May 17, 2002
Cullowhee, N.C. - The tenth annual Arthur Ashe, Jr. Spots Scholars Awards were announced this April, and Western Carolina's Yoneko Allen was a first team selection for women's basketball. The triple-major scholar also boasts one of the highest cumulative grade point averages of all the honorees with a 3.859 in Business Law and Administration, Sport Management and Marketing.
The Sports Scholar Award was established in the late Arthur Ashe, Jr.'s name by Black Issues In Higher Education to honor undergraduate students of color who excel in academics, athletics and service to the community, standards set by Ashe, who died in 1993. Award winners must compete in an intercollegiate sport, maintain a cumulative GPA of a 3.2 or higher and be active on their campus and in the community.
Allen, who just completed her redshirt sophomore year at Western, transferred here in 2000 from Clemson University. After sitting out her first year for the Catamounts per NCAA regulations, Allen, voted by her teammates as co-captain, became a key contributor to the Lady Cats' success this year. She led her team in minutes played per game and started 25 of 26 games played this year. She averaged nine points per game, led the team in three-pointers averaging 1.77 per game and was third on the team in assists with 53, an average of 2.04 per game. She added 22 steals and 234 total points for the season, sinking a career-high 17 points versus conference foe UNC Greensboro in January, five of those shots coming from beyond the arc.
A self-described determined competitor on the court, she's just as focused in the classroom. She has been on the Dean's List, the Southern Conference Honor Roll and a member of the WCU Honor Society. She has never had below a 3.4 during any semester and has recorded a perfect 4.0 three times for a cumulative GPA of 3.859. She was also the recipient of the Athletic Director's 3.0 Academic Award. Allen has already been recognized as an outstanding scholar twice this year. She was named to the Verizon Academic All-District III Second Team for her efforts in the classroom and was named WCU's Female Scholar Athlete of the Year recently at the school's annual athletic awards banquet.
As if basketball and a full class load didn't keep her busy enough, Allen is also actively involved on her campus and in the community. She is a member of the WCU Student Athlete Advisory Council and the Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity. She participates with her teammates in preparing and serving food at the Community Table of Sylva. Allen has volunteered as a basketball coach during summer camps as well as other basketball clinics. She also finds time to tutor other students and sing in the WCU choir.
"We are very proud of Yoneko for all that she's done to win this award and fortunate to have her on our team," said head women's basketball coach Beth Dunkenberger. "She is a great leader to her teammates on and off the court. She truly exemplifies Western's motto: 'One goal... to be the best'."
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