University of Hawai'i Athletics would like to congratulate and recognize the Class of 2023. Below are stories of some of our current and former student-athletes who earned their degrees this spring/summer.
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| MADISON KIM |  WOMEN'S TENNIS  |  HALF MOON BAY, CALIF.  |  MAJOR: ANIMAL SCIENCE |
Why did you choose UH and what was your overall experience like?
I choose to come to UH because of the sense of family and community through athletics and its schooling systems. If I were to choose again, I would always choose UHM because of the valuable life lessons and skills that I have obtained, on the tennis court and in the classroom, that will help me through my future endeavors.
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What was your favorite memory as a Rainbow Wahine?
If I were to blindly select a favorite memory out of the million, I would have to be cheering my teammates on during clinch matches, especially in the finals to win the Big West Conference. However, I will always remember the special culture the islands bring and the true meaning of representing not just the University, but the entire state of Hawai'i whenever we play tennis. To me, that is a very unique and one of a kind experience.
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What's next for you? What is your career aspiration?
I will be attending the University of Arizona School of Veterinary Medicine in the hopes of becoming a future veterinarian. I plan on specializing in small animal practice or in equine, and I would like to work in surgery. Additionally, I hope to open or collaborate with a sanctuary for animals that are unable to find a home to be cared for.
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What advice would you give to anyone interested in UH?
I would not think twice about coming here because the island is a special place to call home. With only four years, not only will you get amazing weather, beaches, and scenery, but the sense of culture and pride that the state has is unlike anywhere else in the world. With an open mind, you can be a part of a unique experience that not many get to enjoy. As a Californian girl, I can safely say that I really do wish I was an Island girl! And no, I never got island fever and there are more secrets to unlock about the island...and not just Waikiki!
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Who has been instrumental in helping you get your degree and what would you like to tell them?
Acknowledging just one person would not make sense because there was always a strong sense of support from my family. Not just my personal family, but from my Wahine Tennis Family, Hawai'i Athletics, and the faculty for Academics. All have supported me, physically and emotionally, to keep working hard and strive for better. To my mom and dad (Julia and Darius), my sister (Chloe), my coaches (Jun and Saverio), my teammates throughout my four years, my academic mentors (Dr. Kondo and Dr. Odani), my academic advisor (Garrett), and to all the people who believed in me along the way. All of my accomplishments could not have been possible without you in it.
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| OLIVIA KISTLER  |  WOMEN'S WATER POLO |  SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.  |  DOUBLE MAJOR: NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND GEOGRAPHY |
Why did you choose UH and what was your overall experience like?
I picked UH because I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and try something different. I got the amazing opportunity to live in Hawai'i, play the sport I love, and create lifelong friendships with people from around the world.
What was your favorite memory as a Rainbow Wahine?
As I look back on my journey, I remember the early morning practices, the grueling workouts, and the tough games that pushed me to my limits. I remember the victories that brought me joy and the losses that taught me valuable lessons. But most importantly, I remember the bonds that I have formed with everyone I've met here in Hawai'i, bonds that will stay with me for a lifetime. As a senior, I have not only had the great chance to represent the school but also our community. I have been thankful for the opportunity to show what it takes to be a friend and teammate. I've learned what it takes to have grit and resilience, and to never give up. My journey doesn't end here and as I move on to the next chapter of my life, I must take the lessons I have learned from the time as a Rainbow Wahine and apply them to all aspects of life. Water polo has taught me that sports are not just about winning or losing, but about character, sportsmanship, and family.
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What's next for you? What is your career aspiration?
I'm starting a summer internship here in Hawai'i and would love to stay here after that ends. I would also love to play in Europe at some point and possibly get a master's degree overseas.Â
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What advice would you give to anyone interested in UH?
I want to say that being a Rainbow Wahine has been an honor and a privilege. I am proud to have represented our school, our community, and our values. I wish all the newcomers the best as they start their next chapter in life. Remember that the journey towards success is not a solitary one, and that the bonds you form will always be there to support you.
