July 17, 2012

Center Valley, Pa. - Twelve Patriot League student-athletes have received Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Awards for the 2011-12 season from Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine. Lehigh University claimed 11 of the 12 honors.

The award was established in 1992 and is given to student-athletes of color who exemplify the high standards of tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr. including academics, athletics, and community service. 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.

Eleven Lehigh University student-athletes were honored with the award, including seven recent graduates. Ifeanyi Endochie (men's track and field and cross country) graduated from the Integrated Degree Engineering Arts & Science (IDEAS) Honors Program with a 3.46 grade-point average. Fellow graduates and award winners include Gaige Flint (men's lacrosse) who had a 3.34 GPA in History, Hannah Cochran (women's soccer) who had a 3.26 in Design Arts, Paoloa Simon (women's swimming) who finished with a 3.73 in Finance, Jana Basubas (women's soccer) who double-majored in Sociology and Social Psychology with a 3.43 GPA, Jennifer Colquhoun (softball) who finished with a 3.77 GPA in Biochemistry, and Julie J Fernandez, Colquhoun's teammate who graduated with a 3.33 in Behavioral Neuroscience.

Colquhoun and Fernandez were both named to the first-team All-Patriot League selections, with Colquhoun also being named Player of the Year by the conference as well as the ECAC.

The four other Lehigh student-athletes honored include rising seniors Ginette Schapira (women's golf) who has a 3.96 in Finance, Samantha A Andersen (women's track and cross country) who has a 3.8 in Art History, MaryLeah DiNisco (women's lacrosse) who has a 3.28 in Global Studies, and rising junior Jessica A Long (softball) who is undeclared and has a GPA of 3.2.

American University is represented by basketball standout Alexis Dobbs. During her sophomore year, Dobbs posted a 3.8 GPA while majoring in Public Health. She was also a women's basketball First-team selection and the sport's Scholar-Athlete of the Year winner.