July 27, 2010

Blackim to be honored during awards luncheon in New York

As part of being named the Junior College national winner of the 2010 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award, Cowley College graduate Jamie Blackim will be treated by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) and United States Tennis Association (USTA) to a weekend in New York, highlighted by activities during Arthur Ashe Kids' Day at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Saturday, August 28th.

The group will be honored at the ITA awards luncheon, hosted by the USTA in the President's Dining Room Suite. Lucy Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA, David A Benjamin, ITA Executive Director, David Dinkins, former Mayor of New York City and a member of the USTA Board of Directors, are among those on hand to present the awards.

The ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recognizes outstanding individuals in all divisions at the regional and national level. This award which dates back to 1982, goes to NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and JUCO men's and women's players who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.

As a member of the Lady Tiger tennis team, Blackim was the Region VI champion in both No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles during each of her years at the school.

Along with playing tennis at Cowley, Blackim was a Cowley Captain, Student Ambassador, Tutor, Resident Assistant, and was involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She was named Cowley’s September, 2009 Student-Athlete of the Month and the school’s January, 2010 Student of the Month.

“Jamie is an outstanding young lady and was very deserving of this honor,” Cowley head tennis coach Josh Cobble said. “She took advantage of the opportunities to get involved on campus and showed good leadership skills on and off the court.”

Blackim will continue her tennis career at Washburn University.

The 2010 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recipients include:
WOMEN

• NCAA Division I – Catherine Newman, Vanderbilt
  
• NCAA Division II - Natalia Ramos, FIT
  
• NCAA Division III - Julia Browne, Tufts
  
• NAIA - Sheryl Bon, Azusa Pacific
  
• JUCO - Jamie Blackim, Cowley CC

MEN

• NCAA Division I – Jason Jung, Michigan
  
• NCAA Division II - Lorenzo Cava, Bentley
  
• NCAA Division III - Matt de Vlieger, Calvin
  
• NAIA - Oliver Sindayigay, Lewis-Clark St.
  
• JUCO - Adres Cepede, Meridian CC