University of Georgia Athletics
Two Bulldogs Named Arthur Ashe Sports Scholars
July 16, 2007 | Softball
According to the publication: “Diverse: Issues In Higher Education established the Sports Scholars Awards to honor undergraduate students of color who have made achieving both academically and athletically a winning combination.” Criteria for the award include athletic ability, academic excellence (min. GPA of 3.2) and community activism.
Franklin recorded a Fall GPA of 3.93 and carried a cumulative GPA of 3.54 as a Psychology major when the award was presented. Despite having used all of her athletic eligibility, Franklin has one semester of academic work left and is on pace to graduate in December of 2007.
“I think this is a great credit to Lena and her ability to combine academics and athletics and excel in both,” said Georgia head soccer coach Patrick Baker. “She had a tremendous fall and spring academically. We are always very proud any time one of our players receives individual recognition but especially when it includes both academics and athletics. It really says a lot about the individual and in this case it certainly says a lot about Lena.”
“With this award for Lena, combined with Catherine Bruce’s CoSida Academic All-District award, we are continuing to see a wonderful trend of our girls performing well in the classroom and on the field,” continued Baker. “It is surely a great reflection of their individual efforts, but also of what we are trying to promote here on a daily basis as a program. We are currently on a great six-year run of receiving the NSCAA Team Academic Award for a maintaining a team GPA over a 3.0, and I believe we are on track to receive our seventh.”
Middleton recorded a Spring GPA of 3.8 and carries a cumulative GPA of 3.88 as a Master’s candidate in Public Health. She has already been accepted to medical school and will begin in the fall of 2008. Middleton will complete her Master’s degree with a fall internship in San Francisco and will also graduate in December of 2007.
“Kelli is very deserving of this award,” said Georgia head softball coach Lu Harris-Champer. “We are extremely proud of her. She is an exemplary role model and an outstanding student-athlete.”
