(UPDATED JUNE OF 2022)
Back in the summer of 2007, the Pac-12 offices (then the Pac-10) decided to honor a Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year to recognize its outstanding senior student-athletes.
Since that time, nearly 40 Sun Devils have earned the honor, second-most in the Pac-12. They have ranged from quarterbacks (Taylor Kelly), NCAA team champions (softball's Jackie Vazquez), NBA Draft picks (Carrick Felix) and the 2007-08 CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for women's track (April Kubishta). Three times five Sun Devils have earned the honor in a single year, while at least one Sun Devil has earned the honor every year. Seven women's golfers have won the award, while five softball players have earned the honor.
TOTAL PAC-12 SCHOLAR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR BY SCHOOL
(UPDATED JUNE OF 2022, INCLUDES ALL 2021-22 WINNERS)
Stanford, 105
Arizona State, 39
California, 29
Arizona, 28
Washington, 22
UCLA, 21
USC, 20
Oregon, 19
Oregon State, 14
Washington State, 13
Colorado, 9
Utah, 9
Cal State Bakersfield, 3
Boise State, 1
The Nomination criteria are:
- senior (in athletics eligibility) on track to receive a degree
- cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher
- participation in at least 50% of the scheduled contest in the sport
- minimum of one year in residence at the institution
Each Pac-12 institution nominates one individual per sport, and the winners will be selected by a committee of Pac-12 staff members at the conclusion of each sport's regular season. The athletic accomplishments of the nominees will be a consideration in the voting for the award.
SUN DEVIL PAC-12 SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR WINNERS (39)
2021-22 (2)
Alexandra Forsterling, Women's Golf (B.A., Film and Media Production - Digital Culture, May of 2022)
Anthony Valencia, Wrestling (B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021)
2020-21 (2)
Olivia Mehaffey, Women's Golf (B.S., Sociology, May of 2020; Masters in Organizational Leadership)
Samantha Plaster, Beach Volleyball (B.S., Kinesiology, May of 2020)
2019-20 (1)
Tanner Hall, Wrestlling (BSE, Electrical Engineering, May of 2019)
2018-19 (1)
Anne Kuhm, Gymnastics (B.A. Liberal Studies, May of 2019)
2017-18 (1)
Roberta Liti, Women's Golf (B.A., Business-Sports & Media Studies, B.S., Management)
2016-17 (2)
Clayton Albertson, Men’s Track and Field (MPE, Physical Education, May of 2017)
Keyasia Tibbs, Women’s Track and Field (B.A., The Arts, May of 2017)
2015-16 (1)
Mike Bercovici, Football (B.S., Biological Sciences, May of 2013)
2014-15 (4)
Taylor Kelly, Football (BAE, Educational Studies, May of 2014)
Chace Eskam, Wrestling (B.S., Pshychology; Sociology minor, May of 2015)
Noemi Jimenez, Women's Golf (B.I.S., Interdisciplinary Studies Concentrations in Business and Tourism Development & Management, May of 2015)
Amber Freeman, Softball (B.S., Health Sciences, May of 2015)
2013-14 (1)
Jasmine Roth, Soccer (B.S., Biochemistry, May of 2014)
2012-13 (5)
Jacqueline Cako, Tennis (B.S., Biological Sciences, May of 2013)
Carrick Felix, Men's Basketball (B.S., Communication, May of 2012)
Nick Happe, Men's Track & Field and Men's Cross Country (B.S., Finance, May of 2013)
**Happe won separate awards
Jake Meredith, Wrestling (B.I.S. Business and Urban Planning, May of 2012)
2011-12 (3)
Giulia Molinaro, Women's Golf (B.S., Tourism Development and Management, December of 2012)
Katelyn Boyd, Softball (B.S., Family and Human Development, May of 2012)
Elina Eggers, Women's Swimming and Diving (B.S., Economics, May of 2012)
