Meet defensive lineman Darius Robinson, a first-round selection in the 2024 National Football League (NFL) Draft, and sprinter Olivia Womack. As exceptional college student-athletes, Robinson of Mizzou and Womack of Ole Miss were named 2024’s Arthur Ashe Jr. Male and Female Sports Scholar of the Year.

The Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar program is part of Diverse’s over 30-year legacy of recognizing young minority men and women who have distinguished themselves in their academic and athletic pursuits. Of the nearly 600 student-athletes nominated this year, Robinson and Womack were chosen for best exemplifying the standards of scholarship, athleticism, and humanitarianism.

Tune in as they share their biggest sources of inspiration and how their passion in top-tier athletic competition translates to their endeavors off the track and the field. We hope you enjoy getting to know these scholars better in this special double-episode with Diverse host Ralph Newell.

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Key Points:

• Arthur Ashe’s legacy on sport and society
• How community service plays a significant role in Womack's life
• Womack’s plans to attend law school
• Womack and Robinson’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) experiences
• The effects of NIL on student-athletes
• Athletic opportunities and academic support for African American student-athletes
• Robinson’s Helping Hands Foundation and how it helps people who lack resources
• The importance of balancing academics and athletics
• The pivotal role of resilience and learning from setbacks

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Quotables:

"Football only lasts so long, but my education will last forever." – Darius Robinson

“When it comes to setbacks, especially when academically, sometimes [in] athletics, you have to learn to compartmentalize that.” – Olivia Womack

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Guest Resources:

Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Winner Goes First Round to the Arizona Cardinals | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education (diverseeducation.com)

Faith, Family and Community | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education (diverseeducation.com)

Forward Motion | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education (diverseeducation.com)

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[Donate] Darius Robinson’s Helping Hands Foundation

Email | drhelpinghandsnp@gmail.com

IG | @drhelpinghands

Learn more about the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Award Program Awards/Honors > Arthur Ashe | Diverse: Issues In Higher Education (diverseeducation.com)

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Closed captioning and a live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.

In The Margins is produced by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/).