Chanel Thomas Named Semifinalist for 2020 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year

FAIRFAX, Va. – Ole Miss soccer junior Chanel Thomas has been named a semifinalist for the 2020 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year by the magazine Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.

On May 28, the magazine will select one men's student-athlete and one women's student-athlete out of 1,000 nominees to be the Sports Scholar of the Year, in addition to the entire list of honorees named 2020 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars. The distinction has been awarded since 1984 to minority student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in both academic and athletic pursuits. In order to be eligible, student-athletes need to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, be at least a sophomore in academic standing, and have been active on their campuses and communities.

Thomas – who earlier this week was awarded the Taylor Medal and the Outstanding Undergraduate Managerial Finance Student Award by the University of Mississippi – has been named to the Chancellor's Honor Roll each of her five semesters at Ole Miss. Thomas was tabbed the M-Club Student-Athlete of the Month in November 2017, also earning a spot on the SEC Honor Roll each of her three seasons. A 4.0 student, Thomas has also donated time in the Oxford community, including volunteering at A Night to Shine and with the United Way Leapfrog program.

Past Ashe scholars include: Baylor University's Robert Griffin III (2011); the University of Tennessee's Kara Lawson (2003); San Diego State University's Marshall Faulk (1993); and Stanford University's Simone Manuel (2017).

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 student leadership.

Women's Semifinalists
Maya Banks, Dominican University, Tennis
Aashaka Desai, University of Delaware, Golf
Raena Eldridge, Texas A&M University, Swimming & Diving
Carlene Luna, California State University-San Bernardino, Soccer
Thi Nguyen, Saint Joseph's University, Track & Field
Erica Ogwumike, Rice University, Basketball
Brenna Shanahan, University of Louisville, Lacrosse
Faramola Shonekan, University of Missouri, Track & Field
Chanel Thomas, University of Mississippi, Soccer
Claire Zanti, North Carolina State University, Rifle

Men's Semifinalists
Rodrigo Blankenship, University of Georgia, Football
Aaron Boyd, Virginia Tech, Swimming & Diving
Talha Farooq, George Mason University, Wrestling
Uriel Garcia, University of Houston-Victoria, Soccer
Jordan Holly, Murray State University, Baseball
Joseph Medina, University of California-Merced, Volleyball
Rayden Murata, Pacific University, Tennis
Dontelius Ross, Jackson State University, Basketball
Matthias Schmid, University of Louisville, Golf
Givon Washington, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Track & Field

For further academic accolades, follow @RebelsAcademics on Twitter.

FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center and Ole Miss Student-Athlete Development Mission 
The mission of the FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center is to promote academic and personal achievement through quality developmental and need-based programs designed to empower and holistically develop student-athletes for life after collegiate athletics.

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Players Mentioned

Chanel Thomas

The University of Mississippi Athletics