April 17, 2003

Five UCLA student-athletes have been named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars for 2003 - rower Irene Condella, gymnast Onnie Willis, swimmer Naoko Watanabe and track & fielders Nicole Gaskins and Chaniqua Ross.

Condella, a junior from San Diego, CA holds a 3.66 GPA in Political Science and Geography. She was an All-Pac-10 selection a year ago in the program's first year and earned second-team all-region honors. She is a member of the Bruin Athletic Council and is a team co-captain.

Willis, a senior from Tacoma, WA, also holds a 3.66 GPA in Psychology and was an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar award winner last year. She is the 2003 Pac-10 Gymnast of the Year and won the all-around titles at the 2002 Pac-10 Championships and the 2001 NCAA Championships. She is also a 12-time All-American and a three-time Pac-10 All-Academic selection. Willis is a member of the Bruin Athletic Council and is a Community-Based Outreach Program fellow, as well as a Uni-Camp counselor.

Watanabe, a junior from Santa Clara, CA, holds a 3.3 GPA in Sociology. She was a member of two Pac-10 Championship teams and placed seventh at the 2003 Pac-10s in the 200 back and ninth in the 100 back with career-best marks. She is also a member of the Bruin Athletic Council and is a Team Mentor.

Gaskins, who holds a 3.86 GPA in Communication Studies, was selected to the women's track and field first team. The junior from Rancho Cucamonga, CA is a member of the Bruin Athletic Council and was awarded the Charles E. and Sue K. Young Undergraduate Student Award Scholarship, which is presented to undergraduates who have achieved distinction in their studies, demonstrate research and are active in the community. Gaskins earned first-team Pac-10 All-Academic honors in 2002 and has scored for the Bruins at the last two Pac-10 Championships.

Ross, a senior from Elk Grove, CA, earned third-team distinction with a 3.42 GPA in Sociology. The defending NCAA outdoor discus champion and the two-time defending Pac-10 discus champion was a second-team Academic All-District VIII selection in 2002 and has earned conference all-academic honors in two seasons. Ross, who was selected for this honor in 2000, is also a member of the Bruin Athletic Council.

The award, which is given by Black Issues in Higher Education, is open to students of color who have completed at least one academic year at their current institution. Student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher and a record of campus or community service.