(Release Courtesy of MIT Athletics)

INDIANAPOLIS, IN. - MIT women's swimming and diving senior Annika Naveen has earned the NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2026 Women's Swimming and Diving Championship.  
  
Naveen, who won the NEWMAC Laurels of Academic Excellence at the conference meet this season, sports a 4.0 GPA and is pursuing her degree in Biological Engineering. She has earned two All-America honors so far at the meet and has collected 11 total in her career. She is also a three-time National Champion. Naveen is the second individual from the program to earn the award, joining Margaret Guo, who won the award in the 2014-15 season. 
  
The Elite Scholar Athlete 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 Scholar Athlete Award 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. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed. 
  
For more information on the Elite Scholar Athlete award winners, log on to https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2025/11/7/ncaa-elite-scholar-athlete-award.aspx. 

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 20 sports.