Earns Inaugural Elite 88 for Men's Basketball

SALEM, Va. --- Randolph-Macon junior forward Kevin Voelkel was named the winner of the NCAA Elite 88 Award for Division III Men's Basketball during a pre-tournament banquet held at the Salem Civic Center Thursday evening. 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 88 championships. Voelkel fashions a 3.63 GPA while majoring in Business/Economics at R-MC.

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 initiative is the result of former NCAA President Myles Brand's desire to recognize student-athlete academic success on the Association's highest athletics stage.

This award is new for the 2009-10 school year and the first Elite 88 award was given out at the Division II Field Hockey Championship on November 13th.

This release is courtesy of the Randolph-Macon College sports information department.