INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Adding to her already illustrious career, Charlotte Frere has been named one of 21 female recipients of the 2026 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, the NCAA announced. Frere is the 45th recipient of the award in Augustana history and the first track and field student-athlete to earn the scholarship for the Vikings since 2019, and first female track and field student-athlete since 2013.

The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. Each sports season, the NCAA awards 21 scholarships to men and 21 to women across all three divisions for use in an accredited graduate or professional program. Frere receives a $10,000 scholarship for part-time or full-time graduate study at a university or professional school.

"I'm very grateful to receive this scholarship and appreciate the NCAA giving back to its student-athletes to further their education. Especially coming from a Division III school where scholarships are strictly for academics, this makes a big difference," said Frere. "I think this is an example of how we are students first and athletes second. This scholarship also encourages high-achieving student-athletes who plan to continue their education to challenge themselves academically, which is great."

Frere plans to take a gap year before applying to physician assistant school for the 2027-28 academic year.

A full list of the 2026 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients can be found HERE.

Frere concluded one of the most decorated seasons in NCAA Division III history in 2026 while pursuing a triple major in Biology, Kinesiology, and Pre-Physician Assistant studies. She became the first student-athlete in program history to win three consecutive NCAA outdoor discus national championships after breaking the 34-year-old NCAA Division III record with a throw of 56.59 meters at the Augustana Penultimate Qualifier. Frere was named the USTFCCCA National Women's Field Athlete of the Year, earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors in both the discus and shot put, and collected multiple CCIW and USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors throughout the season. A three-time CSC Academic All-District selection and two-time CSC Academic All-American, Frere is once again on the national ballot for CSC Academic All-America honors.

About the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Program

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage graduate education by rewarding the Association's most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. Athletics and academic achievements, campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership are evaluated. An equitable approach is employed in reviewing an applicant's nomination form to provide all student-athlete nominees an opportunity to receive the graduate award, regardless of sport, division, gender or race. In maintaining the highest broad-based standards in the selection process, the program aims to reward those individuals whose dedication and effort are reflective of those characteristics necessary to succeed and thrive through graduate study.