The University of Minnesota Duluth's DaShaun Ames was named the 2025 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for football as he held the highest cumulative grade point average from student-athletes competing on an NSIC Championship football program. Ames is a senior majoring in physical education and holds a 3.96 cumulative grade point average.  

UMD won its 22nd NSIC Championship and 13th North Division title this season after finishing with a 9-1 NSIC record and a 5-1 mark in the North Division.  

As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration during the 2016-17 academic year, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in their sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among their peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC's 18 Championships.

A team captain and native of Cumberland, Wisconsin and Cumberland High School grad, Ames was awarded his second career all-conference selection this season. The wide receiver earns the honor after gaining 238 yards on 23 receptions. He scored two touchdowns and returned seven kickoffs for a combined 151 yards. He has earned the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award and has been named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence and the CSC Academic All-American Second Team.  For his career, he has played in 39 games for UMD with 98 receptions for 1,648 yards and 16 touchdowns.