The Big 12 has five of the 20 finalists for the 2012 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award. No other conference has more. There are 10 male finalists and 10 female finalsits. The Big 12 is represented by Kansas State's Victory Ojeleye (men's basketball), Emmanuel Acho (Texas, football), Chelsea Garcia (Oklahoma State, softball), Krista Lopez (Oklahoma State, soccer) and Beth West (Texas A&M, soccer).

The Sports Scholar Award was established in 1992 to honor undergraduate students of color who exemplify the standards set by tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr. To be nominated, student-athletes must compete in an intercollegiate sport, maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 and be active on their campuses or their communities. 

Baylor's Robert Griffin III won the award last year.