ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Florida Southern College's Charlie Laye is the recipient of the Elite Scholar-Athlete Award, formerly known as the Elite 90, for the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse Championship, announced by the NCAA Thursday in Rochester, N.Y.
 
Laye graduated from Florida Southern in May of 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in accounting while carrying a 3.964 GPA. She went on to complete her Master of Accountancy this spring and graduated earlier this month. She continued her strong academics in graduate school as she completed her master's with a 3.933 GPA. Laye was presented with the award prior to the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship semifinals Thursday afternoon in Rochester, N.Y. Laye is the ninth Moccasin awarded the Elite Scholar-Athlete/Elite 90, and the second from women's lacrosse. Ludwig Mueller was the last FSC student-athlete awarded the honor at the 2023 men's swimming and diving national championship. Julia Couch was the last from women's lacrosse awarded the Elite 90 award at the 2018 championship.
 
Laye has been a standout of the Florida Southern defense with 30 caused turnovers. She also leads the team in ground balls with 39. She was an All-SSC First Team selection earlier this month and was named USA Lacrosse Second Team All-America. She has tallied a pair of goals this season and is credited with an assist. Her goals came in a victory over Tampa on April 4 and versus Florida Tech on April 14. She is a four-time Sunshine State Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll recipient and is a two-time First Team All-SSC selection. She was named IWLCA All-South Region Second Team last season and moved up to the First Team in 2026. A 2025 CSC Academic All-District selection, she also earned IWLCA Academic Honor Squad last season.
 
The NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete award honors the exceptional achievements of student-athletes. This prestigious accolade is given to those who have not only excelled at a national championship level in their sport but have also achieved the highest academic standards among their peers. The Elite Scholar-Athlete is proudly awarded to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
 
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a 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, CLICK HERE.