Hou Named Finalist for ITA Sally Ride STEM Award

(TEMPE, Ariz.) - Carnegie Mellon University women's tennis junior Anikia Hou has been named a finalist for the prestigious Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Sally Ride STEM Award as endowed by Tam O'Shaughnessy.

Now in the award's fifth year, the ITA Sally Ride STEM Award honors one of the biggest icons in American history, Dr. Sally Ride, who was the first woman to soar into space. Combining two of Dr. Ride's greatest passions in tennis and science, this award has been awarded to some of the most distinguished student-athletes in college athletics.

Being awarded to a female student-athlete who demonstrates zeal, dedication, and perseverance towards her tennis training and competition, STEM studies, and long-term goals, the ITA Sally Ride STEM Award serves as a symbol of the ability of women to shatter barriers both on and off the court. 

This year, four finalists were selected after an extensive application process that showcased each applicant's unique commitment to excellence across all areas of their lives. These four finalists include Hou, Alisha Chulani (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps), Abigail Moss (Georgetown College), and Abigail Williams (College of Wooster).

"Each year, the finalists for the ITA Sally Ride STEM Award are extraordinary," stated Tam O'Shaughnessy. "There are so many talented women who are passionate about athletics and STEM! It is time they are held up high and honored."

Whether learning about sacrifice, respect, analytical thinking, perseverance, or responsibility, tennis has always served as a space in which Hou could learn valuable life lessons. However, the greatest lesson of all that Hou credits to tennis is what it means to be a part of a larger team. At Carnegie Mellon, Hou expanded in her revelation that commitment thrives when it is shared and jumped right into numerous leadership roles both on and off the court.

In the fall of 2024, Hou was nominated and selected as one of eight students out of 1,700+ to be part of Carnegie Mellon's Inaugural Class of Charpie Leadership Institute. Here, she drew on valuable experiences gained through tennis and her life to serve as a voice for the entire student-athlete body. Majoring in Statistics and Math, Hou is aiming to pursue her passion of seeking solutions to unprecedented issues the world is facing today. After completing her graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon, Hou plans to pursue a PhD in Statistics, where she hopes to work on developing rigorous, data‐driven solutions that help shape safer, more accountable AI systems.

Previous recipients of the ITA Sally Ride STEM Award include Jessica Lu from MIT (2025), Hannah Kassaie from Case Western Reserve (2024), McKenzie Ferrari from UMass Dartmouth (2023), and Anna Tifrea from the California Institute of Technology (2022).

"The ITA Sally Ride STEM Award represents the very best of what college athletics can inspire—excellence in competition and commitment" said ITA CEO David Mullins. "This year's finalists embody Dr. Sally Ride's legacy through their passion for both tennis and STEM, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate their achievements and support their future endeavors".

Each year, the recipient of the award receives a grant in the amount of eight thousand dollars ($8,000) to pursue her dreams. The award money given to the student-athlete may be used in any way she wishes [e.g., tuition, books, rent, etc.]

Additionally, the ITA will donate two thousand dollars ($2,000) to the women's tennis program of the institution from which the award winner graduated.