Emory University senior Zahra Dawson was named to the Capital One Academic All-America At-Large Team for the second-straight season, earning a spot on the first team for her achievements both on the tennis court and in the classroom during the 2012 season.

It marked the second-straight season that Dawson has been selected as an Academic All-American.  She was named to the second team in 2011.

Dawson ended her Emory career as the program's all-time leader in doubles victories, finishing her time as an Eagle with an overall doubles record of 105-34.  For the second time in her career, she finished second in the doubles draw at the NCAA Division III Championships, teaming with Gabrielle Clark to reach the final match of the tournament.  Earning all-America honors all four years of her collegiate career, Dawson also finished second in the program's history in singles victories with a record of 86-39.  Earlier in the year won the NCAA Division III Doubles Draw at the ITA Fall Small College Nationals, advancing to the 'Super Bowl.' 

Dawson, a three-time UAA All-Academic and ITA Scholar Athlete selection, in addition to winning the regional Arthur Ashe Award in 2011, has a 3.81 grade point average as an Applied Mathematics major.

Dawson becomes the fourth member of the Emory Women's Tennis program to be named to the Academic all-America First Team, joining former Eagles Debbie Frisk (1992), Megan Bern (1996 and 1997) and Margaret Moscato (2003 and 2004).  She is the 13^th Academic all-American overall in the program's history.

Joining Dawson on the Women's At-Large First Team were women's swimmers Anne Culpepper and Zahra Dawson.  Emory was not only the only school with multiple selections to the Academic all-America At-Large First Team, but no other school had more two selections on the first, second and third teams, combined.

Emory has now had 133 athletes named Academic All-Americans, 52 of which have been selected to the first team.

Sports represented on the 'At-Large' team include women's bowling, women's crew, men's and women's fencing, women's field hockey, men's and women's golf, men's and women's gymnastics, men's and women's ice hockey, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's rifle, men's and women's skiing, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, men's volleyball, men's and women's water polo and men's wrestling.

To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsitystarter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution, and be selected to an Academic all-District team.