DURANGO, Colo. — Ashley Kelly was named as the Most Valuable Player Award for women's cross country at the 2011 Skyhawk Awards Banquet, held April 7 at the Student Union Ballroom.

“Ashley has meant everything to our program over the last four years,” said 11th-year FLC head volleyball coach Ken Flint. “She's sixth on the school's all-time list in the 5k, carries a 3.99 GPA and was our team captain for the second year in a row. She's also been a three-time RMAC All-Academic selection and three-time Academic All-America selection. She has set the standard very high for those that will follow in her footsteps. I couldn't be prouder of the way Ashley has represented herself as a runner, student, leader and representative of our Fort Lewis College family.”

Kelly, a 5-foot-5 senior from Brighton High School in Brighton, Colo., was a four-year letterwinner on the Skyhawk cross country team. She qualified for U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-America honors three times during her career based on her finishes in the NCAA Division II Central Regionals and her cumulative grade point average. She has also been recognized three times on the RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll and received the D2 Athletic Director's Association /WeatherPORT Academic Achievement Award.

Kelly also received the Dr. Troy Bledsoe Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award at the banquet. The awards are presented each year to the senior female and male student-athletes who best exemplify the balance of excellence in athletics and academics. The award is named after Bledsoe, who served as director of athletics at Fort Lewis College from 1974-92. He was also head golf coach and head women's basketball coach at various points of his FLC career. Bledsoe died on December 30, 2009, at the age of 83.

The Skyhawks finished ninth at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships and 17th at the NCAA Division II Central Regionals in 2010. Kelly is the only senior that the team loses to graduation.