June 16, 2010
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - The most recent graduate of the Arizona State University women's golf team, Juliana Murcia, added yet another honor to her resume. The Colombian native was named Pac-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, presented by Toyo Tires, for Women's Golf, as announced by Commissioner Larry Scott. Murcia is the second consecutive ASU women's golfer to earn this award after Azahara Munoz claimed the title last season.
Murcia recently graduated with her B.A. in Art with a 3.8 grade point average. At the annual NGCA Awards Banquet, she was recognized for her success on the course and in the classroom as she was named the 2010 recipient of the Edith Cummings Munson award given to the All-American with the highest GPA. Murcia is a three-time Pac-10 All-Academic First-Team selection and was also named Second-Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District.
She was one of the nation's top golfers this season and capped her career with first-team All-American accolades by both the NGCA and Golfweek. She was named First-Team All-Pac-10 and recorded four top three finishes this season. In order to be eligible for the Pac-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, student-athletes must be a senior (in athletics eligibility) on track to receive a degree, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, participate in at least 50% of the scheduled contests in the sport and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution. Each Pac-10 institution nominates one individual per sport, and the winners are selected by a committee of Pac-10 staff members at the conclusion of each sport's regular season. The athletic accomplishments of the nominees are a consideration in the voting for the award.
A Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be named in each of the Pac-10's 22 sponsored sports: baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's cross country, women's cross country, football, men's golf, women's golf, women's gymnastics, men's rowing, women's rowing, men's soccer, women's soccer, softball, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming & diving, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's track & field, women's track & field, women's volleyball, and wrestling.
Scholar-Athletes of the Year in each sport will receive a commemorative award. Toyo Tires will donate $1,000 to the scholarship funds of the institution's athletic department of each winner in recognition of their accomplishments.
"We are proud to honor these outstanding student-athletes in partnership with Toyo Tires," said Larry Scott, Commissioner of the Pac-10. "These student-athletes have shown a dedication to their sport and to their academics, and this award honors those achievements. We continue to be appreciative of the relationship with Toyo Tires and helping to recognize these deserving student-athletes and their accomplishments."