Buffs' Wichhart-Donzo Receives Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award

Junior Maja Wichhart-Donzo recognized for her outstanding academic and athletic achievements

BOULDER – Junior track and field star Maja Wichhart-Donzo received the Arthur Ashe Junior Sports Scholar award last week. The award is given by Issues: A Diverse Look at Higher Education, and is in memory of tennis star, Arthur Ashe.

Ashe's commitment to education and love for the game of tennis are what inspired this award. It honors undergraduate student-athletes every year that excel academically and athletically, are involved in their community and have a passion for student leadership.

Wichhart-Donzo grew up in Catonsville, Maryland, and is studying international affairs and is pre-med, while maintaining an impressive 3.65 GPA. She was named to the Academic All-MPSF team in both 2017 and 2018. She not only is committed to her education, but also to being a good leader and role model to her peers.

She spent last summer abroad in Botswana studying global public health. "Honestly, it was one of the best experiences of my life," Wichhart-Donzo said. Her days were spent shadowing in different clinics, which she enjoyed because her goal is to pursue a career in international medicine. "Something like Doctors Without Borders would be amazing." She said she learned quite a bit about the culture while she was there too. She stayed with a host family so she got to experience what it is like to live like a local. She also took a Setswana language and culture class.

In between practices and a rigorous academic schedule, she was able to volunteer at the Family Learning Center during the fall semester. "It was sort of hard with my schedule, but I would go in every week for an hour and a half to two hours, and help middle school aged students with their homework, like math and reading and writing essays," she said. This summer she is looking forward to volunteering at the Boulder County Aids Project.

At the Bryan Clay Invitational in April, Wichhart-Donzo recorded several personal records while competing in the heptathlon. She clocked in at 14.12 in the women's 100 meters, the third fastest time ever run by a heptathlete in the heptathlon. She just competed in the Pac-12 Combined Events Championship over the weekend, placing fifth and earning four points for the Buffs as they go into the rest of the Pac-12 Championships this weekend. Wichhart-Donzo will be competing in the high jump and the triple jump.

Colorado University Athletics

Buffs' Wichhart-Donzo Receives Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award

Players Mentioned

Maja Wichhart-Donzo

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