Three Ferris State Student-Athletes Honored As 2016 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars
Big Rapids, Mich. - Three Ferris State University student-athletes from the 2015-16 athletics campaign have been chosen as 2016 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars for their performance both on and off the field.
The trio of Bulldog recipients includes sophomore volleyball standout Ayanna Buckley (Detroit, Mich./Clarenceville) along with hockey junior goaltender Charles Williams (Canton) and senior dual-sport athlete Damonta Madden (Grand Blanc) of the Bulldog football along with track and field squads.
The Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars is sponsored by the Diverse: Issues In Higher Education publication. The awards honor undergraduate students who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the athletic field.
In order to be considered for the award, the individual must be a student-athlete of color, hold a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, be an active member of an intercollegiate athletic team, have a demonstrated record of service to the campus or community and completed at least one full academic year at the nominating institution.
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 on a yearly basis. In addition to their athletic ability and academic performance, Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars demonstrate a commitment to community service and student leadership.
In addition to their athletic success, all three Ferris State representatives on the Sports Scholar list have been active in various team community service initiatives and excelled in the classroom for the Bulldogs.
This past year, Buckley tallied 289 kills with 62 blocks as a sophomore in 2015 for the Bulldog Volleyball team, which won the GLIAC Championship and was ranked #1 in the nation. She also helped lead FSU to a conference tournament championship and ranked among the squad leaders in kills and blocks. One of top middle hitters in the conference, Buckley added 69 digs and 21 service aces. The two-year letterwinner was a GLIAC All-Academic Excellence honoree and her play helped FSU post a nation-best 33-3 overall record.
On the football field, Madden played in all 12 games as senior in the 2015 season. He finished the year with six total tackles and played a key role on special teams and in the defensive secondary. The four-year letterwinner was a multi-year starter for the Bulldogs' back-to-back conference championship team and helped FSU to the school's first NCAA Playoff win in 19 years this past fall. Besides being a standout on the gridiron, Madden was also an All-GLIAC honoree in track and field as one of the conference's top sprinters during both the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Finally, Williams played in 11 games as a Bulldog goaltender this past season. He finished the year with 269 total saves and posted a .888 save percentage. The three-year letterwinner allowed only 34 goals in 587 total minutes in net and played in 22 career contests overall. He was also a multi-year WCHA All-Academic Team honoree for his efforts in the classroom.
For a complete listing of Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars, please visit this link:
2016 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars