Ross Brown of Washington University Named the Arthur Ashe Jr. Swimming & Diving Male Athlete of the Year

Ross Brown of Washington University Named the Arthur Ashe Jr. Swimming & Diving Male Athlete of the Year

From Washington University Athletics

Washington University in St. Louis senior Ross Brown, Tampa, Fla. (Robinson) was selected as the winner of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Swimming & Diving Male Athlete of the Year by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine.

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education sponsors the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar Awards to honor undergraduate students who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the athletic field. Inspired by tennis legend Arthur Ashe, Jr.'s commitment to education as well as his love for the game of tennis, U.S. colleges and universities are invited to participate in this annual awards program by nominating their outstanding sports scholars. In addition to their athletic ability and academic performance, Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars demonstrate a commitment to community service and community activism.

"This as a great honor for Ross. He was an excellent leader for this program and always does what is best for our team," said WashU head coach Brad Shively. "His academic and athletic successes are surpassed only by his dedication to WashU Swimming and the Washington University community. He's obviously had a tremendous swimming career, but it is really fitting to see him rewarded for his efforts on campus and in the classroom."

In addition to being a nine-time All-American swimmer at WashU, Brown is an active member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Following a fraternity brother's passing away from cancer in 2015, Brown helped his Sigma Alpha Epsilon peers raise thousands of dollars in support of Relay for Life.

"I feel blessed with the life that I'm living and I understand that others may have many obstacles or difficulties that are out of their control to enjoy their life to the fullest," Brown shared. "By being an active member of the community, I can help others overcome those obstacles and it's the least I can do to show my thanks for the blessings I have." 

The economics & strategy and finance major holds a 3.27 grade point average while also serving in a variety of roles within the WashU community. He is the vice president of finance for the National Black MBA Association, WashU Undergrad Chapter, the President of the Thurtene Junior Honorary and team captain of the WashU swim team that placed ninth at the 2018 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving National Championship.

Diverse: Issues In Higher Education is the nation's only newsmagazine dedicated exclusively to diversity issues in higher education.