Three Brandywine Student-Athletes Named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars

MEDIA, Pa. -- A trio of Penn State Brandywine student-athletes received Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar awards on Tuesday as women's soccer senior Sierra Coleman (Folcroft, Pa./Academy Park), women's basketball senior Sierra Diawara (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) and women's tennis sophomore Samma Zahran (Brookhaven, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) all claimed honors.

 

Coleman, who earned the award for the third consecutive year, graduated from Brandywine in May with an English degree. A four-time academic all-conference honoree, Coleman finished her undergraduate career with a 3.70 grade-point average. She also collected two USCAA National Academic Team awards and was selected to the United East Conference All-Sportsmanship Team following her senior season.

 

On the pitch, Coleman started 13 games in the midfield in 2024. She appeared in 47 matches during her four-year career, ranking seventh all-time in games played in program history.

 

Diawara graduated with a 3.65 GPA, earning her degree in communications this spring. As a senior, Diawara was voted to the CSC Academic All-District Team and was named United East Conference Scholar Athlete, her fourth consecutive academic all-conference award.

 

A four-year member of the women's basketball team, Diawara garnered third team all-conference laurels in 2024-25 after averaging 10.5 points in 25 games for the Lions. She completed her 106-game career with 945 points and 430 rebounds. Diawara ranks fourth in program history with 167 made three-pointers.

 

Zahran will enter her junior year as a human development and family studies major sporting a 3.99 GPA this fall. She was a United East Scholar Athlete and CSC Academic All-District honoree during the 2024-25 academic year. 

 

A Second Team All-United East selection, Zahran went 9-3 as Brandywine's No. 1 singles player in 2024-25, tying for third in the UEC in singles victories. She owns a 18-6 singles record during two seasons with the Lions.

 

Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar awards honor undergraduate students who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the athletic field and are sponsored by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education Magazine. Inspired by tennis legend Arthur Ashe, Jr.'s commitment to education as well as his love for the game of tennis, the magazine has selected the top minority student-athletes who have completed at least two semesters at their institution and hold a grade-point average of 3.20 or higher every year since 1992.