10 UC Merced athletes earn Arthur Ashe scholar awards
Ten athletes from UC Merced have earned Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Awards, the university announced Tuesday.
UC Merced’s 10 award winners were the second most of any NCAA Division II university.
The awards, inspired by tennis legend Arthur Ashe, Jr.’s commitment to education, honor students who excel in athletics, the classroom, and community service and leadership.
UC track and field star Clarisel Lopez Obeso headlines the group. She was named an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year finalist in April.
Lopez Obeso is UC Merced’s all-time record-holder in the 100 and 200 meters, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay and the long jump. She maintained a 3.95 GPA and was named UC Merced’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year award for 2025-26.
UC Merced women’s soccer’s Katy Flores and women’s volleyball’s Semiramis Tanasescu earned the award for the third time.
Here’s the list of this year’s winners:
- Joey Alvarez, Men’s Soccer, Junior, Public Health
- Leslie Aquino, Women’s Track, Sophomore, Computer Science & Engineering
- Katy Flores, Women’s Soccer, Senior, Biological Sciences
- Elisa Garcia, Women’s Soccer, Junior, Biological Sciences
- Sarina Nagra, Women’s Basketball, Junior, Political Science
- Tangi Netane, Women’s Volleyball, Sophomore, Management & Business Economics
- Joyce Nichet, Women’s Track, Sophomore, Biological Sciences
- Clarisel Lopez Obeso, Women’s Track, Senior, Public Health
- Semiramis Tanasescu, Women’s Volleyball, Senior, Biological Sciences
- Yahaira Vazquez, Women’s Volleyball, Sophomore, Biological Sciences
