MALIBU, California – Jenna Sanchez of Pepperdine has received the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar award's top honor for the sport of women's swimming and diving.
 
For the past quarter-century, the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar awards, selected by the publication Diverse Issues in Higher Education, have recognized minority student-athletes that have at least a 3.5 grade-point average, are at least a sophomore academically and have been active on campus or in their communities. The magazine selects a winner from each NCAA sport.
 
Sanchez (Highland, Calif./Redlands East Valley HS), a junior who has a 3.87 GPA in Biology and Hispanic studies, helped lead the Waves to their first-ever Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference team title in 2022. She was on a pair of PCSC-winning relay teams this spring, as the 200 medley and 200 free relay teams both set school records. Sanchez was one of five Pepperdine student-athletes who competed at the CSCAA National Invitational Championships, where she broke her own school record in the 100 individual medley.
 
Over the past three seasons, Sanchez has earned a total of 14 All-PCSC first team honors (three in 2020, six in 2021 and five in 2022). She ranks among Pepperdine's all-time top 10 in four individual events. Sanchez also competed at the 2020 National Invitational Championships.
 
Academically, Sanchez earned PCSC All-Academic first team status in 2021 and is a three-time Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete. She has been an active member of Pepperdine's Waves Leadership Council while contributing to multiple projects, and taken part in Pepperdine's Step Forward Day.