Arlington, Va. – (11/11/2025) – Presented at the championship site to the competing student-athlete with the highest grade-point average (GPA), the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Elite Scholar Award – formerly the "Elite 20" – honors the highest achievement in academics and athletics by a student-athlete in each Atlantic East-sponsored sport. Gwynedd Mercy University senior defender/midfielder Kyra Malloy (Limerick, Pa.) is the first Griffin to be recognized with the award as the social work major is the proud owner of a perfect 4.0 GPA.

2025 All-AEC Women's Soccer Team and Major Award Winners
 
Formerly known as the AEC Elite 20 Award, the honor was modeled after the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Elite Scholar Athlete Academic Recognition Award Program. The AEC Elite Scholar Athlete award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA competing at the finals site for each conference-sponsored sport. The selection process varies for team and individual sports and winners are chosen from a list of nominations submitted by league institutions. For the team sports of soccer, volleyball, field hockey, basketball, flag football, tennis, baseball, softball and lacrosse, the winner will be chosen from the two teams participating in the championship game or match. For cross country, swimming and track & field, the winners will be chosen from the top two team finishers at the championship.
 
Malloy joined the Gwynedd Mercy University women's soccer team in 2023 and quickly established herself as an asset to the program. On the field, she served as a valuable reserve, appearing in 48 games over three seasons. She totaled five shots during her junior season (2024) and recorded her first point as a senior (2025) with assist on the Griffins' third goal (3-0, 29:00) of a 6-1 victory over Penn State Schuylkill (Oct. 1).

Meanwhile, Malloy's work in the classroom has been recognized with several academic accolades. Most recently, she was one of 86 Griffins recognized on the 2024-2025 Eastern Athletic Communications Association (EAST-COMM) Academic Honor Rolls. Prior to that she garnered a spot on the 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Academic All-District Team. She is a three-time member of the Gwynedd Mercy University Athletic Academic Elite (F2023, F2024, S2025) and was recognized on the 2024-2025 AEC All-Academic Team.