Okinawa High School Stars Score Big with Athletic Scholarships!

Dania Beach, Florida, USA - The world of athletics in the DODEA-Pacific schools is buzzing with excitement this spring as 20 seniors prepare to transition to college through various athletic scholarships. In a commendable showcase of talent and determination, 14 of these promising young athletes hail from Kadena and Kubasaki High Schools on Okinawa.

Among those making the leap to collegiate sports, four students are heading to Olivet Nazarene University in Joliet, Illinois. Neil Kentish, a standout receiver-cornerback from Kadena, emphasizes that hard work and strong communication with coaches were pivotal in securing his scholarship. Joining him are teammates Carmelo Ward and Cameron Edson, with Lukas Gaines representing Kubasaki. Olivet Nazarene’s relatively modest enrollment of 3,150 students contrasts sharply with the larger Division I institutions, but there’s plenty to be said for the opportunities it offers.

A Wide Array of Talent

The scholarship honors don’t stop there. Just look at some of the other exceptional athletes from Okinawa also receiving scholarships:

• Liza Young (Kadena volleyball) – Northwood University, Division II, Midland, Michigan.
• Tobin Kaiser (Kadena lacrosse) – Chowan University, Division II, Murfreesboro, North Carolina.
• Sakura Lopez (Kubasaki soccer) – United States Merchant Marine Academy, Division III, Kings Point, New York.
• Solares Solano (Kubasaki soccer) – Glenville State University, Division II, West Virginia.
• Hailey Stoudemayer (Kubasaki soccer) – Hastings University, Division II, Nebraska.
• Carlos Cadet (Kubasaki track and football) – Carroll University, Division III, Waukesha, Wisconsin, on full scholarship.
• Brennen Hall (Kubasaki shot-putter/discus thrower) – Shenandoah University, Division III, Winchester, Virginia.
• Max Lundberg (Kubasaki lacrosse) – St. Mary’s College of California, Division II.
• Haustyn Lunsford (Kubasaki football and track) – Mansfield University, Division II, Pennsylvania.
• Emily Schwennesen (former crew competitor) – Rochester Institute of Technology, Division III, New York, as a preferred walk-on.

With such an impressive cohort moving on to various colleges, it’s apparent that the DODEA-Pacific schools are nurturing exceptional talents. Tony Alvarado, coach of Cadet, Gaines, and Lunsford, expressed his eagerness to continue supporting and inspiring future athletes, underlining the community spirit that thrives in these programs.

Expanding Opportunities

But what about students across different regions? Opportunities like the DODEA Student Leader Scholarships are also gaining traction. With eligibility branching out across numerous locations — from Alaska to American Samoa, Hawaii to the Virgin Islands, Kentucky to Indiana — students looking to bolster their educational journey have options aplenty. These scholarships not only cater to athletic talents but also seek to reward leadership skills in various domains, encouraging a well-rounded educational experience.Olivet University highlights the breadth of this initiative throughout its admissions process, creating pathways for aspiring leaders.

In addition to the athletes moving into collegiate sports, there are students from E.J. King and Nile C. Kinnick schools following closely behind. Notably, student-athletes like Damian Perez and Amin Alipourkashiki from E.J. King are headed to Point Park University. And don’t overlook Kicoh Guenther from Yokota, who’s signed a partial scholarship to play football for Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Washington.

With talent spanning various sports and locations, this year’s scholarship achievements from DODEA-Pacific schools illustrate that the commitment and hard work of both students and coaches are clearly paying off. It’s a reminder that there’s plenty of promise on the horizon, both for the athletes and academic leaders of tomorrow.