Top row: Valleau, Delen-Briones, Shelton, Brinner. Bottom Row: Sanchez, Jenkins, Ng-Pinkerton, Esparza. Courtesy: San Jose State Athletics
Shanice Howard, a kinesiology major who competed on the vault and bars during her senior season while maintaining a near 4.0 GPA, has received the 2011 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar by Diverse Education magazine. The honor goes to just one male and one female of color nationwide annually.
Diverse Education recognized eight other Spartans for their achievements. In gymnastics, Howard was joined by Katie Valleau who competed at the NCAA Championships this season on the floor. Women’s soccer found Lauren Ng-Pinkerton and Lauren Sanchez selected. This is the second consecutive honor for Ng-Pinkerton. Men’s cross country found Alex Esparza and Alan Shelton named to the track and field team. Others honored included Katrina Delen-Briones for women’s golf, Kerry Jenkins for baseball and Omri Brinner for men’s soccer.