PELLA —Central College women's soccer forward Katie Wang (sophomore, Brooklyn Park, Minn., Park Center HS) was included on an impressive national list of student-athletes honored for their academic and athletic accomplishments by the magazine Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.

The Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Awards Program is designed 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 award 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.
           
A two-time varsity letterwinner at Central, Wang is a biochemistry and Spanish double major with a 4.0 GPA. She was the team's Most Improved Performer Award-winner in 2018 and earned academic all-conference plaudits this season.
           
Athletes across 37 intercollegiate sports from all divisions of NCAA and NAIA competition are amongst the honorees. Wang is among 65 women's soccer honorees and the only Division III player on the first team. She was the only American Rivers Conference student-athlete cited.

The nominations are whittled down to 10 male and 10 female semifinalists. The process then shrinks the field to four finalists before a male and a female nominee are awarded the title of Arthur Ashe Jr., Sports Scholars of the Year.

On the men's side, football running back Khari Blasingame from Vanderbilt University was the winner while University of Kentucky swimmer Asia Seidt was the female winner.