Johnson Given Recognition as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar

FAIRFAX, VA — Sophomore Nick Johnson (Highland Mills, NY) of the SUNY New Paltz men’s swim team was one of 12 male swimmers nation wide to be selected as an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar. Johnson is the second male swimmer from SUNY New Paltz to receive recognition in program history and he is the second SUNY New Paltz student-athlete to be named an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar this year. Alex Acey received the honor in 1998 as a member of the SUNY New Paltz men’s swim team, as sophomore Eri Yamakawa (Eastchester, NY), of the women’s tennis team, accepted a Third Team selection on April 26 of this year.

“This is a great honor. It is nice to be selected for something like this, it is really quite a shock. I’m very passionate about everything in my life, whether it is athletics or academics, and it is great to see all the hard work pay off.” -Nick Johnson

Johnson is a rising student-athlete in the SUNY New Paltz Men’s Swimming program. In his two years at SUNY New Paltz, Johnson has maintained a 3.4 grade point average, while twice qualifying for the Division I Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Meet in Pittsburgh, PA. At the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championship Meet, which took place February 9 through 11, Johnson swam to a 14th place finish in the 200-yard individual medley, a sixth place in the 200-yard breaststroke and a fifth place in the 100-yard breaststroke to total the third highest individual point total for the men’s team with 30 points.

Out of the pool, Johnson has also made significant contributions to his campus and the New Paltz Community. He has participated in several service programs including; the SUNYAC Community Leaf Rake, Adopt-A-Family, the Student-Athlete Mentor program and, most recently, Johnson has been selected to attend the 2006 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Leadership Conference at Disney’s Yacht Beach Club Resort from May 28 through June 1.

Nick is an ideal student-athlete. He loves the sport of swimming and is actively committed to the success of the team in and out of the pool. He is a genuine person with high standards for right and wrong. The fact that two New Paltz athletes are recipients of this prestigious award this year further exemplifies the advances that athletics at New Paltz have continued to take. -Dan Talleyrand Head Men’s Swim Coach

Further emphasizing the honor, Alex Acey stated:

It was only a matter of time that a Hawk Athlete was again recognized as an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar! New Paltz has a tradition of developing exceptional individuals who exemplify the highest standard of personal character, as well as, academic and athletic ability. It was an honor for me to be associated with Mr. Ashe when I was recognized in 1998 and I congratulate my fellow Hawks on their prestigious achievement! -Alex Acey

More than 600 students were nominated for the annual Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Awards this year. To be eligible students must compete in an intercollegiate sport, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.2, and be active on their campuses or in their communities. In 1992, Black Issues In Higher Education established the Sports Scholars Award to honor undergraduate students of color who exemplify the standards set by tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr.; scholarship, athleticism and humanitarianism. Students selected as an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar must exhibit excellence athletically, academically and socially.