Kohala’s Kassie Kometani, Kamehameha’s Zoe Leonard and Kaiulani Ahuna and Hawaii Prep’s Gabbie Ewing were named recipients of the 13th annual Roy Fujimoto Senior Scholarships.
The scholarship winners will each be awarded a $1,500 stipend to be used for college.
The annual scholarship program, named after former BIIF Executive Director Roy Fujimoto, who retired in 2004, is for senior student-athletes. It’s sponsored by KTA Super Stores and the BIIF.
The recipients are chosen based on their athletic and academic achievement as well as community service. Thirty-one Big Island student-athletes applied for the 2015 scholarships.
The field is highlighted by Kometani, who excelled in all three areas, in particular academics. She scored 1,910 on her SAT, the highest among the 31 candidates.
A letter of recommendation was required, and none better captured the qualities of a candidate than that of Kohala principal Janette Snelling’s.
She was Kometani’s principal since middle school, and watched her participate in a diverse field of activities, including many that fostered a strong sense of community building, such as the Student Credit Union and Leo Club.
Kometani is a BIIF swimming champion, has won state medals at the HHSAA championships, and qualified for states in doubles tennis, the latter quite fitting because a partnership requires teamwork and trust — traits the Cowgirl has exhibited all four years.
“I am fortunate to have been Kassandra’s principal for the past seven years. Because of this history, I have been able to witness her development into a passionate, goal-driven young adult,” Snelling wrote. “Her accomplishments in both sports have been noteworthy. What stands out and what is so vitally important to her is not her awards, but rather the character and values that she imbues through her actions.
“She has been an exemplary role model for others. Her dedication, perseverance, spirit and humility are exemplary. As a 4.0+ student (4.12 GPA), Kassandra represents the full package.”
She is the daughter of John and Vicky Kometani of Hawi. Her dad is a science teacher and cross country coach at Kohala High; her mom works in public relations for Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.
Kometani will attend Lewis &Clark College, in Portland, Ore., on an academic scholarship and major in environmental studies.
She’ll also join the Pioneers swimming team, which competes in the Northwest Conference, home also to Pacific University, a popular college for Hawaii products.
As a junior in 2014, Kometani won the BIIF gold in the 50-yard freestyle, becoming the first female league champion for Kohala.
She repeated in the 50 free as a senior, and added BIIF gold in the 100 free and 200 free relay, but her first gold weighed more.
“For the first time in years, Kohala was put on the map for swimming,” she said. “It was extremely gratifying to know I was able to represent my school in a way that had never been done before.”
The impact of that 2014 BIIF gold and bronze medal at states grew swimming at Kohala. During Kometani’s senior season, the team nearly doubled in size.
The other honorees are:
• Zoe Leonard, a Kamehameha senior who was a key part of the volleyball team’s four-year reign as the BIIF Division I champion.
She was a two-time All-BIIF first-team selection. Leonard was also on the USA Women’s Junior National A1 training team, an AAU Academic All-American and in USA Volleyball High Performance Olympic training for four years.
Leonard was in the National Honor Society, and president of the Ambassadors of Ke Alii Pauahi Club.
She had a 4.03 GPA and scored 1,880 on the SAT. Leonard will attend Dartmouth College, and play volleyball at the Ivy League school in New Hampshire.
She is the daughter of Chris and Kathy Leonard of Hilo.
• Gabbie Ewing, a Hawaii Prep senior who was the leader on the soccer team’s back-to-back Division II state championships.
She was the BIIF Division II Player of the Year as a senior, and a four-time first-team pick when HPA won four league titles.
Ewing was the BIIF Division Player of the Year as a junior for volleyball. Ka Makani finished as the Division II state runner-up to Konawaena in 2014.
As a volunteer, she helped local triathlons and the Kohala Forest Clean-up and was vice president for the Help for Hospice Club.
Ewing had a 3.93 GPA and scored 1,650 on the SAT. She will attend Concordia University, and play soccer at the Division II school in Portland, Ore.
She is the daughter of Peter and Kathy Ewing of Kailua-Kona.
• Kaiulani Ahuna, a Kamehameha senior who was the hammer during the volleyball team’s four-year reign as the BIIF Division I champion.
She’s the two-time BIIF Division I Player of the Year. Like Leonard, Ahuna was on the USA Women’s Junior National A1 training team, and in USA Volleyball High Performance Olympic training.
Ahuna had a 3.572 GPA and scored 1,640 on the SAT. She will attend Eastern Washington University and play volleyball for the Division I school.
She was described as a Roy Fujimoto pick by the selection committee. Fujimoto was a champion for the underdog, and Ahuna is a perfect example.
It is quite rare to find a 5-foot-8 ½-inch Division I scholarship player as an outside hitter. Most at that size are liberos, but not Ahuna, who built a reputation for jumping over obstacles, and lost her dad when she was 8 years old.
Kuulei Ahuna passed away from cancer in April, 2005. He was 51. However, his daughter was never alone, surrounded by a warm embrace from his relatives.
Kaiulani Ahuna is the daughter of Leslie Ahuna, and one main reason the Roy Fujimoto Senior Scholarships were created.
Annual recipients include:
• 2003: Mikela Yarawamai (HPA), Bronson Ganir (Pahoa), Erica Chong (Hilo High) and Brad Lau (HPA).
• 2004: Susan Gleed (HPA), Matt Haasenritter (Hilo High), Kyle Teves (Kealakehe) and Kelsey Harrity (Konawaena).
• 2005: Jessica Hanato (Konawaena), Johanson Quist (Hilo High), Francesca Weems (Kealakehe) and Michael Kopra (HPA).
• 2006: Landon Kurata (Waiakea), Katrina Chong (Hilo High), Leon Peralto (Kamehameha) and Jackie Ganiron (Pahoa).
• 2007: Kela Fitzgerald (HPA), Kellie Kitaoka (Konawaena), Kimberly Kopra (HPA) and Keoni Ucker (Christian Liberty).
• 2008: Ryan Higa (Waiakea), Cecily Kimura (HPA), Preston Vierra (Honokaa) and Megan Wery (Kamehameha).
• 2009: Jake Shiraki (Honokaa), Noelani Vargas (HPA), Johnathan Viernes (Pahoa) and Sam Unger (Konawaena).
• 2010: Kaitlyn Chock (Waiakea), Sage Johnson (Honokaa), Tayler Wang (HPA) and Brandon Bautista (Kohala).
• 2011: Richard Handy Jr. (Keaau), Anuhea Wall (Konawaena), Tialana Greenwell (Honokaa) and Morgan Rapozo (Waiakea).
• 2012: Dawnyelle Awa (Konawaena), Jaclanne Pagala (Keaau), Chayce Moniz (Honokaa) and Megan Aina (Kamehameha).
• 2013: Zoe Sims (HPA), Marley Strand-Nicolaisen (Ka’u), Talon Ota (Keaau) and Ke Kula ‘O’ Ehunuikaimalino’s Ke’oulikamaha ‘oakauanoe Ruedy (Konawaena).
• 2014: Evan Enriques (Kamehameha), Casey Poe (Kamehameha), Evyn Yamaguchi (Konawaena) and Charlie Belmes (Keaau).
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Members of the selection committee are Lyle Crozier (BIIF Executive Director), Keith Tolentino (Honokaa AD), Kalei Namohala (Ka‘u AD), Stan Costales (Sports Line), Kevin Jakahi (Tribune-Herald sports writer), Bobbie Awa (Konawaena basketball coach), Curtis Chong (BIIF counsel) and Craig Hamamoto (KTA Super Stores).
Roy Fujimoto (former BIIF executive director) is an honorary member.