Mendiguren, Saeed, and Nazir Honored as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars
5/8/2020 10:03:00 AM | Men's Squash, Sailing, Women's Squash, Academic Services
Trio of Colonials received award from national magazine
WASHINGTON – George Washington's Aitana Mendiguren (Sailing), Abbas Saeed (Men's Squash) and Zuha Nazir (Women's Squash) have been honored as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars of the Year in their respective sports. The awards, presented annually by the magazine Diverse: Issues in Higher Education since 1992, honor student-athletes exemplifying the highest standards of scholarship, athleticism and humanitarianism.
Mendiguren put together a successful fall season and earned a spot on the All-MAISA Second Team. The skipper worked with fellow senior Sarah Noyes throughout the fall season. The duo had its best performance when it won the Susan Rogers '75 Memorial in September at Cornell, holding off the host Big Red in a tight competition (41-44). At the MAISA Women's Fall Dinghy Champions, Mendiguren and Noyes finished in sixth place, just four points behind fifth-place Old Dominion.
In the classroom, the public health major held a cumulative GPA of 3.5 and was a member of the Spring and Fall 2019 GW Athletics Academics Dean's Lists.
Saeed just finished up his sophomore campaign, earning eight wins, including five victories at the No. 8 spot. The Sherborn, Mass., native boasted a five-match win streak to kick off the winter season, topping opponents from Vassar, Middlebury, St. Lawrence, Navy and Williams. His most notable victory came against then-No. 8 Drexel at No. 8, topping Shaan Dala in a five-game battle.
The nutrition science major was recognized on the Fall 2019 GW Athletics Academics Dean's List.
Nazir wrapped up her junior season with eight victories, topping her opponents twice at No. 4 and six times at No. 5. The Centerville, Ohio, native had a season-best three-match win streak in January, besting opponents from Vassar, Middlebury and St. Lawrence. The neuroscience major gave the Colonials a boost at the No. 5 spot at CSA Team Nationals, helping the squad defeat Middlebury, 5-4, to finish the season ranked 14th in the country.
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education considered nearly 1,000 nominations in 39 sports before handing out the honors named after tennis great Arthur Ashe, Jr. Nominees for the award must be at least a sophomore academically, maintain a 3.5 or better cumulative GPA and be active on campus and in their community.
Mendiguren put together a successful fall season and earned a spot on the All-MAISA Second Team. The skipper worked with fellow senior Sarah Noyes throughout the fall season. The duo had its best performance when it won the Susan Rogers '75 Memorial in September at Cornell, holding off the host Big Red in a tight competition (41-44). At the MAISA Women's Fall Dinghy Champions, Mendiguren and Noyes finished in sixth place, just four points behind fifth-place Old Dominion.
In the classroom, the public health major held a cumulative GPA of 3.5 and was a member of the Spring and Fall 2019 GW Athletics Academics Dean's Lists.
Saeed just finished up his sophomore campaign, earning eight wins, including five victories at the No. 8 spot. The Sherborn, Mass., native boasted a five-match win streak to kick off the winter season, topping opponents from Vassar, Middlebury, St. Lawrence, Navy and Williams. His most notable victory came against then-No. 8 Drexel at No. 8, topping Shaan Dala in a five-game battle.
The nutrition science major was recognized on the Fall 2019 GW Athletics Academics Dean's List.
Nazir wrapped up her junior season with eight victories, topping her opponents twice at No. 4 and six times at No. 5. The Centerville, Ohio, native had a season-best three-match win streak in January, besting opponents from Vassar, Middlebury and St. Lawrence. The neuroscience major gave the Colonials a boost at the No. 5 spot at CSA Team Nationals, helping the squad defeat Middlebury, 5-4, to finish the season ranked 14th in the country.
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education considered nearly 1,000 nominations in 39 sports before handing out the honors named after tennis great Arthur Ashe, Jr. Nominees for the award must be at least a sophomore academically, maintain a 3.5 or better cumulative GPA and be active on campus and in their community.
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