Valparaiso University’s Windy Santa Cruz (Fall Creek, Wis./Fall Creek H.S.) and Adam Rundh (Aalborg, Denmark/Orjanskoland [Sweden] H.S.) were named finalists for the national Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award as selected by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine.

Santa Cruz, a senior chemistry major, ran cross country and track and field for the Crusaders.  She received the Lumina Award for Valparaiso’s College of Arts and Sciences and has participated in Chemistry in the Schools, an outreach program that puts club members in fifth-grade classrooms.  She has a 3.92 cumulative grade point average.

Rundh, a senior finance and international business major, was among the top defenders on the Valpo football team.  The recipient of the Outstanding International Student Award from Valpo’s Office of International Studies, he also participated in a volunteer tutoring program at a local elementary school.  He carries a 3.95 cumulative GPA.

Santa Cruz and Rundh were also both named to the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Teams in track and field and football respectively.  They joined several other Crusaders who also were named to the teams in their respective sports.

Ashley Varner (South Bend, Ind./Washington H.S.) was named to the women’s basketball team with her 3.75 cumulative GPA as a psychology major while Angie Porché earned the honor in volleyball with a 3.79 GPA, also in psychology.

Wei Ming Wong (Hong Kong/Hong Kong International H.S.), an international business major with a 3.63 GPA was named to the men’s soccer team while Toshko Ganzorigt (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/Orchlon H.S.) was selected to the men’s swimming team.  He carries a 3.58 GPA in finanace and accounting.  Kevin DeHerrera (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield H.S.) earned the honor in men’s tennis with a 3.98 GPA as a civil engineering major.

The awards recognize minority undergraduate students who have made achieving both academically and athletically a winning combination.  To be eligible for the honor, students have to be an intercollegiate athlete, maintain at least a 3.2 grade point average, and be active on their campus and in the community.