Julia Perry has never been one to seek the spotlight. In fact, when she started her high school career at Hawaii Preparatory Academy, she did everything she could to avoid it, wanting as few people as possible watching her.
Four years later, it’s become hard to miss Perry and her long resume as a student-athlete and as a contributor in the community. So much so that it has landed the fresh Ka Makani graduate among elite company and firmly in the spotlight for all the right reasons.
Perry headlines the 16th annual Roy Fujimoto Senior Scholarship class and is joined by Konawaena’s Austin Ewing, Kamehameha-Hawaii Saydee Aganus and Hilo’s Kailee Kurokawa.
The scholarship program is named after the former BIIF executive director and is sponsored by KTA Super Stores and the league.
The recipients, who each receive a $1,500 stipend, are chosen based on their athletic and academic achievement, as well as community service.
Thanks to a rigorous workload in the classroom, a healthy serving of honors and AP classes, Perry earned a 4.4 weighted GPA at Hawaii Prep. She is bound for Santa Clara University in the fall.
Perry will never forget her Ka Makani pride, however. She was one of only nine seniors from Hawaii Prep’s graduating class of 116 that had attended the school since kindergarten.
“She makes a point of dedicating herself wholeheartedly to our school community,” said Cindy Montgomery, the associate director of college counseling at HPA.
Perry was the student body vice president and yearbook editor in chief. She was also apart of the Red Cross Club and Students Against Destructive Decisions for four years.
“Whether it’s through academics, athletics, yearbook, or student council, Julia’s social network encompasses nearly every person on our campus, and HPA is a better place because of it,” Montgomery said. “There is no edge to her; she is well rounded in the truest sense of the word.”
At first glance, according to some of those who know her, Perry can come across as quiet, reserved or even socially shy. That doesn’t last long once she gets comfortable, as she was in her role as a captain on HPA’s soccer team her junior and senior seasons.
“On the soccer field she was an obvious leader by her junior year,” said Richard Braithwaite, who spent a lot of time with Perry on the soccer pitch, as well as in the classroom as her English honors teacher. “When she speaks, her peers listen. Immediately. Not because she uses a harsh tone, but because they implicitly understand that Julia’s way is the right way and they’d better get on board. She leads by example on the field as well as in the classroom.”
Perry was a four-time all-BIIF defender on Ka Makani’s soccer team and was a key contributor on four state title winning squads.
Perry also excelled in volleyball, garnering all-BIIF honors her senior year, and was a standout in the pole vault during the track and filed season.
But more than all of the medals and accolades, what Perry valued most from her time as a high school athlete was seeing the growth within herself — no longer hesitant or doubtful in her abilities, but instead eager and confident.
“It was through my experience over the past four years within the athletic programs that my school, this island and the state have provided me with, that I was able to develop immensely as an athlete, a teammate, and a leader — both tactically and mentally,” Perry said. “My confidence and enthusiasm for whatever sport I may be competing in has seen a dramatic increase for the better thanks to the BIIF program and all it has to offer.”
Other honorees from the field of 30 applicants are:
Austin Ewing: a Konawaena senior who starred in football, basketball, baseball and track and field, while making an impact away from athletics with his work with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program at Konawaena Elementary as a mentor for several years.
Ewing also was active on the leadership council at the Kealakekua school, serving as the co-vice president on the student council, volunteering for numerous events and assisting in campus beautification.
“We probably won’t see another student athlete like Austin in Kona for the next 20 years,” said Edmund Yamagata, general manager of Roberts Hawaii.
Ewing found his way into more than a few headlines during his prep career, most notably at quarterback for the Wildcats, notching three offensive player of the year honors in Division II and leading the program to its first state title game in history.
“Austin epitomizes what a student-athlete stands for,” said Sam Papalii, who worked with Ewing on the football team during his senior year. “He has an ultra-competitive drive to achieve and strives to continuously work for excellence. Austin’s intelligence, paired with athletic talent plus a great work ethic, is probably only surpassed by his competitive fire.”
