April 24, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University Department of Athletics and Recreation had six of its student-athletes named to the 2003 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars teams Thursday afternoon. Of the six student-athletes two were from men's crew and one from women's crew, softball, volleyball and men's tennis.
Daniel Parames and Juan Perez from men's crew comprised two-thirds of the honorees for the Arthur Ashe Award in their sport. Parames is a sophomore on the Mission Campus and has an undeclared major with a 3.27 overall GPA. He posted a 3.83 Fall Quarter GPA which was the highest of any men's crew honoree. Perez is a junior, majoring in finance and has a 3.24 overall GPA.
Junior Erich Chen from men's tennis earned second team honors with his 3.32 overall GPA in Computer Engineering. More impressively was the 3.60 GPA that was posted by the Broncos' No. 1 player during the Fall Quarter.
Megan Johnston contributed greatly to the SCU volleyball team in 2002 that attained a program best ranking of No. 11 in the nation on November 4 in the AVCA/Coaches' Poll. Off the court the junior's 3.93 Fall Quarter GPA and 3.79 overall GPA in the College of Business was good enough to earn her first team honors in the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars awards.
Tina Lennox earned top billing on the women's crew team with her 3.25 overall GPA in marketing that was bolstered by her 3.49 Fall Quarter GPA. Lennox is currently in season on the varsity eight squad for SCU's women's crew.
Senior Roni Rivera is the firery leader of the Bronco softball team that is currently tied for first place in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference. Her hard work on the field, in the classroom and in such extra curricular activities as the NCAA Leadership program earned her second team honors. Rivera has a 3.25 overall GPA in History while was bolstered by her 3.52 Fall Quarter GPA.
The six selections for Santa Clara was the most of any school in the West Coast Conference. Additionally, student athletes at Santa Clara University graduate at the highest rate in the WCC, and at the second-highest rate among all Division I institutions in California. SCU athletes also recorded the second-highest percentage graduation rate in California for the last decade, according to annual report released by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.