As part of UIS Athletics' 15 Years of NCAA Division II Membership celebration, the department is highlighting 15 standout teams and 15 standout student-athletes who have shaped the Prairie Stars' Division II era. Each week, UIS features one team and one student-athlete, honoring the accomplishments, championship moments, and legacy-building performances that have defined Prairie Stars Athletics.

This week, UIS recognizes Elaine Grant as one of the 15 standout student-athletes whose performances helped define the Prairie Stars' Division II era. Hailing from Chillicothe, Ill., Grant has emerged as a consistent leader and clutch performer for UIS, establishing herself as one of the top golfers in program history.

Grant was a crucial piece of the 2023 GLVC Championship team, helping UIS advance to the match play semifinals after finishing third in stroke play—a position the team had reached six times since 2016. In match play, she led her opponent through 25 of 36 holes, making crucial putts down the stretch to secure the point for UIS and ultimately contribute to the team capturing the program's first GLVC Championship. The victory also earned the Prairie Stars an automatic bid to the NCAA Regional, where Grant tied for 17th individually as the team's No. 2 golfer, posting rounds of 77, 74, 75.

Grant continued to shine in her sophomore year, earning First Team All-GLVC honors by finishing third overall at the GLVC Championship and qualifying for the NCAA Division II National Championship as the top individual whose team did not make nationals at the NCAA DII East Regional. She became the second UIS women's golf athlete to qualify for nationals as an underclassman and only the third national qualifier in program history.z

Her junior season saw Grant once again lead the Prairie Stars in stroke play at the GLVC Championship, finishing fourth overall with rounds of 72, 74, and 81 (227). At the NCAA East Regional, she put together rounds of 77, 74, and 75 (226) to tie for 11th individually. As the top Prairie Stars golfer, she was in position to qualify for nationals, but a late surge by other competitors—including golfers from Wayne State and Indianapolis—bumped her just outside the qualifying spots, narrowly missing a national berth despite a strong performance.

Through her career, Grant has consistently been a top golfer for the Prairie Stars, setting the pace in tournament play and providing a reliable scoring presence. This senior season has already featured highlights, including winning the Dan Salisbury Memorial Collegiate Invitational in a two-hole playoff and a top-10 finish at the Emerald Coast Collegiate, earning her GLVC Player of the Week honors for the third time in her career. So far this season, she ranks No. 22 in the region and 159 nationally, with a scoring average of 75.6.

Over three and a half years, Grant has amassed a career scoring average of 76.2, placing her on track to finish among the top golfers in UIS history. A two-time All-GLVC selection and one-time national qualifier, her career has been defined by consistency, poise under pressure, and the ability to deliver when her team needed it most.

Elaine Grant's career embodies the balance of athletic excellence, competitive spirit, and leadership that defines Prairie Stars student-athletes. As she continues to build her legacy, she stands among the top performers in program history, inspiring future generations of UIS women's golfers. Grant closes out the 15 Years of NCAA Division II Membership series, celebrating 15 athletes and 15 teams who have left a lasting mark on Prairie Stars athletics.

As this series comes to an end, UIS recognizes the standout performers who have contributed to the success and distinction of the Prairie Stars. From hundreds of all-conference honorees to GLVC champions and student-athletes representing UIS on the national stage, countless athletes have carried the program's reputation far and wide over the past 15 years. This series offers a glimpse into some of the top performances and defining moments of the last decade and a half.

See the full list of honorees celebrating 15 years of Prairie Stars Division II excellence.