2010-11 (3)
Rihards Kuksiks, Men's Basketball (B.I.S. Interdisciplinary Studies Concentrations in Communications and Sociology, May of 2011)
Mary Atkinson, Gymnastics (B.S. Biological Sciences Emphasis in Genetics and Cell and Developmental Biology, May of 2011)
Lesley Rogers, Softball (B.A. Sociology, May of 2011)
2009-10 (5)
Brandon Bethke, Men's Cross Country (B.I.S. Interdisciplinary Studies Emphasis in Organizational Studies, May of 2010)
Mike Nixon, Football (B.A. Political Science, December of 2009)
Knut Borsheim, Men's Golf (B.S. Finance, Certificate in International Business Studies, December of 2010)
Juliana Murcia, Women's Golf (B.F.A. Art Emphasis in Sculpture, May of 2010)
Ryan Whiting, Men's Track and Field (B.S.E Civil Engineering, May of 2010)
2008-09 (5)
Sybil Dosty, Women's Basketball (B.I.S. Interdisciplinary Studies Concentrations in African & African American Studies and Communication, August of 2008)
Jenna Kingma, Women's Cross Country (B.S. Marketing, May of 2008)
Azahara Muñoz, Women's Golf (B.A. Psychology, May of 2009)
Jessica Mapes, Softball (B. S. Family and Human Development, May of 2009)
Sarah Stevens, Women's Track and Field (B.S. Kinesiology, May of 2008)
2007-08 (3)
Jackie Vasquez, Softball (B.A.E. Special Education (December of 2008)
Steve Neuwert, Men's Swimming and Diving (B.S. Finance, December of 2008)
April Kubishta, Women's Track and Field (B.A. Mathematics of May 2007)
PAC-12 SCHOLAR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
2020-21: Stanford 9, Arizona State 2, Arizona 2, California 2, UCLA 1, Oregon State (1)
(note:lacrosse, softball and men's and women's track and field to be added)
2019-20: Stanford, 3, UCLA 2, Arizona, Arizona State, California, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State
2018-19: Stanford 11, Oregon 2, Washington 2 (Arizona State, California, Colorado, Oregon State, UCLA, USC, and Utah)
2017-18: USC 5, Stanford 4, California 3, Colorado 3, UCLA 2, (Arizona, ASU, Oregon, Oregon State, Utah and Washington State with one each)
2016-17: Stanford 6, Oregon State 3, Arizona State 2, Arizona 2, Colorado 2, USC 2, Washington 2, Washington State 2 (California and UCLA with one each)
2015-16: Stanford 8, California 3, USC 2, Utah, 2, Washington 2 (Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Oregon State, Oregon, CSU Bakersfield with one each)
2014-15: Stanford 5, Arizona 4, Arizona State 4, UCLA 4, Utah 2, Washington 2 (California and USC with one each)
2013-14: Stanford 6, Arizona 6, California 2, UCLA 2, USC 2 (Arizona State, CSU Bakersfield, Oregon, Washington State)
2012-13: Arizona State 5, Stanford 5, California 3, Oregon 3, (Arizona, Oregon State, UCLA, USC, Washington and Washington State one each)
2011-12: Stanford 8, Arizona State 3, California 3, Washington 3, Oregon 2 (Oregon State, Utah, Washington State)
2010-11: Stanford 9, Arizona State 3, California 3, Oregon 2, USC 2, (Boise State, Oregon State and Washington one each)
2009-10: Stanford 7, Arizona State 5, Washington 3, Arizona 2, Oregon 2 (USC, UCLA and Washington State with one each)
2008-09: Arizona State 5, Stanford 4, Oregon 3, UCLA 2, Washington State 2 (Arizona, California, CSU Bakersfield, Oregon State, USC and Washington
2007-08: Stanford 6, Arizona 4, Arizona State 3, UCLA 3, Oregon State 2, Washington State 2 (California and Washington one each)
SUN DEVIL PAC-12 SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR WINNERS BY SPORT
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Carrick Felix, Men's Basketball (B.S., Communication, May of 2012)
