(Mansfield, Mass.) - SNHU sophomore softball player Shannon Gifford (Goffstown, N.H.) was honored this spring by the Northeast-10 Conference with its Elite 24 award.

The Elite 24 Award honors the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA participating at the finals site at each NE10 Championship.  Gifford, a Sports Management Major, earned a 3.98 GPA.  She played in all 44 SNHU softball games this season, compiling a .261 average with 17 RBI.  

Shannon is the fourth Penmen overall to win the award and third this school year.   Track & Field athletes Kelsey Seamans and Sarah Zarakotas also earned an Elite 24 award in 2021-22.  The award was introduced in 2018-19.   Hockey's Kyle Galloway earned the Elite 24 in the inaugural season.

ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete. 
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes. 
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