CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois women's basketball player Ta'Kenya Nixon has been named one of 10 national female finalists for the 2013 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award presented by the Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine. The winners will be profiled in the April 11 edition of the magazine.
 
The 20 male and female finalists were chosen from over 500 student-athletes nominated for the award co-sponsored by the NCAA. The award was established to honor undergraduate students of color who exemplify the standards set by tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr.
 
To be included, students have to compete in an intercollegiate sport, maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2, and be active on their campuses or in their communities. She is the second EIU student-athlete in as many years to be named a top-10 finalist for the award as former track standout Bridget Sanchez was named a finalist a year ago.
 
Nixon recently became the first women's basketball player in school history to be named to the All-OVC First Team four times. The two-time OVC 'Defensive Player of the Year' leads the Panthers in scoring with 14.6 points per while posting 5.9 assists and rebounds per game.
 
The Michigan City, Ind., native is currently 12 points shy of becoming the school's all-time scoring leader, looking to surpass former Panther player and assistant coach Rachel Galligan (2006-09). She also ranks first in career free throws made (528) at EIU while ranking fifth in rebounds (768), second in assists (628) and third in steals (281). 
 
In the classroom, the biology major intends on becoming a physician's assistant after graduation following the completion of an advanced degree. She is active in the community participating in the team's community service projects that have included volunteering with the Habitat for Humanity and the Make-a-Wish-Foundation.
 
Nixon was also named a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award for women's basketball. The guard was one of 30 players to be selected to the initial award's list.
 
The 10 female finalists:
Jessica Harlee – Basketball, West Virginia
Kastine Evans – Basketball, Kentucky
Kody Burke – Basketball, North Carolina State
Monique Weathers – Basketball, Benedict College
Shalya Bivins – Basketball, Georgia Tech
Ta'Kenya Nixon – Basketball, Eastern Illinois
Michelle Ikoma – Gymnastics, North Carolina
Alexandra Couzo – Soccer, Felician College
Ifeatu Okafor – Track/Cross Country, Texas Tech
Minami Yamamura – Gymnastics, California-Davis