2020
Diverse: Issues In Higher Education sponsors the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Awards to honor students of color who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the athletic field. Inspired by tennis legend Arthur Ashe, Jr.'s commitment to education as well as his love for the game of tennis, U.S. colleges and universities are invited to participate in this annual awards program by nominating their outstanding sports scholars. In addition to their athletic ability and academic performance, Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars demonstrate a commitment to community service and student leadership.
Male Sport Winners
Rodrigo Blankenship - Football
School: University of Georgia
Year: Graduate Student
Major: Broadcast Journalism (undergraduate), Emerging Media (graduate)
Male Sport Finalists
Dontelius Ross - Basketball
School: Jackson State University
Major: Sports Science
Aaron Boyd - Swimming
School: Virginia Tech
Year: Senior
Major: Business Information and Technology
Uriel Garcia - Soccer
School: University of Houston-Victoria
Year: Senior
Major: Kinesiology
Female Sport Winners
Raena Eldridge - Swimming & Diving
School: Texas A&M University
Year: Senior
Major: Animal Science and Genetics
Female Sport Finalists
Chanel Thomas - Soccer
School: University of Mississippi
Year: Senior
Major: Managerial Finance
Aashaka Desai - Golf
School: University of Delaware
Year: Senior
Major: Computer Science and Cognitive Science
Erica Ogwumike - Basketball
School: Rice University
Year: Graduate Student
Major: Kinesiology and Policy Studies
As the name denotes, the annual Ashe edition is part of the magazine’s quarter-century legacy of recognizing young, outstanding minority men and women who have distinguished themselves in their academic and athletic pursuits.
In addition to their athletic ability, students named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5, be at least a sophomore academically and be active on their campuses or in their communities.