Austin cited his sister, Gabbie Ewing — also a Fujimoto recipient — as a major impact on his success.
“She has been a great role model for me,” Austin said. “Seeing her continue on to college and play the sport she loves inspired me to do the same.”
Austin Ewing will be attending Southern Utah University to play football in the fall, majoring in secondary education.
“My goal is to someday be able to come home and give back to this community by teaching high school math as well as coaching football at the high school level.”
Kailee Kurokawa: a Hilo senior who was a two-time all-BIIF setter in volleyball, while notching a 4.041 GPA in the classroom to go with a hefty helping of community service.
Kurokawa will head to Seattle University on an academic scholarship, majoring in nursing while continuing her volleyball career.
“I have never heard Kailee complain about her workload or make an excuse for anything below her best work,” said Kellie Frias, Kurokawa’s counselor at Hilo High. “She works hard, asks questions and manages to have fun at the same time.”
Kurokawa was her class treasurer, part of the National Honor Society and Key Club, and the class of 2018 graduation coordinator. Away from campus, she volunteered at the Hilo Medical Center, Kapiolani School and as a youth coach with her Piopio Bears volleyball club.
Frias said what sets Kurokawa apart from the pack is her heart, which is most evident through her involvement in Project Unify. The goal of the Special Olympics affiliated program is to create school communities of acceptance and respect.
“Kailee spends her recess and lunch periods coaching and mentoring students with special needs prior to their participation in the Special Olympics,” Frias said. “These daily interactions have touched her in a special way.”
“She is often inspired by them as they have disabilities and never give up — something she has vowed never to do,” added Charlene Masuhara, Student Activities Coordinator at Hilo High. “She will never give up on helping others to always do their best and she will always do her best. Kailee is a special young woman who continues to inspire others and who represents the best of today’s young people.”
Kurokawa cites a race on the track with her Unified teammate Damien as an experience that changed her outlook on life — despite a second place finish.
“I felt in my heart and soul Damien’s pride and happiness. It didn’t matter to him that we had lost the race. He was simply just proud of our accomplishment that we had finished the race together,” Kurokawa said. “I realize now, that it is the journey that counts … Just like my Special Olympic teammates, I will always be proud of my efforts and never the end result.”
Saydee Aganus: a record-setting Kamehameha-Hawaii senior that was a standout both in track and basketball.
The explosive hoopster led the Warriors to the Division II state basketball title as a senior as their point guard and leading scorer and was named the BIIF D-II player of the year three times.
Aganus also broke the 100-meter hurdles mark as a junior at the state championship, which she points to as her standout memory from her time at Kamehameha.
“It impacted me the most because I felt like I made the Big Island proud and I was able to represent Big Island athletics well and with pride,” Aganus said. “I was able to show growth through high school as a BIIF athlete.”
Aganus had a cumulative 3.5 GPA and plans to attend West Point Military Academy, majoring in international business and relations.
“In my 16 years of teaching, I’ve never had a student who is as hard working and dedicated to doing her best as Saydee,” said Jonathan Kua, Aganus’ Algebra 2 teacher at Kamehameha. “She demonstrates excellent study skills and her outstanding outlook in class only mirrors her outstanding achievement outside of the classroom.”
As a way of giving back to her school, Aganus created the Kamehameha Intermediate Track Invitational as her senior project. It brought both sides of the island together to compete. She also volunteered at Hawaii Storm Basketball clinics and helped out with Special Olympics.
Kamehameha athletic director Kimo Weaver says Aganus’ most endearing quality is her humility.
“Because of her bearing, she is difficult not to notice, but she is not flashy and doesn’t appear to need to be the center of attention,” Weaver said. “However, there is never a doubt that she is the leader. She is a valuable role model for our student athletes, male and female.”
If Aganus was to describe herself in one word, it would be determined.
“I feel like once I set my mind to something, I will do it,” she said. “And I also believe that every setback leads to a major comeback.”
