BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Bemidji State's Carolyn Smith earned the NSIC Elite 18 Award for women's soccer as she held the highest grade point average and most completed credits among the 16 soccer teams. She is the fourth student-athlete from Bemidji State to earn the NSIC Elite 18 Award, joining Allyna Storms (2020 - ODTF),  Anna Fobbe (2017 - soccer) and Ben Skaar (2017 - men's golf) as the only Beavers to earn the honor.

Smith, a senior from Grand Forks, North Dakota and graduate of Grand Forks Central High School, holds 4.0 grade point average as she majors in psychology and minoring in music and substance behaviors. She is a three-time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence recipient and earned the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award in 2019. During her career, she has played in 35 matches for the Beavers, including seven in 2019, where she logged 63 minutes.   

“Carolyn represents everything that is right about college athletics. In Carolyn, you see the model student-athlete. The student-athlete who as defined, places an enormous priority on scholastic excellence while still having the discipline, focus and drive to be a high level athlete. In addition, Carolyn is a person of character who has always carried herself with the understanding that others are watching and as we watched, we witnessed hard-work, kindness and growth. We witnessed an incredible soccer player and student who made us a better team and made us better people,” stated Bemidji State Head Women's Soccer Coach Jim Stone.

As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC’s 18 Championships.