Maui Student Athletes Honored at 2014 HMSA Kaimana Awards

Trent Hori and Alexandra Pardico, both of Maui High School were honored with awards during the 2014 HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program. Courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

Three student athletes from Maui County were honored during the 2014 HMSA Kaimana Awards and Scholarship program.

Alexandra Pardico of Maui High School and Xrystina Bicoy of Molokaʻi High were among a list of only five students that were honored as distinguished scholarship recipients.

In addition to the distinguished awards, the two also received scholarship awards for their outstanding achievement within the Maui Interscholastic League.

“It was a huge honor to be one of these few that actually get this award and the monetary winnings will be so helpful in my coming years in college.  It’s just so much to be grateful for,” said Bicoy in a post event interview.  Bicoy ran cross country, competed in track and field, played tennis, and is a swimmer.

Maui High School Student Trent Hori rounded out the list of students recognized during the ceremony as a recipient of a Maui Interscholastic League Scholarship.

In addition to his academic excellence, Hori is also a member of the Maui High baseball team, an Eagle Scout, an all-state bowler, a member of the Hawaiʻi All-State Band that performed at the Rose Parade in January 2014, and served as a senior intern for Senator Brian Schatz in Washington, DC last year, according to DOE officials.

All three received scholarship awards worth $3,000 each for their selection by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association as MIL winners.  Bicoy and Pardico received an additional $2,000 each for their selection as distinguished scholars.

The Kaimana program, which started nine years ago in 2005, recognizes high school student athletes who demonstrate accomplishments for their hard work on and off the field.

2014 HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program winners. Courtesy photo.

“The students and the schools we’re honoring today understand the value of giving back to our communities,” said Elisa Yadao, HMSA senior vice president of Consumer Experience in a press release statement.

“In addition to the countless hours they worked to excel academically and athletically, they all made time to make a difference and give back. These are young people making positive change in the world and we want to do whatever we can to help them because that’s the best way to create healthy, vibrant communities,” said Yadao.

In addition to individual awards, 30 high schools from across the state were recognized for achieving the highest program scores in their league and division for athletics, academics, sportsmanship and community service.  The top 10 schools on the list also received a check for $1,500.

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKpHg35fr8Q /] Schools from the Maui Interscholastic League that were recognized during the awards ceremony included:

• Division 1: 1st Lahainaluna High School; 2nd King Kekaulike High School; and 3rd Maui High School.
• Division 2: 1st Maui Preparatory Academy; 2nd St. Anthony High School; and 3rd Seabury Hall Academy.