FAIRFAX, Va. – Jackson State men’s basketball senior Dontelius Ross has been named a national finalist for the 2020 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year by the magazine Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
On May 28, the Diverse magazine will select one men’s student-athlete and one women’s student-athlete out of 1,000 nominees to be the Sports Scholar of the Year, in addition to the entire list of honorees named 2020 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars. The distinction has been awarded since 1984 to minority student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in both academic and athletic pursuits. In order to be eligible, student-athletes need to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, be at least a sophomore in academic standing, and have been active on their campuses and communities.
Ross, being the recipient for all of men’s college basketball, is one of four finalists along with the University of Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship (Football), Virginia Tech’s Aaron Boyd (Swimming & Diving), and the University of Houston-Victoria’s Uriel Garcia (Soccer).
Past Ashe scholars include Baylor University’s Robert Griffin III (2011); the University of Tennessee’s Kara Lawson (2003); San Diego State University’s Marshall Faulk (1993); and Stanford University’s Simone Manuel (2017).
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education sponsors the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Awards to honor undergraduate students who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the athletic field. Inspired by tennis legend Arthur Ashe Jr.’s commitment to education as well as his love for the game of tennis, U.S. colleges and universities are invited to participate in this annual awards program by nominating their outstanding sports scholars. In addition to their athletic ability and academic performance, Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars demonstrate a commitment to community service and student leadership.
Women’s Finalists
Aashaka Desai, University of Delaware, Golf
Raena Eldridge, Texas A&M University, Swimming & Diving
Erica Ogwumike, Rice University, Basketball
Chanel Thomas, University of Mississippi, Soccer
Men’s Finalists
Rodrigo Blankenship, University of Georgia, Football
Aaron Boyd, Virginia Tech, Swimming & Diving
Uriel Garcia, University of Houston-Victoria, Soccer
Dontelius Ross, Jackson State University, Basketball
Courtesy: Jackson State Athletics
