Eight Huskers Named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars

Eight student-athletes from Nebraska’s track and field program have been named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars. 

Givon Washington and Jordan De Spong were selected to the first team, while George Kusche, Tony Nou, Johanna Ilves, Petra Luteran, Mia Morck and Anna Purchase were all honored on the second team. 

To be eligible for the annual Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar awards, diverse student-athletes must have reached at least sophomore standing academically, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.20, and be active on campus and in the community.

Nebraska had a total of 20 honorees across all sports in 2020, including five first-teamers. 

Washington was a semifinalist for the national Male Sports Scholar of the Year Award in 2020. The senior from Argyle, Texas carries a perfect 4.0 GPA majoring in business administration and economics. De Spong, a native of Dunedin, New Zealand, holds a 3.75 cumulative GPA majoring in accounting and management.

In men’s track and field, Nebraska was the only Power Five school to have two first-team Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars.

Women

Johanna Ilves – Second Team (So., Koeru Estonia, Agribusiness)

Petra Luteran – Second Team (Sr., Szarliget, Hungary, Accounting)

Mia Morck – Second Team (So., Bagsvaerd, Denmark, Management)

Anna Purchase -Second Team (So., Nottingham, England, Graphic Design)

Men

Givon Washington – First Team/National Scholar of the Year Semifinalist (Sr., Argyle, Texas, Business Administration & Economics) 

Jordan De Spong – First Team (Sr.,Dunedin, New Zealand, Accounting & Management)

George Kusche – Second Team (Jr., Malelane, South Africa, Actuarial Science)

Tony Nou – Second Team (So., Viljandi, Estonia, Economics)