Lacrosse's Megan Pinkerton Named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Semifinalist

FAIRFAX, Va. - Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine has announced the Top 15 male and female semifinalists for the 2016 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award, and the list includes Temple lacrosse senior Megan Pinkerton.

Pinkerton, an early childhood education major out of Lancaster, Pa., was one of over 1,000 male and female student-athletes from around the country to be nominated.

In 1992, Black Issues In Higher Education magazine, now Diverse, established the Sports Scholars Awards to honor undergraduate students of color who exemplify the standards set by tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr.

A scholar and athlete, Ashe sought to expand opportunities for young people. Each year Diverse: Issues In Higher Education invites every postsecondary institution in the country to participate in this awards program by nominating their outstanding sports scholars. In addition to their athletic ability, students named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars must exhibit academic excellence as well as community activism.

To be included, students have to compete in an intercollegiate sport; maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.2; and be active on their campuses or in their communities. The NCAA Office of Inclusion has partnered with Diverse to support this standout class of scholar athletes. Approximately 1,000 male and female students from across the country were nominated.

Past recipients of the award include: Baylor University's (2011) Robert Griffin III, Heisman Trophy winner and Washington Redskins quarterback; the University of Tennessee's (2003) Kara Lawson, ESPN analyst who played for the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs; San Diego State University's (1993) Marshall Faulk, NFL Hall of Famer; and the University of Kansas' (1996) Jaque Vaughn, head coach of the NBA's Orlando Magic.

The winners will be profiled in the April 21, 2016, edition of Diverse. The semifinalists were chosen from more than 1,000 outstanding minority student-athletes nominated by their respective institutions.

Diverse: Issues In Higher Education is the nation's only news magazine dedicated exclusively to diversity issues in higher education. Visit www.DiverseEducation.com.

Male Semifinalists
Deyshawn Bond, Soccer, University of Cincinnati
Corey Brown, Soccer, Queens University of Charlotte
Cailyn Chiah, Baseball, New York University
Tim Crawley, Football, San Jose State University
Ryan Ghaderi, Lacrosse, Siena College
Charles Holliday, Swimming & Diving, University of Iowa
Nick Kelly, Football, Arizona State University
James Lee, Golf, Rice University
Marcus Paige, Basketball, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Paul Pitts III, Football, San Diego State University
Alex Poythress, Basketball, University of Kentucky
Varun Ram, Soccer, University of Maryland, College Park
Luis Ramirez, Soccer, University of Louisville
Brian Randolph, Football, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Stephen Tan, Volleyball, New York University

Female Semifinalists
Julia Abelsky, Fencing, Northwestern University
Andraya Carter, Basketball, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Alyssa Domico, Softball, Dominican University
Elicia Garcia, Field Hockey, University of Louisville
Ashley Holdridge, Lacrosse, Siena College
Jasmine Jackson, Volleyball, Delaware State University
Jaida Lawrence, Gymnastics, West Virginia University
Elizabeth Means, Tennis, Florida Gulf Coast University
Nandi Mehta, Soccer, Northwestern University
Sunita Mengers, Soccer, Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County
Minori Minagawa, Track/Cross Country, The Ohio State University
Brianna Morgan, Tennis, University of Florida
Megan Pinkerton, Lacrosse, Temple University
Natilee Ruiz, Swmming & Diving, San Diego State University
Canessa Swanson, Softball, Jackson State University

Temple University Athletics

Lacrosse's Megan Pinkerton Named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Semifinalist

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