11 Huskers Earn Arthur Ashe Scholar Awards

Lincoln - Eleven University of Nebraska student-athletes from seven countries recently earned recognition as Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholars by Diverse Issues in Education. The awards recognize the achievements of student-athletes from diverse cultural backgrounds both on and off their fields of competition and are a tribute to the legacy of Arthur Ashe Jr.

<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Six Nebraska student-athletes earned first-team honors from the publication, including Sarah Pavan (volleyball), Rachel Carrizales (women's cross country/track and field), Kelsey Ida (swimming and diving), Sari Raber (soccer), Renato Melo (men's tennis) and Daniel Christensen (men's track and field).  Pavan and Christensen were repeat first-team selections, while Raber earned a spot on the second team last year, and Melo was a third-team selection in 2007.

Soccer student-athlete Selenia Iacchelli, who earned a spot on the second team this year, was also a repeat selection, while tennis players Wiveca Swarting and Francois Van Impe joined Iacchelli on the second team in 2008. Another student-athlete from the women's tennis squad, Marianne Cicmanec, earned a spot on the third team, as did Natalja Zarcenko from the women's cross country/track and field squad. 

Nebraska's 11 Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholars came to Lincoln from seven countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, Brazil, Sweden, Belgium and Latvia.

To be included, students have to compete in an intercollegiate sport; maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.2; and be active on their campuses or in their communities.

University of Illinois tennis player Momei Qu and Hampton University football player Marcus Dixon ? were selected as the Sports Scholars of the Year for best exemplifying the standards of scholarship, athleticism and humanitarianism. To learn more about the Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholars Program, visit www.diverseeducation.com.

2008 Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholar Award Winners

• Sarah Pavan (Volleyball), Sr., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada - First Team

• Rachel Carrizales (Track and Field/Cross Country), Jr., Morrill, Neb. - First Team

• Kelsey Ida (Swimming and Diving), So., Highlands Ranch, Colo. - First Team

• Sari Raber (Soccer), Jr., Richmond, British Columbia, Canada - First Team

• Renato Melo (Men's Tennis), Jr., Belo Horizonte, Brazil - First Team

• Daniel Christensen (Track & Field), Jr., Omaha, Neb. - First Team

• Wiveca Swarting (Women's Tennis), So., Stockholm, Sweden - Second Team

• Francois Van Impe (Men's Tennis), So., Brussels, Belgium - Second Team

• Selenia Iacchelli (Soccer), Jr., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - Second Team

• Natalja Zarcenko (Track and Field/Cross Country), Jr., Valmeira, Latvia - Third Team

• Marianne Cicmanec (Women's Tennis), Jr., Kirchdorf, Germany - Third Team