Their senior seasons may have ended several months ago, but for Sante Parker Jr. and Maria Rico, one more prestigious honor was awarded on Tuesday, when they were named ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor Recipients.
The ASC Scholar-Athlete Medal of Honor is the highest award an ASC athlete can earn from the conference itself. One male athlete and one female athlete of the graduating class of each institution in the league receives the honor from the ASC
Parker Jr., a defensive end for the UMHB football team, wrapped up his senior year as a three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-American in addition to his Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year award in 2022. He was voted All-America on defense by two outlets this past and was the ASC’s Defensive Player of the Year. Parker Jr. also carried a 3.92 GPA as a computer science major.
True To The Cru’s Riley Zayas and D3Direct’s Karl Barkley did a joint interview with Parker Jr. during the middle of last season. Check it out here: The Student Athlete Sessions: Sante Parker Jr.
Rico led UMHB women’s soccer as a high-scoring forward, who helped the Crusaders reach the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in program history. Rico finished her final season on the pitch as a United Soccer Coaches All-America selection as well as a First Team Region 10 and First Team All-ASC honoree. As a student, she tallied a 3.91 GPA as a psychology major. She led the ASC in goals (10), points (22), and shots on goal (29) this past fall.
According to UMHB’s press release, “the medal is awarded to one male and one female member of each institution’s graduating class who has compiled the most outstanding record in academics, athletics and leadership over their collegiate career.”
