The Kauai Pop Warner Football League took time to honor its top football and cheer program scholar-athletes during the league’s annual Scholastics Banquet Saturday night at Wong’s Restaurant in Hanapepe.
Blaine Agena, KPWFL scholastics coordinator, said scholar-athletes qualify by achieving a 96 percent or better grade point average and, by attaining this, will compete against the top scholars in the Pop Warner western region and nationally for Academic All-American status.
Additionally, athletes are not only considered for their academic achievement, but for their community involvement, honors and extracurricular activities.
“We try to make it a special night for the student athletes and give them the recognition they deserve,” Agena said. “This year, our special guest was Dick Ueoka, one of the founders of Pop Warner football on Kauai. We have named the Scholastics Excellence award after him.”
Top KPWFL scholar athletes include Jaedalyn Cummings, Samaria Kelley, Maeani Arbilera, Ashley Pabustan, Kiara Gandia, Kyrie Linoz, Cody Manibog, Jonah Sandal, Cayden Artaho, Kade Erdmann, Jaiden Sams, Elias Casillas, Maiya Oshima and Joseph Sams.
The National Pop Warner Academic All-American winners will be announced on its website on April 1, with the winners invited to attend the Pop Warner All-American Scholar Weekend, which will be held this year in Disney World, Florida, during the Memorial Day weekend.
“Hats off to these young men and women for their hard work in the classroom,” said Teddy Arroyo, the KPWFL president. “We are very proud of them showing good character and in knowing the responsibility of a student-athlete. Their parents can be very proud knowing that their child has achieved the highest level in Pop Warner football, nationwide.
“I would like to thank our League Scholastic Coordinator Blaine Agena for doing an awesome job, and the rest of the Kauai Pop Warner Football League board members who worked countless hours to make this scholastics dinner a big success. I would also like to thank all of the associations’ scholastic coordinators for their hard work, and Jackie Wong of Wong’s for the great food.”
