Hawaii Prep’s Justin Perry and the Konawaena trio of Chanelle Molina, Ihi Victor, and Taiana Tolleson were named recipients of the 14th annual Roy Fujimoto Senior Scholarships.
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 scholarship winners will each be awarded a $1,500 stipend to be used for college.
The recipients are chosen based on their athletic and academic achievement as well as community service.
Twenty-three Big Island student-athletes applied for the 2016 scholarships. However, six candidates were eliminated for submitting unofficial transcripts.
The 2016 class is highlighted by Perry, who excelled in all three areas, especially in the classroom. He scored 2,050 on the SAT, the highest among the field.
The son of Stephen and Robyn Perry of Waimea will attend Duke and major in mechanical and computer engineering.
Perry played football and soccer and had a senior year to remember.
The HPA soccer team captured the HHSAA Division II championship, the program’s first, and the BIIF title as well.
Perry was the BIIF Division II player of the year and noted that the state championship was more than a three-day tourney run, ending with a 3-1 win over Kamehameha-Hawaii.
“The championship was representative of not only our hard work over the past season, but also during the previous seasons,” he said. “We had been building and building on values that would be essential to our success. We had the perfect combination this year of leadership, talent, grit and chemistry. All the pieces fell together in the most perfect way.”
Ka Makani coach Richard Braithwaite, an English teacher at the school, had Perry in his AP Literature class and saw the same team-oriented leader.
“When he reports to the class for his group, he doesn’t report what he said, the points he made but instead relates to his peers’ work,” Braithwaite said. “He listens, encourages and leads. He’s that student other students want to emulate. You can tell with Justin that his work doesn’t stay in the classroom but instead follows him as he walks out the door.”
Perry, who had a cumulative 4.127 GPA, made his soccer teammates better in the same encouraging manner.
Braithwaite recalled a game where HPA beat Honokaa, and a freshman didn’t play and looked dejected for not contributing. Before Braithwaite could talk to his player, Perry was already there with a comforting shoulder to lean on for the freshman.
“That player worked incredibly hard at practice all week, smiling and connected to the team,” Braithwaite said. “I’ve never had a leader like that, one capable of stepping outside of his own little world when struggling (Perry was sick but played) to help the team win, then notice the struggling members of the team and to connect with them and bring them back to the joy of the game.
“He does all the captainy things — showing up early, helping younger players, working hard in every drill, being humble despite being the best players on the field, etc. — but he manages to lead even when he isn’t performing.”
Perry was a peer tutor at HPA, a student council member and student ambassador.
The other honorees are:
• Chanelle Molina, a Konawaena senior who was a three-time BIIF Division I player of the year in basketball and a two-time D-II POY in volleyball.
Molina was the Gatorade state player of the year in 2014, ’15, and ’16 for basketball.
She had a 3.45 GPA and scored 1,300 on the SAT. Molina will attend Washington State and play basketball and major in sports medicine.
Molina volunteered for the Pink Zone Initiative to promote breast cancer awareness and as a youth basketball coach. She also served as part of an elementary school literacy outreach program.
She is the daughter of Allan and Roselyn Molina of Kailua-Kona.
• Ihi Victor, a Konawaena senior who was a key cog on the basketball team that won consecutive state titles and the volleyball team that pocketed two state crowns as well.
Like Molina, Victor had a long list of BIIF and state honors, including a spot on the all-tourney team for states in 2015 and ’16.
She had a 3.0 GPA and scored 1,260 on the SAT. Victor will attend Saint Martin’s and play basketball.
Victor volunteered at the District Court House as a clerical assistant and as a Kona Stingrays camp coach for four years.
She is the daughter of Michael Victor IV and Francine Victor of Kailua-Kona.
• Taiana Tolleson, a Konawaena senior who became the first BIIF soccer goalkeeper player to sign with a Division I college, Vanderbilt.
She was also a four-time All-BIIF first-team selection and the co-player of the year in 2016.
Tolleson was also on the first Wildcat water polo team to reach states in 2015. She also played on the volleyball team.
She had a 3.867 GPA and scored 1,680 on the SAT. Tolleson will attend Vanderbilt and play soccer and major in forensic psychology.
Tolleson was Konawaena’s student vice president, a student trainer, and participated in Aloha Kayak beach clean-ups.
She has also been part of the Kamehameha Scholars, an educational enrichment program with a focus on college and career guidance.
She is the daughter of Iwa Kalua ad Kamala Galletes.
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 Kaua Ruedy (Konawaena).
• 2014: Evan Enriques (Kamehameha), Casey Poe (Kamehameha), Evyn Yamaguchi (Konawaena) and Charlie Belmes (Keaau).
• 2015: Kassie Kometani (Kohala), Zoe Leonard (Kamehameha), Kaiulani Ahuna (Kamehameha), Gabbie Ewing (HPA).
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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.
