Sun Devil athletes score as scholars
Since the award was founded in 2007, ASU student athletes have earned 29 Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year honors.
Sports programs tend to be judged by their successes on the court, field or mat. And while Arizona State University’s athletics department has been racking up victories across all of its sports, the program’s success off the field might be more impressive.
Since 2007, ASU student athletes have earned 29 Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year awards. That places ASU second in the conference during that span, behind only Stanford.
This past school year, ASU had four student-athletes added to the list of recipients: softball star Amber Freeman, wrestler and cancer survivor Chase Eskam, golfer Noemi Jimenez and football record holder Taylor Kelly.
“Sun Devil Athletics is committed to developing champions in our sports, champions in the classroom and most importantly champions in life,” said Jean Boyd, ASU’s senior associate athletic director. “Our coaches and our administration – within the context of the dynamic university that ASU has become – have created a culture that expects excellence in sport and in academics. Ranking second in the Pac-12 for most scholar athletes indicates our student-athletes are accepting the challenge.”
The award, which was established in the 2007-2008 season, recognizes the top senior scholar athlete for each sport in the conference during a school year. Nominees are judged on a combination of academic and athletic achievements.