TEMPE—Sun Devil Athletics saw a department record 38 student-athletes named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars for 2016, the organization announced in the April issue of Diverse: Issues In Higher Education.
Sun Devil football earned seven honorees, while the combined efforts of Sun Devil volleyball and beach volleyball earned six, and Sun Devil soccer posted five honorees.
Football’s Nick Kelly, named to the Third Team, was also the only male semifinalist for the Arthur Ashe Jr. award from a Pac-12 institution.
ASU’s total of 38 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars leads the Pac-12 by a margin of 28 honorees. The No. 2 school in the conference had 10 student-athletes recognized for their academic efforts.
Nominees for Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars recognition must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a student of color.
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 grading scale or its equivalent through the Fall ’15 term.
- Must have completed one full academic year at the nominating institution.
- Must have been enrolled for the Fall term of the academic year being nominated.
- Must be an active member of an intercollegiate athletic team during the 2015-2016 academic year.
- Must have a demonstrated record of service to the campus or community.
Complete List of Sun Devil Athletics’ Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars
Women’s Basketball (3)
First Team: Elisha Davis
Fourth Team: Peace Amukamara, Tiare Kanoa
Football (7)
First Team: Frank Ogas, Brady White
Second Team: Gary Chambers, Cameron Smith
Third Team: Nick Kelly
Fourth Team: Solomon Means, Joshua Popraka
Women’s Golf (2)
First Team: Roberta Liti
Gymnastics (2)
First Team: Carissa Kraus, Allie Salas
Soccer (5)
First Team: Whitney Kanavel, Alyssa Martinez
Second Team: Tommi Goodman
Fourth Team: Jazmarie Mader, Rachel Ometer
Softball (4)
First Team: Breona Peralta, Jennifer Soria
Second Team: Katee Aguriee, Sashel Palacios
Men’s Swimming and Diving (2)
First Team: Brandon Mills, Sean Kao
Women’s Tennis (1)
Third Team: Kassidy Jump
Men’s Track and Field (3)
First Team: Jeff Bickert, Jamol James
Second Team: Trevor Landry
Women’s Track and Field (3)
First Team: Kiera Bulluck
Third Team: Melese Crozier
Fourth Team: Kendra Purifoye
Volleyball & Beach Volleyball (6)
First Team: Bianca Arellano, Frances Giedraitis
Second Team: Mia Mazon, Mia Rivera
Third Team: Bree Bailey, Sydney Palmer
Wrestling (1)
First Team: Cord Coronado