In the April 28 edition of Diverse Issues In Higher Education University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's bowlers Anggie Ramirez and Martha Perez, both from Bogota, Colombia, were named Team Finalists for the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award.?

The duo, highly credentialed athletes for the 2011 NCAA and USBC Collegiate National Champions, were selected because they maintain a cumulative GPA over a 3.2 and are active in their campus and in their community.? The award, established by the magazine, recognizes "students of color who have made achieving both academically and athletically a winning combination."

The award is inspired by tennis legend Arthur Ashe Jr.'s commitment to education as well as his love for the game of tennis, every college and university in the country is invited to nominate outstanding sports scholars.? In addition to their athletic ability, Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars must exhibit academic excellence and community activism.

The award selects one male and one female as the recipient of the award.? This year they chose Shanice Howard, a gymnast from San Jose State University and Russell Wilson, a football player from North Carolina State.? They then selected 11 men and women as finalists and then named team finalists.? Perez and Ramirez both fell in the latter category and were two of seven collegiate bowlers from around the nation selected.??? Three were from MEAC schools South Carolina State and Hampton while the other two were from Valparaiso.

Perez and Ramirez are the first selections for UMES since 2008 when women's basketball player Brittany Adkins was named a First-Team selection for her sport.