Miami, Florida native recognized by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education for performance on the court and in the classroom

Poveda

2019 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar Awards Announcement

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education - April 2018 Issue

EASTON, Mass. (April 11, 2019) – The Stonehill College volleyball sophomore Sophia Poveda was named to the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars second team as published in the April edition of 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 student leadership.

Poveda, who has earned a 3.63 cumulative grade-point average and as an Economics major and a double minor in Political Science and business, was one of three student-athlete from the Northeast-10 Conference to be named on the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar volleyball teams.

Currently, Poveda volunteers her time as a counselor with the Ace's Girls Program, which is a female empowerment program for local youth. She is also a peer mentor at Stonehill with the Moreau Honors Program and is involved with the Stonehill Leadership Development Series for student-athletes.

Poveda held career highs this season in five categories

Last summer back at home in Miami, Florida, Poveda coached her former Miami Elite Volleyball Club team. While in high school at Westminster Christian School, the sophomore was a student tutor in science and math. She also was a student spokesperson with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes where she was a featured speaker at Night of Champions, a city-wide rally, and other donor events as well as, a founder of Four Girls Digging for a Cause which was a founded service club to raise funds for local charities through beach volleyball tournaments.

Over her two years as a student-athlete at Stonehill, she has been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll six times and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll. This season she saw career highs in five categories and currently has averaged 2.21 kills per set, 0.17 assists per set, 0.33 aces per set, 2.08 digs per set, and 0.27 blocks per set.

Poveda was a 2017 graduate of Westminster Christian School in Miami, Florida, where she played basketball and volleyball. The sophomore also played club volleyball for the Miami Elite.

Stonehill wrapped up the 2018 season with an 11-11 overall mark and a 7-7 NE10 record.

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