honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, June 15, 2008

21 student-athletes honored by HMSA

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

HMSA's Bob Hiam, left, poses with Kamehameha's Nathan Nakatsuka, Kealakehe's Malia Ann Fyffe and ESPN's Neil Everett.

MARISA L. TAKAHASHI | HMSA

spacer spacer

Sports, academics and community service came together in a big way yesterday at the third annual HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program luncheon, as 21 freshly graduated student-athletes and 30 high schools were honored for extraordinary achievements in all three.

Over $70,000 in scholarships and awards were presented at yesterday's luncheon at The Kahala Hotel & Resort. ESPN SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett was the keynote speaker, encouraging the college-bound students to "keep your focus" when in pursuit of future endeavors.

Three students — Kealakehe's Malia Fyffe, Kamehameha's Nathan Nakatsuka and Waimea's Bingxi Sun — were recognized as "Distinguished Athletes" and each was awarded $3,000 in scholarship money.

Fyffe ran cross country and played soccer and water polo; Nakatsuka played tennis and ran cross country; Sun participated in bowling, cross country, air riflery and tennis.

The other 18 honorees, who each received $2,000, are:

  • Brittany Atiburcio, Maryknoll (cheerleading, wrestling);

  • Danica Auna, Kahuku (wrestling, judo, cross country);

  • Emma Broderick, Kamehameha (cross country, water polo);

  • Christopher Burniske, Punahou (cross country, track and field);

  • Ryan Daugherty, Konawaena (bowling, cross country, paddling, air riflery, tennis);

  • Chloe Edinger, Baldwin (paddling, cross country);

  • Aaron Haque, Moanalua (soccer, cross country, track and field);

  • Tiffany Lastimosa, Campbell (tennis);

  • Trenton Lum, Roosevelt (cross country, judo, tennis, soft tennis);

  • Samantha Martin, Maui (soccer, volleyball);

  • Kristyn Mathewson, Kaiser (basketball, cheerleading, cross country, soccer, softball, track and field);

  • Caitlin Mizoshiri, 'Iolani (cross country, judo, wrestling);

  • Kiana Nip, Lahainaluna (tennis);

  • Billy Oden, Kailua (basketball, football);

  • Lauren Riley, Kaua'i (soccer, track and field);

  • LeeAnn Sagucio, Waimea (basketball, cross country, air riflery, tennis);

  • Janna Taylor, Punahou (cross country, swimming, water polo);

  • Chelsey Utemei, Kohala (softball, volleyball).

    The thirty schools received their Kaimana Awards (for first place, second and third) based on points accumulated during the 2007-08 school year. The points are awarded for athletic achievements, academic performance, sportsmanship and service to the community.

    The schools finishing in first place in each of their leagues and respective divisions each received $1,500 each.

    Here are school first-place winners:

    Big Island Interscholastic Federation — Division I: Waiakea; Division II: Hawai'i Prep.

    Interscholastic League of Honolulu — DI: Saint Louis; DII: Hawai'i Baptist.

    Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation — Island School.

    Maui Interscholastic League — DI: Kamehameha-Maui; DII: Seabury Hall.

    O'ahu Interscholastic Association — Red: Moanalua; Blue: Radford; White: Kahuku.

    A half-hour program highlighting the Kaimana Award winners will be shown at 6:30 p.m. July 14 on KGMB-9, with a re-broadcast at 4:30 p.m. July 20.