Eleven Lions Named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars

Friday, August 07, 2009

Courtesy of Columbia Sports Information

NEW YORK – Eleven Columbia student-athletes were chosen as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars for 2009. Five Lions were named to the first team for their respective sports, four to the second team, and one each to the third team and honorable mention.

To be considered, a student of color must compete in an intercollegiate sport, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.2, and be active on his or her campus or in the community.

Sherif Farrag (Bayonne, N.J.) and Oriana Isaacson (Los Angeles, Calif.), who both graduated last May, were named to the first team for fencing. Farrag, a two-time captain of the men’s team, was a political science major who graduated with a cumulative average of 3.67. On the women’s side, fellow co-captain Isaacson graduated with a degree in French & Francophone Studies and Hispanic Studies.

Representing the tennis teams, seniors Jon Chan (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Nina Suda (Kinnelon, N.J.) both eared spots on the first team. Chan, an engineering operations research major, finished with a staggering 3.9 GPA. In May he was awarded the Dwight D. Eisenhower Watch presented annually at the Varsity C Celebration to the senior male student-athlete with the highest GPA. Suda played No. 1 singles for the Lions this year and graduated in May with a degree in neuroscience and behavior.

Columbia’s golf teams also had two honorees. Earning a spot on the first team is rising senior Justin Lee (Tarzana, Calif.) who is majoring in economics. Stevy Loy (Valencia, Calif.) garnered second team honors on the women's side. The urban studies major finished tied for 16th at the Ivy League Championships this spring.

Men’s soccer standout Bayo Adafin (Rochester, Minn.) also earned second team recognition. The rising junior led Columbia and ranked fifth in the Ivy League with seven goals.

Ashley MacLean (Seattle, Wash.) was named to the second team after a strong swimming campaign. The sophomore, who has yet to declare a major, has a cumulative average of 3.6.

Chantee Dempsey (Live Oak, Calif.) and Keli Leong (San Carlos, Calif.), who both graduated in May, earned recognition on the softball teams. Dempsey, a psychology major, was named to the second team while Leong, an economics major, earned a nod on the third team.

Rounding out Columbia’s honorees is rising senior Sara Yee (Walnut, Calif.), a civil engineering major. The 2008-09 Ivy League Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year, Yee was named honorable mention.

The complete list of winners can be found online at Diverse Education's website.

- A.S.