Five Waves Named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars
7/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 8, 2010
MALIBU, Calif. - For exemplifying high standards of scholarship, athleticism and humanitarianism Pepperdine Waves Miranda Ayim, Tyler Brubaker, Karissa Garcia, Alejandro Moreno and Rodnei Santos have all been recognized by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education as Arthur Ashe Jr. 2010 Sports Scholars.
The bi-monthly magazine, which can be found at newsstands and online at diverseeducation.com, established the Sports Scholars Awards to honor undergraduate students of color who have made achieving in the classroom and on the field a winning combination. To be included, student-athletes have to compete in an intercollegiate sport, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 and be active on their campuses or in their communities.
Ayim (London, Ontario /Saunders Secondary) graduated from Pepperdine in May with a degree in public relations following a decorated career with the women's basketball team.
The center was named to the All-West Coast Conference first team for the third time in 2010, becoming only the fourth player in Pepperdine history to earn first team honors three times and the first since 2002. She was also a two-time WCC Player of the Week in 2010 and made the All-Tournament teams at the WCC Championships and the Arizona State Classic. She helped Pepperdine to 20 wins and a spot in the postseason WNIT.
Brubaker (Valencia, Calif./Saugus HS), a junior outfielder who is a business administration major, appeared in 27 games, hit two home runs and produced 10 RBI this season. He was tabbed to the West Coast Conference Spring All-Academic team earlier this month.
Garcia (Roseville, Calif./Oakmont HS), a junior, made her way onto the soccer pitch in 13 matches and started seven. Her community service endeavors include serving as an instructor at the Malibu Soccer Academy camps and playing with members of the Junior Waves Club at Bluffs Park.
Moreno (Queretaro, Mexico/John F. Kennedy School), a two-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar, has also been selected to the WCC All-Academic team and previously earned WCC Commissioner's Honor Roll "silver" honors.
Santos (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Campos Salles/BYU), another two-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar, made the MPSF All-Academic team for the third time following a senior campaign in which he averaged 2.24 kills, 1.09 blocks and 0.33 digs while hitting .403.
The annual awards program is inspired by tennis legend Arthur Ashe Jr.'s commitment to education. A winner of three Grand Slam titles, Ashe was awarded a tennis scholarship to UCLA in 1963, the same year he became the first African American ever selected to the United States Davis Cup team.
In 1965, Ashe won the NCAA singles title and contributed to UCLA's winning of the NCAA tennis championship.
University of Georgia gymnast Marcia Newby was selected as the top female-student athlete for the 2010 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award. Darius Law, a junior runner at UNC Charlotte with a 4.0 GPA, was named top male student-athlete.
