Fairfax, Va. - On June 4, 2006, The EDU Ledger will release its annual Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars special report edition. The edition is part of our decades-long tradition of recognizing outstanding young men and women who have distinguished themselves in their academic, athletic, and civic pursuits.

In addition to their athletic ability, those named 2026 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars have maintained at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, are at least sophomores academically, and participate in community service. Over 900 scholar-athletes nominated, one male and one female athlete will be selected as Sports Scholar of the Year.

St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Tennis student-athlete Henry Ronnberg has been chosen as a finalist for this prestigious honor based on his work on the court, in the classroom and in the community.

The Top 10 men (in alphabetical order) are: 

• Rodrigo Alves, North Carolina Central University, Tennis

• Julian Beban, College of the Holy Cross, Soccer

• Nick Bostic, The College of Wooster, Football

• Omari Bryson, Voorhees University, Basketball

• Chukwuebuka Ejiofor, St. John’s, Basketball

• Armond Hopkins, Voorhees University, Track/Cross Country

• Quintin Lowe, Purdue University, Track/Cross Country

• Henry Ronnberg, St. Thomas Aquinas College, Tennis

• Isaiah Shirley, NC State University, Football

• Hiroshi Tai, Georgia Tech, Golf

 The Top 10 women in (alphabetical order) are: 

• Winnie Chiang, University of Cincinnati, Golf

• Joleigh Crye, University of Cincinnati, Swimming & Diving 

• Caroline Fredenburg, Auburn University, Equestrian

• Juliette Laracuente-Huebner, University of Cincinnati, Track/Cross Country

• Clarisel Lopez, University of California, Merced, Track/Cross Country

• Hailey Morrow, Brigham Young University, Softball

• Makaila Riedel, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Soccer

• Jada Smith-Padmore, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Squash

• Tyrah Weems, Morgan State University, Volleyball

• Alice Yu, Johns Hopkins, Volleyball

Last year’s overall winners were Jaida Ross from the University of Oregon and Jayo Adegboyo from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Other past Arthur Ashe Scholars have included the University of Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson (2011), the University of Tennessee’s Kara Lawson (2003), San Diego State University’s Marshall Faulk (1993), and Stanford University’s Simone Manuel (2017), to name a few who have gone on to achieve great success.

Finalists and winners from each sport category nominated will be announced prior to the June 4 edition.