Five Hurricanes Named Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholars

June 5, 2012

Classroom

FAIRFAX, Va. – The University of Miami was well represented once again in the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholars Awards that were highlighted in the May 24th issue of Diverse Issues in Higher Education. The awards recognize “undergraduate student of color who have made academic and athletic achievement a winning combination.”

Among UM student-athletes to be recognized for their academic and athletic achievements were Miranda Wilson (women’s track & field), Carina Cuculiza (golf), Nrithya Sundararaman (volleyball), Javier Salas (baseball), and Evan Hadrick (men’s track & field). 

A finalist for the “Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year,” Wilson is a mental health counseling major and recently graduated with a 4.0 GPA.  A member of the track & field team, she posted the indoor team’s top three marks of the 2012 season in weight throw.  The California native also finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships with a season-best mark of 19.07 meters.

Cuculiza, a junior, is a finance and marketing major with a cumulative GPA of 4.0.  She finished her 2011-12 campaign with 23 rounds played, a stroke average of 79.74, and one top-10 finish. 

From the volleyball team is rising senior Nrithya Sundararaman, who has a cumulative GPA of 3.90 and is majoring in neurobiology. During the 2011 season Sundararaman helped lead the Canes to a 26-5 record.

Sophomore pitchers Javi Salas and A.J. Salcines also list their names among those recognized. Salas, a native of Coral Gables, has a cumulative GPA of 3.35 and through 47.2 innings on the mound he has an ERA of 3.21. Salcines has a cumulative GPA of 3.89 and is majoring in Biology/ Pre-Med. The southpaw has had an impressive year on the bump as well posting an astounding 1.40 ERA over the course of 38.2 innings for the Canes.

Rounding out UM’s honorees is senior track and field athlete Evan Hadrick.  The senior sports administration major has a 3.6 cumulative GPA while earning his degree in finance and marketing. In the 2012 indoor season, Hadrick completed the 400 meters with a season-best time of 51.94.

All of the athletes mentioned were recognized as honorees in the May 24th issue of Diverse Issues in Higher Education and the winners are listed there as well. Oklahoma State softball player Chelsea Garcia was named “Female Sports Scholar of the Year” and Kansas State basketball player Victor Ojeleye was the recipient of the “Male Sports Scholar of the Year”.