COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Throughout the last two weeks, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) released four academic awards.
 
The National Academic Squad, Scholars of Distinction, National Academic Team, and National Scholar-Athlete were announced between February 11-19, 2026.
 
Sixty Division I teams were honored with the National Academic Team award for having a team gpa of at least a 3.50 GPA in the fall 2025 semester. The Great Danes have earned this award five times in the last six seasons.
 
The NFHCA Scholars of Distinction award honors student-athletes who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or higher through the fall semester and were nominated by their coach. In 2025, more than 60 Division I student-athletes were honored, including four Great Danes.
 
Freshmen Mathilda Prada and Lillian Willis start their career with this prestigious award while junior Emma Staron is named an NFHCA Scholar of Distinction for the third time. Transfer Jenna Zunic earned the award in her first season as a Great Dane.
 
The NFHCA National Academic Squad includes all student-athletes who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher through the fall semester and were nominated by their coach. In 2025, more than 1,100 Division I student-athletes were on the list, including 10 Great Danes.
 
In addition to the two freshmen Scholars of Distinction, rookies Jette Kurz and Samantha Siter were on the National Academic Squad. Having transferred from a DII school, Emma Peeters makes it on the DI list for the first time in her career while junior Mara Küskes has earned the award for the second time.
 
Sophomore Sarah Salameh, junior Pilar Lorenzini, junior Emma Staron, and redshirt-senior Jenna Zunic have each been named to the National Academic Squad during all seasons of action.
 
To view the full release for each award, click here: National Academic Team | Scholars of Distinction | National Academic Squad
 
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