May 1, 2009

Complete Release from Diverse: Issues In Higher Education

FAIRFAX, Va. - Long Beach State senior Mariko Strickland (Anahola, Hawaii) has been named one of 10 female finalists for the 2009 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Award the Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine has announced.

Strickland, a midfielder on the 49er women's soccer team, was selected out of over 600 male and female student-athletes that were nominated. The overall female winner of this prestigious award will be announced on May 28.

During Strickland's two-year career at LBSU, the 49ers won a pair of regular season conference titles and made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. As a senior in the fall of 2008, Strickland compiled two goals and six assists on the season, earning her first-team All-Big West honors.

A transfer from San Diego State, Strickland also garnered second-team all-conference recognition in 2007.

A Big West all-academic selection, Strickland totaled nine assists and five goals, three of which were game-winning scores, over her career at LBSU.

In 1992, Black Issues In Higher Education magazine, now Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, established the Sports Scholars Award to honor undergraduate students who exemplify the standards set by tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr. To be nominated, students have to compete in an intercollegiate sport, maintain a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade-point average and be active on their campuses or in their communities.