March 5, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) proudly announces the 2026 NAIA Scholar-Athletes for winter sports. Each semester, the NAIA Scholar-Athlete list celebrates student-athletes who excel in both academic and athletic arenas. This honor recognizes student-athletes in each of the winter sports who have excelled academically, including basketball.  A total of 659 women's basketball athletes had been named to NAIA Scholar Athlete honor.

To qualify as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, appear on the eligibility certificate for their sport, and have attended their institution for at least one full year. This year, the list features an impressive number of student-athletes who have met these rigorous standards.

Dakota State collected five athletes on the prestigious national academic award list.  They are (name – year – hometown – major):

• Tyler Beckwith – sophomore – business management – Lakeville, Minn.
• Taine Mitchell – graduate student – master's in education and technology – Adelaide, Australia
• Lukas Morgan – sophomore – cyber operations – Sioux Falls, S.D.
• Brayden Pankonen – junior – business finance – Dell Rapids, S.D.
• Nolan Segner – sophomore – business finance – Apple Valley, Minn.