Two Ivies Named Arthur Ashe Scholar Award Finalists

Courtesy of Dartmouth Athletic Communications and Princeton Athletic Communications

Dartmouth women's basketball player Margaret Smith and Princeton women's track & field athlete Aundeah Kearney were two of the top 10 finalists for the 2010 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award.

Smith and Kearney were among 10 female and 10 male finalists from a group of more than 600 national nominees this year.

Smith just finished an impressive career with the Dartmouth women's basketball team, winning two Ivy Championships and playing in the postseason three times including the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Individually, she was named to the Ivy League All-Rookie team in 2007 and served as a team captain her senior year. Smith battled injury throughout her career but played in 114 games, which ranks second all time in Dartmouth program history. Her 592 career rebounds ranks 10th all-time in program history.

A psychology major, Smith spent her sophomore spring studying abroad in Puebla, Mexico where she studied the country's language and culture and also volunteered. Smith was also active on the Dartmouth campus community in programs such as the Green Key Society and Casque and Gauntlet senior society. She volunteered as a tutor for elementary school students and as a mentor for children staying at a local family shelter.

Kearney competed in the long jump for the Tigers. She recorded the eighth-best long jump in Princeton history at the 2008 Larry Ellis Invitational, reaching 5.60 meters (18-4.5). Kearney is also a member of Princeton's sprints corps.

In addition to her athletic success, Kearney is an active member of the community. For three consecutive summers she has participated in the Princeton Interships in Civic Service program and had an article published in the Mellon Minority Undergraduate Fellowship Journal. A native of Paterson, N.J., Kearney is marjoring in English.

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, then Black Issues in Higher Education, first established the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Award in 1992 to honor undergraduate students who excel on the field and in the classroom. To be nominated, students have to compete in athletics, maintain a minimum 3.20 grade-point average, and be active in their community or college campus.

2010 Female Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Finalists were:
Aundeah Kearney (Princeton University): Track/Cross Country
Maranda Smith (University of Florida): Gymnastics
Katrina Gaudier (Drexel University): Softball
Kirin Mushtaq Khan (Mills College): Crew
Marcia Newby (University of Georgia): Gymnastics
Margaret Antwinette Smith (Dartmouth College): Basketball
Nana Bulaba Sang-Bender (Syracuse University): Track/Cross Country
Windy Santa Cruz (Valparaiso University): Track/Cross Country
Danielle Stallings (Spelman College): Soccer
Breanna Thornton (University of Missouri ): Soccer