Anahola girl finalist for Scholar Award

Mariko Strickland, a senior at Long Beach State, has been named one of 10 female finalists for the 2009 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Award, states an announcement from the “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education” magazine.

Strickland, who lists Anahola as her home address, was selected out of more than 600 male and female student athletes that were nominated for the honor, states a release from Long Beach State University. The overall female winner of this award will be announced May 28.

During her two-year career at LBSU, the 49ers won a pair of regular season conference titles and made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

As a senior in the fall of 2008, Strickland, a graduate of the Mid-Pacific Institute, compiled two goals and six assists on the season, earning her first-team All-Big West honors.

A transfer from San Diego State, Strickland also garnered second-team all-conference recognition in 2007 when she started 19 of 20 matches at midfield. In that year, Strickland compiled three goals and added three assists on 34 shot attempts, starting her 49er career with two assists in the team’s season opening win against CS Bakersfield, 5-0.

A Big West all-academic selection, Strickland totaled nine assists and five goals, three of which were game-winning scores, during her career at LBSU.

The Sports Scholar Award was started in 1992 by “Black Issues in Higher Education” magazine, now renamed to “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education,” and honors undergraduate students who exemplify the standards set by Arthur Ashe Jr., a tennis player.

To be nominated, students need to compete in an intercollegiate sport, maintain a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade-point average and be active on their campuses or in their communities.

Mariko is the daughter of Sue and Greg Strickland and has an older brother, Kyle, who played soccer for Gonzaga and UC Irvine. Her major is kinesiology.