Frere, a senior thrower from Sherrard, Ill., earned the CCIW's highest annual honor for a female student-athlete after completing one of the most accomplished careers in Augustana, CCIW and NCAA Division III track & field history. A three-time national champion, Division III record holder, national field athlete of the year and two-time First Team Academic All-American, Frere's career reflects the full measure of Division III excellence: elite competitive achievement, academic distinction, service and leadership.

Her selection came from a remarkable 2025-26 nominee field that included multiple All-Americans, Academic All-Americans, conference players and athletes of the year, national qualifiers, school record holders and campus leaders. The depth of the field only further underscored the magnitude of Frere's achievement and the strength of women's athletics across the CCIW.

"Charlotte Frere represents the very best of the CCIW and Division III athletics," CCIW Executive Director Lexie Vernon said. "Her résumé is historic, but what makes her so deserving of this honor is the completeness of her student-athlete experience. She competed at a national-championship level, excelled in a demanding academic path, served her campus and community, and did it all with consistency, humility and purpose. Charlotte has set a standard that will be remembered for a long time."

Frere closed her Augustana career as a three-time NCAA Division III national champion in the discus, winning outdoor national titles in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Her third consecutive national championship made her the first women's track & field student-athlete in Augustana history to win three straight national titles.

Her senior season included one of the most significant performances in Division III track & field history. Frere recorded the furthest discus throw in NCAA Division III history, a mark that established her as the all-time Division III leader in the event. She went on to earn USTFCCCA National Female Field Athlete of the Year honors in 2026 after a season that confirmed her place among the top throwers in the history of the division.

At the conference level, Frere was equally dominant. She was a two-time CCIW champion in the discus, winning conference titles in 2025 and 2026. At the 2026 CCIW Outdoor Track & Field Championships, she added a hammer throw conference title and a runner-up finish in the shot put, showcasing her range across the throwing events and delivering critical points for the Vikings.

Frere's national résumé also includes four NCAA Championship appearances, three First Team All-America honors from 2024 through 2026, Augustana's school record in the discus, and USTFCCCA Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year honors in 2025 and 2026. She helped lead Augustana to a fifth-place team finish at the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the Vikings' highest team honor during her career.

While Frere's athletic accomplishments are extraordinary, her academic success is equally impressive. A Biology and Kinesiology major, Frere compiled a 3.96 cumulative grade-point average and earned Dean's List honors every semester. She was named a College Sports Communicators First Team Academic All-American in both 2024 and 2025, earned CSC Academic All-District recognition from 2024 through 2026, and received USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.

Her academic path reflects both excellence and ambition. As a Biology and Kinesiology student preparing for a future in the health professions, Frere balanced the demands of a rigorous academic schedule with the training and competition expectations of one of the nation's premier Division III throwers.

Frere also made an impact beyond competition and the classroom. She was active in Delta Chi Theta Sorority throughout her four years at Augustana, participating in meetings, local fundraising events, food drives and new member activities. She was also involved with Beta Beta Beta National Biology Honor Society, participating in events such as National Marrow Donor Program activities and institutional suture clinics.

Her service extended into youth mentorship and sport leadership. Frere volunteered at Augustana's National Women in Sport Day event, helping lead a guided sport exposure clinic for local middle school and junior high students. She also served as a youth coach and mentor with FASST Track Club during a five-week track camp, sharing her experience with young athletes and helping introduce the next generation to the sport.

The CCIW Women's Student-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to the conference's top senior women's student-athlete. Nominees are evaluated on athletic achievement, academic accomplishment, service and leadership, and the personal qualities demonstrated throughout their collegiate careers.

Frere's selection adds another landmark achievement to a career already defined by historic performance. She leaves Augustana as a national champion, record holder, Academic All-American, campus leader and one of the most decorated student-athletes in CCIW history.

"Charlotte did more than win championships," Vernon said. "She built a career that shows what is possible when talent, discipline, intelligence and character all come together. She has represented Augustana and the CCIW with distinction, and this honor is a fitting celebration of everything she has accomplished."

Frere is Augustana's recipient of the 2025-26 CCIW Women's Student-Athlete of the Year award and one of the most accomplished honorees in the history of the conference's annual recognition program. She will be nominated as the CCIW representative for the Division III Commissioner's Association National Woman of the Year Award.

Frere was also named one of 42 spring recipients of the 2025-26 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, earning a $10,000 award to support graduate study. The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program recognizes student-athletes who have completed their final season of competition and demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, athletic excellence, campus involvement, community service and leadership. Frere was one of 21 women selected nationally for the spring award and was recognized among the women's honorees in outdoor track & field.