science. The recipient must demonstrate leadership abilities at school or in the community, effectiveness on an interpersonal basis, a high degree of integrity, the ability to work with others, outstanding performance in academic work, the potential for continued scholarly work and evidence of overcoming physical or personal obstacles to earn a degree.
Frahm leads her Lady Hawks into the 2011 NCAA Championship starting tomorrow morning at Skore Lanes in Taylor, Mich. Seeding matches start at 9:00 a.m. to determine the double-elimination matchups starting Friday. Log on to umeshawks.com to follow all the action.