FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ralph Newell
Phone: 703.385.2981
Email: [email protected]
2025 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Special Report to be published
June 5 - Semifinalists Announced
FAIRFAX, VA (March 24, 2025) — Diverse: Issues In Higher Education will release its annual Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars special report edition on June 5, 2025. An awards ceremony announcing the winners will be held in New York City during the National Conference on Race & Ethnicity (NCORE) annual conference on May 29, 2025.
The edition is part of our decades-long tradition of recognizing outstanding young men and women from underrepresented communities who have distinguished themselves in their academic, athletic and civic pursuits.
In addition to their athletic ability, those named 2025 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars have maintained at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, are at least sophomores academically, and have been active on their campuses or in their communities. Of the nearly 700 scholar-athletes nominated, one male and one female athlete will be selected as Sports Scholar of the Year.
The top 10 women (in alphabetical order) are:
- Ginger Berry, Holy Cross, Rowing
- Sheryah Gavel, Southern University and A&M College, Soccer
- Brooklyn Holt, North Carolina State University, Soccer
- Chia-Yu Hsieh, University of Washington, Golf
- Emma Malabuyo, University of California, Los Angeles, Gymnastics
- Marissa Mastracco, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Soccer
- Kiki Rice, UCLA, Basketball
- Jaida Ross, University of Oregon, Track/Cross Country
- Madison Scott, University of Mississippi, Basketball
- Autumn Wilson, University of Georgia, Track/Cross Country
The top 10 men (in alphabetical order) are:
- Jayo Adegboyo, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Track/Cross Country
- Josele Ballester, Arizona State University, Golf
- Jaemyn Brakefield, University of Mississippi, Basketball
- Cameron Brown, University of California, Merced, Basketball
- Christian Francisco, Rice University, Football
- Quinshon Judkins, The Ohio State University, Football
- Mawuli Nevis, Wabash College, Wrestling
- Jami Schlueter, University of Washington, Track/Cross Country
- Blaise Threatt, Weber State University, Basketball
- Dylan Williams, Georgia State University, Soccer
The 2024 overall winners were Olivia Womack from the University of Mississippi and Darius Robinson from the University of Missouri. Other past Arthur Ashe Scholars have included the University of Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson (2011), the University of Tennessee’s Kara Lawson (2003), San Diego State University’s Marshall Faulk (1993), and Stanford University’s Simone Manuel (2017), to name a few who have gone on to achieve great success.
Ashe scholars that participated in this year’s March Madness NCAA Basketball Tournament include: Kiki Rice – UCLA, Landry Williams – Oklahoma State, Adalia McKenzie – Illinois, Jayda Curry and Merissah Russell – both of Louisville, Madison Scott – Mississippi and Jayda Brown – Vanderbilt on the women’s side; and Chukwuebuka Ejiofor – St. John’s, AJ Redd – Illinois, Eduardo Klafke and Jaemyn Brakefield – both of Mississippi, Miles Keefe and Jordan Williams – both of Vanderbilt, and Dante Bass, Corey Hines, and Ubong Okon – all of Alabama State on the men’s side.
Finalists and winners from each sport category nominated will be announced prior to the June 5 edition. To participate as a sponsor of the awards ceremony, click here for more information.
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For 40 years, Diverse: Issues In Higher Education has been America’s premier source of timely news, provocative commentary, insightful interviews, and in-depth special reports on diversity in higher education. Savvy individuals who appreciate the crucial and ever-changing role higher education plays in the lives of students and professionals, and their families and communities, make reading Diverse an enduring habit.
