May 12, 2003

FAIRFAX, VA ... Four George Mason University student-athletes have been selected as 2003 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars, while 22 have been chosen as George Mason Scholar Athletes.

In the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars program, junior Bruce Baldwin was named to the first team for baseball, junior Corri Allen was named to the second team for women's track & field, and juniors Susan Otim and Vernessa Neamo were third-team and honorable mention choices, respectively, for women's basketball. It was the second time each student-athlete was recognized by the program.

To qualify for the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar awards, the student-athlete must be a student of color (African-American, Hispanic, Asian or Native American), must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher, must have completed one full academic year at his/her institution, must have a demonstrated record of service to the campus or community, and must be an active member of an intercollegiate athletic team during the 2002-03 season. Black Issues in Higher Education, the sponsor of the program, is a publication devoted to issues and accomplishments dealing with collegiate minority students and administrators.

The 22 student-athletes chosen as George Mason Scholar Athletes have maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average based on their year in school. Seniors must have maintained a 3.4 cumulative GPA, juniors needed a 3.5 GPA, sophomores were required to have a 3.6 GPA and freshmen needed to have a 3.7 cumulative GPA.

Those honored as George Mason Scholar Athletes include:

SENIORS: Ben Adlard (golf), Ashley Craw (women's swimming & diving), Marcus Davis (baseball), Amy Falk (women's volleyball), Annmarie Fitzpatrick (women's rowing), Naomi Hines (women's soccer), Art Kulans (men's volleyball), Shelbylynn McBride (women's volleyball/women's basketball), Paul Ondiak (men's soccer) and Emily Smeltzer (women's swimming & diving);

JUNIORS: Corri Allen (women's track & field), Lisa Hagan (women's lacrosse), Lesley Harvey (women's basketball), Chris Looze (baseball), Jeff Palumbo (baseball) and Laurel Sachleben (women's rowing);

SOPHOMORES: Jennifer Dahl (women's soccer), Adam Innerst (baseball), Jeannine Ohler (women's lacrosse) and Liz Replogle (women's swimming & diving);

FRESHMEN: Gabriel da Costa (men's tennis) and Lindsay Dahling (women's rowing).