PELLA — Garnering the most recognition in school history, seven Central College student-athletes were included on an impressive national list of student-athletes nominated for their academic and athletic accomplishments announced in a recent issue of 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.

Central's student body president in 2023-24 and three-time Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar honoree Jenna Hernandez (senior, Slater, Ballard HS) headlines the list of seven Dutch athletes, Mackenzie Biggs (senior, Bloomington, Ill., Normal HS), Alejo Marcon (sophomore, Resistencia, Argentina, Pella Christian [Iowa] HS), Mimi Pavelka (sophomore, Shakopee, Minn., Holy Family HS), Nathan Rosas (sophomore, Harvard, Ill.), Josue Torres (sophomore, Osceola, Clarke HS) and Jasmyn Williams (sophomore, Denver, Colo., Arvada West HS) were all recognized for the first time.

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.

University of Missouri football player Darius Robinson was the national men's winner while University of Mississippi women's track and field athlete Olivia Womack was the female winner.
 
Central's honorees:
Mackenzie Biggs, sr., women's golf, Bloomington, Ill./Normal HS, music education, 3.55
Jenna Hernandez, sr., women's tennis/wrestling, Slater, Iowa/Ballard HS, biochemistry/biology, 3.75
Alejo Marcon, so., men's soccer/tennis, Resistencia, Argentina/Pella Christian HS, undeclared, 3.63
MiMi Pavelka, so., women's soccer, Shakopee, Minn., Holy Family HS, kinesiology, 4.00
Nathan Rosas, so., men's wrestling, Harvard, Ill., Harvard HS, computer science, 3.52
Josue Torres, so., men's soccer, Osceola, Iowa/Clarke HS, kinesiology, 3.74
Jasmyn Williams, so., women's basketball/track & field, Denver, Colo., Arvada West HS, elementary education, 3.76