June 3, 2009

Center Valley, PA - Twelve student-athletes from three different Patriot League schools have been honored by the publication Diverse: Issues In Higher Education with the The Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award. Lehigh University led the way with seven award winners, and Bucknell and Lafayette were also represented.

The award, established in 1992 to honor undergraduate students who exemplify the standards of tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr., is given to student-athletes of color who exemplify high standards in academics, athletics, and service to the community. The winners must have completed one full academic year at their respective institutions, earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, be an active member of an intercollegiate athletic team, and demonstrated a record of campus or community service.

The seven Lehigh award winners include Marquis Hall (men's basketball) who finished this past year with a 3.48 gpa as a Finance major, Anne Rodriguez (women's swimming) who has a 3.67 gpa as an English and Philosophy major, Jillian Randolph (women's track and field) who is pursuing a Marketing degree has a gpa of 3.77, Quadir Carter (football) who graduated this year with a 3.25 gpa as a Sociology major, Evans Kosgei (men's track and field) a Computer Science & Engineering with a 3.95 gpa, Roxy Jahangeri (women's soccer) who has a 3.46 gpa as a Finance major, and Shannon Alejandro (women's track and field) who studies Molecular Biology and has a gpa of 3.25. Hall, Rodriguez and Randolph were First-Team selections, while Carter and Kosgei earned Second-Team recognition, Jahangeri earned a spot on the Third-Team, and Alejandro was an Honorable Mention selection.

Senior Jason Sotto (men's soccer), junior Kyle Anthony (men's track and field), and junior Sam Nana-Sinkam (football) were the award winners from Bucknell University. Sotto, a first team selection, recently graduated with a degree in Economics and a GPA of 3.69. Anthony is pursuing English and Philosophy degrees and has a 3.51 GPA. Nana-Sinkam has a 3.46 GPA while working on a Management degree. Both Anthony and Nana-Sinkam were second team selections.

Rounding out the award winners are Lafayette junior Maria Drehwig (women's lacrosse) and senior Anoop Shah (golf). Drewig, a first team selection, has a 3.52 GPA while working on majors in both Studio Art and Government/Law. Shah, a second team selection, has recently graduated from Lafayette with a 3.29 GPA and a degree in Economics and Business.