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Seven Western athletes named Arthur Ashe Sports Scholars
Seven Western Carolina student-athletes have been recognized as 2008 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars as chosen by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
This year’s selections include three-time recipients Ogden Hansford (men’s track) and Raquel Ramseur (women’s track). Making the list for the second time are Buki Baruwa (soccer), Kendra Eaton (women’s basketball) and Kevin Johnson (men’s track). Being recognized for the first time are Marcus Brown (football) and Kristen Feemster (women’s basketball).
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, formerly Black Issues in Higher Education, established the Sports Scholars Award in 1992 to honor undergraduate students of color or minority who have achieved both academically and athletically. The award was inspired by tennis legend Ashe’s commitment to education, as well as his love for tennis.
To be eligible, student-athletes must compete in an intercollegiate sport, maintain a cumulative grade point average of a least 3.20 and be active on their campuses and/or communities.
In addition to playing soccer, Baruwa (Cary) was WCU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council president this past academic year after having served as the group’s vice president and women’s soccer representative as a freshman. She was named to the Southern Conference fall academic all-conference team and was awarded the Betty Peele Leadership Award at Western’s annual awards banquet.
Brown (Cary) was also named to the fall academic all-conference team. He caught 22 passes for 219 yards last season.
Eaton (Winston-Salem) was on the winter academic all-conference team. She serves on the SAAC and is the conference’s representative on the National NCAA Division I SAAC.
Feemster (Clover, S.C.) was chosen WCU’s Female Scholar Athlete of the Year at the annual awards banquet and was also on the winter academic all-conference team.
Hansford (Mooresville) was one of two WCU athletes earning the honor for the third straight year.
Johnson (Marion) was all-conference in the 400-meter relay and helped the team qualify for the NCAA East Regional. He was on the spring academic all-conference team and was the men’s track team’s representative on WCU’s SAAC.
Ramseur (Charlotte) was all-conference in indoor and outdoor track and helped the Lady Cats to the outdoor conference title. She won the 200- and 400-meter dashes and was on the winning 1,600-meter relay during the indoor championships. At the outdoor event, she also won the 200 and 400 and was part of winning 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams. She was presented the African-American Scholar Athlete of the Year award by WCU’s Organization of Ebony Students.
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