SANTA CRUZ, Ca. – Helena Janku, a senior at the University of California, Santa Cruz, is the recipient of the Elite Scholar-Athlete award for the 2025 NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championship. She is the first UC Santa Cruz Banana Slug to win this honor in school history. Helena Janku, double majoring in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Conservation Science and Policy and Legal Studies, currently carries a 4.00 GPA. Janku was presented with the award during the NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championships on November 21 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Elite Scholar-Athlete award recognizes the true essence of student-athletes by honoring the individuals who have reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in their sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among their 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.
 
Helena Janku has been a true definition of what it means to be a student-athlete for her entire career with UC Santa Cruz. While a standout on the cross country course with two Individual Conference Championship crowns, four straight Coast-to-Coast team titles, three NCAA All-Region finishes, and four NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship appearances, Janku has excelled in the classroom just as well. Janku has earned three USTFCCCA All-Academic honors in her career as well as the 2024 C2C Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor. Additionally, Helena Janku was named the UC Santa Cruz Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second straight year last season.
 
With the Elite Scholar-Athlete Award, Helena Janku becomes the first Banana Slug in history to earn this prestigious honor and also stands as the first four time NCAA qualifier in program history.
 
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 based on the number of credits completed.

Click here for more information on the Elite Scholar-Athlete award winners.