Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech men's swimmer Aaron Boyd was the second runner-up for the 2020 Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Athlete of the Year, which was handed out May 28 during a live virtual awards ceremony.
The Arthur Ashe Jr. Male and Female Athletes of the Year awards recognize young, outstanding minority men and women who have distinguished themselves in their academic and athletics pursuits. In addition to their athletics ability, students named to the 20 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5, be at least a sophomore academically, and be active on their campuses or in their communities.
Boyd, a native of Annandale, Virginia who graduated in mid-May with a degree in business information technology, was one of nearly 1,000 scholar athletes nominated for the award. He swam the freestyle events for the Virginia Tech men's swimming and diving team during his four-year career.
"I was very excited and honored to be recognized as a finalist out of 100 across the country," Boyd said. "I'm great to have an award to highlight diversity and achievements in college athletics. I'm thankful for the opportunities that Virginia Tech athletics have given me that past four years."
As a senior this past season, Boyd earned first place in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 freestyle and second in the 100 butterfly at the Virginia Tech Invite. He also placed third in the 400 freestyle against Virginia. Out of the pool, he has been a member of the Virginia Tech Dean's for the past three years and is a three-time member of both the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll and Athletic Director's Honor Roll for achieving at least a 3.0 grade-point average.
"We are so happy and proud of Aaron Boyd for receiving such recognition," Virginia Tech swimming head coach Sergio Lopez Miro said. "Aaron has been an intrinsic part of the Hokie swimming and diving team, not just in the water but in every aspect that defines what a Hokie is all about."
Rodrigo Blankenship, a kicker on the University of Georgia football team, won the Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Athlete of the Year honor, while Raena Eldridge, a swimmer at Texas A&M, took home the Female Athlete of the Year honor.