Rihards Kuksiks, Men's Basketball (B.I.S. Interdisciplinary Studies Concentrations in Communications and Sociology, May of 2011)
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Sybil Dosty, Women's Basketball (B.I.S. Interdisciplinary Studies Concentrations in African & African American Studies and Communication, August of 2008)
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Samantha Plaster, Beach Volleyball (B.S., Kinesiology, May of 2020)
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Nick Happe, Men's Track & Field and Men's Cross Country (B.S., Finance, May of 2013)
Brandon Bethke, Men's Cross Country (B.I.S. Interdisciplinary Studies Emphasis in Organizational Studies, May of 2010)
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Jenna Kingma, Women's Cross Country (B.S. Marketing, May of 2008)
FOOTBALL
Mike Bercovici, Football (B.S., Biological Sciences, May of 2013)
Taylor Kelly, Football (BAE, Educational Studies, May of 2014)
Mike Nixon, Football (B.A. Political Science, December of 2009)
MEN'S GOLF
Knut Borsheim, Men's Golf (B.S. Finance, Certificate in International Business Studies, December of 2010)
WOMEN'S GOLF
Alexandra Forsterling, Women's Golf (B.A., Film and Media Production - Digital Culture, May of 2022)
Olivia Mehaffey, Women's Golf (B.S., Sociology, May of 2020; Masters in Organizational Leadership)
Roberta Liti, Women's Golf (B.A., Business-Sports & Media Studies, B.S., Management, May of 2018)
Noemi Jimenez, Women's Golf (B.I.S., Interdisciplinary Studies Concentrations in Business and Tourism Development & Management, May of 2015)
Giulia Molinaro, Women's Golf (B.S., Tourism Development and Management, December of 2012)
Juliana Murcia, Women's Golf (B.F.A. Art Emphasis in Sculpture, May of 2010)
Azahara Muñoz, Women's Golf (B.A. Psychology, May of 2009)
GYMNASTICS
Anne Kuhm, Gymnastics (B.A. Liberal Studies, May of 2019)
Mary Atkinson, Gymnastics (B.S. Biological Sciences Emphasis in Genetics and Cell and Developmental Biology, May of 2011)
SOCCER
Jasmine Roth, Soccer (B.S., Biochemistry, May of 2014)
SOFTBALL
Amber Freeman, Softball (B.S., Health Sciences, May of 2015)
Katelyn Boyd, Softball (B.S., Family and Human Development, May of 2012)
Jessica Mapes, Softball (B. S. Family and Human Development, May of 2009)
Lesley Rogers, Softball (B.A. Sociology, May of 2011)
Jackie Vasquez, Softball (B.A.E. Special Education (December of 2008)
MEN'S SWIMMING/DIVING
Steve Neuwert, Men's Swimming and Diving (B.S. Finance, December of 2008)
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Elina Eggers, Women's Swimming and Diving (B.S., Economics, May of 2012)
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Jacqueline Cako, Tennis (B.S., Biological Sciences, May of 2013)
MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
Clayton Albertson, Men’s Track and Field (MPE, Physical Education, May of 2017)
Nick Happe, Men's Track & Field and Men's Cross Country (B.S., Finance, May of 2013)
Ryan Whiting, Men's Track and Field (B.S.E Civil Engineering, May of 2010)
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
Keyasia Tibbs, Women’s Track and Field (B.A., The Arts, May of 2017)
Sarah Stevens, Women's Track and Field (B.S. Kinesiology, May of 2008)
April Kubishta, Women's Track and Field (B.A. Mathematics of May 2007)
WRESTLING
Tanner Hall, Wrestlling (BSE, Electrical Engineering, May of 2019)
Chace Eskam, Wrestling (B.S., Pshychology; Sociology minor, May of 2015)
Jake Meredith, Wrestling (B.I.S. Business and Urban Planning, May of 2012)