2001 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholars

Fairfax, Va.-----Five San Jose State University student-athletes of color from the sports of women’s soccer, baseball and softball have been named "Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholars for 2001" by Black Issues in Higher Education.

Ryanne Banks and Jessica Hernandez from the Spartans’ women’s soccer team, Gary Ferraro and Scott Niheu from the baseball team and Dianna Lilly from the softball team are this year’s recipients of this academic, athletic and community service-based recognition.

Banks is a senior majoring in sociology; Hernandez, a sophomore psychology major; Ferraro, a senior liberal studies major; Niheu, a sophomore marketing major; and Lilly, a junior business major.

Student-athletes of color qualify for consideration by participating in an intercollegiate sport, maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of at least a 3.20 on a 4.00 scale and being active on campus and/or in the community.

Among Western Athletic Conference members, San Jose State University had the largest number of student-athletes receive this year’s "Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholars" recognition. Rice University, with four student-athletes, and the University of Texas El Paso, with three student-athletes, were the only other conference schools with honorees.

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