Hope Shue of the NCAA Champion Middlebury women's lacrosse team has been named the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Division III Academic All-American of the Year. Shue is joined by University of Virginia swimmer Gretchen Walsh, Slippery Rock University football player Brayden Long and Oregon Tech baseball catcher Tyler Horner as the honorees representing their respective divisions. All four student-athletes are their school's first to be lauded with the prestigious award, while Shue becomes the first women's lacrosse player across any division to earn the accolade.

"I am so honored to be named this year's CSC Division III Academic All-American of the Year," said Shue. "I am incredibly grateful to my teammates, coaches, and trainers from the past four years who were there for me every step of the way. Middlebury Women's Lacrosse is a special program that has pushed me to be a better teammate, player, and person. This honor truly is a reflection of my entire team and the culture that our coaches and alumni have managed to cultivate."

Middlebury head coach Kate Livesay '03 shared the same sentiment for Shue, who graduated in May with a degree in neuroscience and a perfect 4.00 grade point average.

"Hope has modeled excellence in every sense of the word since she arrived at Middlebury," said Livesay. "She has trained and competed with the highest standards of discipline and commitment, inspiring and elevating her teammates every step of the way. Her academic pursuits have revealed this same level of intense devotion to achievement. Her recognition as the Division III Academic All-American of the Year is a true testament to her incredible work ethic and investment in the Middlebury community. We are so proud of her efforts!"

ABOUT THE HONOR

• Shue is the first women's lacrosse player across all three NCAA Divisions, NAIA and junior colleges to receive the accolade. The first honoree for the award was Brigham Young University men's basketball player Michael Smith in 1988.
• The Panther joins numerous female collegiate and international superstar athletes to be named the Academic All-America Team Member of the Year, including nine-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky (2018) and four-time WNBA and two-time NCAA Champion Maya Moore (2011).
• Shue became the school's first CSC At-Large/College Division Academic All-America Team Member of the Year on July 8. The at-large category is highly competitive in its own right, 12 sports vie for just 45 spots.

HONOREE HIGHLIGHTS

• Shue tallied national and conference recognition. The attacker earned Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) National Player and Attacker of the Year for the second consecutive campaign. Additionally, the Panther was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player and NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year.
• In her final campaign, she was named an IWLCA All-American, all-region and All-NESCAC First Team selection.
• Shue led the conference with 86 goals and 119 points. Both metrics broke the single-season marks in Middlebury history.
• The Panther has her name stamped throughout the career records. She is the all-time leader in points (391) and goals (301), and ranks in the top five in draw controls (231 - fourth) and assists (85 - fifth). 
• She extended her NCAA Division III record with 79 goals scored during postseason play. The next-highest is TCNJ's Lauren Dougher and former teammate Jane Earley '23 with 50.
• In her four years, the Panthers posted an 89-2 mark and won 53 straight games away from Peter Kohn Field.
• In the classroom, Shue earned the prestigious NCAA Elite 90 Award for the third-straight season, joining Zoe Stukenberg (Maryland) as the only women's lacrosse players across all three divisions to tally the honor.
• The attacker is one of two NCAA athletes to garner the Elite 90 Award three times and be a four-time national champion. Former North Dakota State and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Carson Wentz is the other.
• In May, Shue was honored with the Hazeltine-Klevenow Memorial Trophy, given to a Middlebury senior student-athlete who best combines outstanding ability in athletics and excellence in scholarship.
• Off the field, she volunteered at "Everybody Wins! VT", was a member of MiddCAM and MiddCORE, served as a two-year leader of Middlebury's Radical Health program and helped organize Community Suppers. She also participated in Middlebury's Special Olympics programs, worked as an ADA Special Assistant, a MiddCORE Intern and a daycare teacher.

"I am thrilled for Hope to be honored with what I believe is the most prestigious award for best combining academic and athletic excellence," said Assistant Director of Athletics Ali Paquette. "It is extra special for me, a longtime CSC member and board advisor, to have Hope be Middlebury's first CSC Division III Academic All-American of the Year. While Hope is outstanding on the lacrosse field and in the classroom, what many people don't know is how hard-working, humble, and kind she is. This award is a true testament to all of Hope's accomplishments over her career as a Panther, and I cannot think of a more deserving person."

AWARD HIGHLIGHTS

• Each awardee of the 16 Academic All-America Team Member of the Year categories is eligible for the honor. A special committee of CSC members weighs each submission and votes for a singular winner.

Shue is the first NESCAC athlete in conference history to tally the national honor.