FAIRFAX, Va. – Clayton State Athletics continues to produce academically strong student-athletes as is evidenced by the 15 individuals named to the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholars Teams as announced by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
 
The Lakers 15 honorees, all of which are the first in program history, include five First-Team selections. That group consists of women's soccer redshirt-senior Jessica Charman (Harefield, England) and sophomore Maddie Miller (Augusta, Ga.) with a 3.90 and 4.0 GPA, respectively, with the other three coming from women's cross country and track & field.
 
Leading the way there were senior Joy Diaz (Riverdale, Ga.) with a 4.0, sophomore Nia Elmore (Hinesville, Ga.) at 3.93 and junior Carla Catala Martin (Barcelona, Spain) with a 3.86.
 
Sophomores Jane McKevitt (Thurles, Ireland) and Manoly Baquerizo (Guayaquil, Ecuador) and seniors Iciar Duran (Madrid, Spain) and Tovin Saleh (Linkoping, Sweden) rounded out women's soccer's Department-leading six player contingent. McKevitt posted a 3.80 GPA for Second-Team honors with Baquerizo (3.73) and Duran (3.59) on the Third-Team. Saleh posted a 3.41 GPA for Fourth-Team honors.
 
Junior T.J. Witherspoon (Thomasville, Ga.) notched Second-Team recognition with a 3.50 GPA for men's cross country/track & field and was followed on the Third-Team by sophomores Chris Florence (Newnan, Ga.) and Keldren Reddick (Thomasville, Ga.). Florence had a 3.29 GPA while Reddick was at 3.31.
 
Senior Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) represented men's basketball on the Third-Team with a 3.25 while junior Kietta Saunders (Chicago, Ill.) was on Third-Team for women's basketball with a 3.43 GPA. Redshirt-senior Sekou Thornell (Atlanta, Ga.) rounded things out with a Second-Team berth and 3.47 GPA for men's soccer.
 
Following women's soccer's six selections were men's and women's track & field with three apiece. Men's and women's basketball and men's soccer each had one honoree.
 
In order to be eligible for the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar Awards an individual must be a female or minority student-athlete, have a minimum of a 3.2 GPA through the Fall 2017 semester, completed one full academic year at current institution and must be an active member of at least one team at that institution. They must also have a demonstrated record of service to the campus or community.
 
About the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar Awards
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education sponsors the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar Awards to honor undergraduate students who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the athletic field. Inspired by tennis legend Arthur Ashe, Jr.'s commitment to education as well as his love for the game of tennis, U.S. colleges and universities are invited to participate in this annual awards program by nominating their outstanding sports scholars. In addition to their athletic ability and academic performance, Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars demonstrate a commitment to community service and community activism.
 
2018 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar Honorees (15)
Women's Soccer (6)
Jessica Charman (Communication and Media Studies) - First-Team - 3.90
Maddie Miller (Biology) - First-Team - 4.0
Jane McKevitt (Mathematics) - Second-Team - 3.80
Manoly Baquerizo (Psychology and Human Services) - Third-Team - 3.73
Iciar Duran (Marketing) - Third-Team - 3.59
Tovin Saleh (Pyschology and Human Services) - Fourth-Team - 3.41
 
Men's Track & Field (3)
T.J. Witherspoon (Biology) - Second-Team - 3.50
Chris Florence (Nursing with Basic Licensure) - Third-Team - 3.29
Keldren Reddick (Business) - Third-Team - 3.31
 
Women's Track & Field (3)
Carla Catala Martin (Management) - First-Team - 3.86
Joy Diaz (Theatre) - First-Team - 4.0
Nia Elmore (Psychology and Human Services) - First-Team - 3.93
 
Men's Basketball (1)
Dantez Bennamon (Business) - Third-Team - 3.25
 
Women's Basketball (1)
Kietta Saunders (Marketing) - Third-Team - 3.43
 
Men's Soccer (1)
Sekou Thornell (Business) - Second-Team - 3.47