Junior Krystle Cook of the University of Kentucky gymnastics team has been selected to the first-team in the national balloting for Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine’s annual Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholars Awards.

Cook was the team leader of the Cats this past season, earning a berth to the NCAA Championships after winning the Central Regional vault competition. The Austin, Texas native?s achievements went outside of the gym as Cook earned a 3.5 GPA this past semester as a Journalism major and has volunteered at multiple Lexington organizations throughout her career. Cook was one of only seven gymnasts nationally to earn the honor.

The Sports Scholars Awards were established in 1992 and are based on scholarship, athleticism and humanitarianism to honor undergraduate students who exemplify the standards set by the late tennis great Arthur Ashe, Jr. Minimum qualifications include at least a 3.20 grade point average and an active profile on campus and/or in the community. Approximately 600 male and female student-athletes were nominated.