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Delaware's Kaili Kao, Chris Dixon Named 2005 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars

DATE: April 14, 2005

FAIRFAX, VA -- University of Delaware sophomore field hockey player Kaili Kao and men's track and field sophomore Chris Dixon have been selected as 2005 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars as selected by Black Issues in Higher Education magazine.

The awards honor male and female student-athletes of color who best exemplify the high standards of scholarship, athleticism, and humanitarianism set by the late tennis great, Arthur Ashe. To be eligible for nomination, student-athletes have to maintain a 3.2 or better cumulative grade point index, be a key member of their athletic team, and be active on campus and in the community. This year approximately 600 student-athletes were nominated.

Kao (pronounced "cow"), an international relations major from State College, PA (State College Area HS), was one of three field hockey players honored while Dixon, a computer engineering major from Manheim, PA (Hempfield HS), was named to the track and field second team and was one of 28 track and field athletes honored.

Kao, a two-year standout on defense for head coach Carol Miller, appeared in 14 games and started seven in 2004, helping the Blue Hens post a 15-7 record, win its first ever Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title, and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988. As a freshman in 2003, she started 16 of 18 games and led the Blue Hens a second place finish at the CAA Tournament.

She is enrolled in the UD Honors Program, is a Dean's List student, has twice been named to the CAA Academic Honor Roll, twice named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Academic squad, and is a member of the Golden Key, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies. In addition to her majoring in international relations, she also has minors in French, business, and religious studies.

Dixon, one of Delaware's top sprinters and hurdles the last two seasons for head coach Jim Fischer, led the Blue Hens to a fourth place finish at last year's CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships as a freshman. He placed second in the 400 meter hurdles and fifth in the 110 meter hurdles at the meet. This year's CAA meet will be held April 23-24 at George Mason University.

He holds the third best indoor 60-meter hurdles mark in school history at 8.72 and is ranked No. 4 all-time at Delaware in the outdoor 400 meter hurdles (54.03) and No. 7 all-time in the indoor 400 meters (49.91). He is a member of the Dean's List, has been named to the CAA Academic Honor Roll, was awarded the UD Certificate of Distinction, and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He has been active in his hometown as a volunteer with the Landisville Church of God, the Crispus Attucks Homeless Shelter, and at the Landisville Elementary School.

Selected as the overall male and female Sports Scholars of the Year were Michigan State mens' basketball standout Chris Hill and UNC-Charlotte women's track and field standout Sharonda Latrice Johnson.

- DDD -

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