Wednesday, June 11, 2008

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (June 11, 2008) - ETSU had three Buccaneer student-athletes from two different sports earn 2008 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Awards on Wednesday. TaRonda Wiles (Danville, Va.), Oscar Posada (Valencia, Venezuela) and Enrique Olivares (Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela) were honored this prestigious award.

Wiles, a 2008 Atlantic Sun All-Tournament and All-Academic Team honoree, received the honorable mention Scholar Award.  The Danville, Va. helped guide the ETSU women's basketball team to its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance after averaging 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists at the conference tournament in Nashville. The Danville, Va. native currently holds a 3.36 GPA as she is working towards a degree in Criminal Justice along with a minor in Social Work.

A pair of men's tennis players was also recognized with the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award. Posada received first team honors, while Olivares took home second team accolades.

Posada was one of three Buccaneer players selected to the 2008 A-Sun All-Tournament Team after ETSU hoisted the conference crown for the second consecutive year. The native from Valencia, Venezuela earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and is working on his Masters of Accountancy - where he has a GPA of 3.66.

Olivares became only the second player in ETSU history to make his way into the Round of 16 and earn All-American honors at the 2008 NCAA Singles Championships last month. The Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and Tournament MVP currently holds a GPA of 3.49 and working towards a degree in Finance.      

"It is a reflection of the quality of the Men's Tennis and Women's Basketball programs at ETSU for Oscar, Enrique and TaRonda to receive the prestigious Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports-Scholar Award for 2008," commented ETSU Director of Academic Services Bob Baker.  "All three of them have consistently demonstrated excellence in the nominating areas for the award: athletics, academics and community/campus involvement.  We are fortunate as a department to have such high caliber student-athletes in our midst."

Diverse: Issues In Higher Education established the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Awards in 1992 to honor undergraduate students of color who excel both academically and athletically.  

To be included, students have to compete in an intercollegiate sport; have completed at least one academic year of course work; be enrolled for the fall term of '07; maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2; and be active on their campuses and/or their communities.

For more information on Buccaneer athletics, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.