FAIRFAX, Va. – Senior Lauren Waller (Canonsburg, Pa.) was named the second runner-up for the 2019 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Athlete of the Year as announced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine earlier this month. Waller was also named the women's golf sport winner for 2019.
As the name denotes, the annual Ashe edition is a part of our quarter-century legacy of recognizing outstanding minority young men and women who have distinguished themselves in their academic and athletic pursuits.
In addition to their athletic ability, students named 2019 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars maintained a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5, were a sophomore academically, and were active on their campuses or in their communities.
Waller, a bio behavioral health major, hasn't missed a tournament in her entire collegiate career and is currently fourth on the team with a 74.08 stroke average and a pair of top-10 finishes in 10 events this season heading into the Big Ten Championships in a few weeks.
Waller is also a member of the Penn State Welfare Committee which helps to collaborate and implement new ideas to improve student-athletes' academic endeavors and well-being. The senior has also volunteered with Birdies of the Heart where she helped raise funds and awareness for Women's Heart Health.