June 25, 2008
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Eight University of Memphis student-athletes were honored with Arthur Ashe Sports-Scholar awards it was announced Thursday. Three softball athletes, two women's track and field participants, one women's basketball, one football and one men's tennis player were honored with the certificates.
Brittany Gooch, Tori Gross and Kimmi Hayden were all honored off the Tiger softball team. Brittany Gooch sports a 3.22 GPA and is majoring in Exercise and Sport Science. The junior right fielder volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and in a Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser, and also volunteered at the Mariner Health Care Facility in Lebanon, Tenn. Tori Gross was honored for her 3.39 GPA in International Business. Also a Spanish minor, Gross volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and was named and Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar last season. Kimmi Hayden received the honor for her 3.33 GPA in Sport and Leisure Management. Hayden also participated in a team build for Habitat for Humanity, and also volunteered with a visit to patients at LeBonheur Children's Hospital and served as a tutor for third and fourth graders at Vista Grande Elementary School. Hayden has also volunteered as a coach for a 14 and under San Diego Thunder softball travel team and a 10 and under Navajo All-Star team.
Chen Edri and Sivan Aballi were each honored from the women's track and field team. Edri is the school record holder for Memphis in the indoor high jump, outdoor high jump and javelin and is a four-time qualifier for the NCAA regionals. Sporting a 3.79 GPA in biology, she also volunteered at Field Day at Ross Elementary and at Wesley Manor, where she helped feed the elderly residents. She also participated in the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy. Sivan Aballi was another NCAA regional qualifier from the women's track and field squad and has a 3.8 GPA in communication. She volunteered as a basketball coach and was a member of Hillel of Memphis. With Hillel of Memphis, she helped organize Israel Day on campus and Miriam's Café. She served the homeless at Idlewild Presbyterian church and helped elderly members of the Memphis Jewish community. In her native Israel, Aballi also coached kids from a troubled backgrounds in track and field.
Jessica Hall was the lone women's basketball honoree from Memphis on the list. Hall, who graduated in May with a degree in Exercise and Sport Science and a 3.53 GPA was the women's team's leading scorer last season. She volunteered at St. Jude Children's Hospital and read to elementary and middle school students with her Memphis teammates. She also volunteered at the Tillman Community Center and the Senior Citizen's Center prior to her graduation.
Brandon Patterson was the football team's honoree. A ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America second team honoree, Patterson sports a 3.5 GPA in finance. He also served as a volunteer at Hickory Hill Missionary Baptist Church, where he serves as a Youth Superintendent and Deacon and serves the Youth Choir and Christian Education Staff as a teacher. He also volunteered at Graceland Care Home and serves as a peer tutor and counselor with other Memphis student-athletes.
Amrit Narasimhan received his honor after completing his college career on the Tiger men's tennis team. Narasimhan graduated in May with a degree in Sport and Leisure Studies and with a 3.85 GPA. A second-team All-Conference USA honoree, Narasimhan entered his senior season as the No. 98 ranked singles player in the country. He volunteered at the National Civil Rights Museum on Martin Luther King Jr Day and participated in the Read to Succeed program at Springdale Magnet School. He also participated in National Family Literacy Day activities.
The Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar Awards are presented each year to undergraduate students of color who have made achieving both academically and athletically a winning combination. In addition to each student-athlete's athletic honors, the students must have a GPA of 3.2 or higher and be active in their campuses or in their communities.