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Who has been instrumental in helping you get your degree and what would you like to tell them?
Obtaining my degrees has been a journey that I couldn't have done without the support of my family, coaches, and friends. To my coaches, thank you for your unwavering dedication, support, and guidance. You have not only helped me become a better athlete but a better person. Your passion for the sport has inspired me to push my limits and to never give up. My family and friends have been a constant source of encouragement and motivation. Their belief in me and their unwavering support have been instrumental in keeping me focused and determined throughout my educational journey.
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| RACHEL SABOURIN  |  SOFTBALL  |  CENTENNIAL, COLO.  |  MAJOR: KINESIOLOGY & REHABILITATION SCIENCE |
Why did you choose UH and what was your overall experience like?
I chose UH because it's been my dream school since I was 9. I fell in love with the campus and loved the weather, location, and people. It's been a dream come true playing for UH and I loved learning about the Hawaiian culture and gaining an experience that not many people get to say they got to do.Â
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What was your favorite memory as a Rainbow Warrior/Wahine?
My favorite memory was sweeping Cal State Fullerton at our home stadium last year -or- travelling as a team and dancing/singing in the vans with my teammates.
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What's next for you? What is your career aspiration?
My plans are to go to physical therapy school and become a sports physical therapist and eventually work with a professional team.
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What advice would you give to anyone interested in UH?
I would say to learn as much as you can about the Hawaiian culture and take in as much as possible. I would also tell people to take as many pictures/videos as you can and to not be afraid to try new things like food or activities!
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Who has been instrumental in helping you get your degree and what would you like to tell them?
Definitely my parents, my coaches, my teammates, my academic advisor, and the whole Kinesiology department here at UH. I just want to say a huge THANK YOU for always believing in me and telling me to persevere and to always work hard. It was definitely worth it!
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| SATSUKI TAKAMURAÂ Â |Â Â WOMEN'S TENNISÂ Â |Â Â SATAIMA, JAPANÂ Â |Â Â MAJOR: COMMUNICATION |
Why did you choose UH and what was your overall experience like?
I chose UH because of the positive energy I could feel from Hawai'i. When I was talking to coach Jun during the recruiting, I felt that he is going to be a positive influencer to me who I would be able to learn a lot from. Those first impressions have not changed at all until now, Hawai'i taught me a lot of how to live happy, and to be thankful for everything I get to have today including amazing people and places around myself.
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What was your favorite memory as a Rainbow Wahine?
It is hard to narrow down to one memory because every smallest memory such as daily practices and weights, or random talk with my teammates in the locker room, are the big part of my memory I would remember when I look back at my four years as a Rainbow Wahine.
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What's next for you? What is your career aspiration?
My next chapter after I graduate will be to start working in Tokyo, Japan. I have always been around tennis in the past 20 years but I chose to try something in a new field other than tennis. I am so excited to explore working life in Japan which is really new for me!
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What advice would you give to anyone interested in UH?
My advice is to enjoy every single moment including good and bad moments! Anything you experience will turn out as precious memory of your college life.
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Who has been instrumental in helping you get your degree and what would you like to tell them?
I would like to say a huge thank you to coach Jun, who gave me an opportunity to be here today as a Rainbow Wahine and to successfully get my degree. He has been teaching me so many things both on and off the court. The biggest takeaway is when he used to tell us about the importance of focusing on the positives instead of negatives in any given situation, and I realized how meaningful this is in order to be successful.
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| TIFFANY WESTERBERGÂ Â |Â Â WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALLÂ Â |Â Â MAPLE RIDGE, BRITISH COLUMBIAÂ Â |Â Â MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY, MINOR: SOCIOLOGY |
Why did you choose UH and what was your overall experience like?
I chose UH for many reasons. The first thing that stood out to me was the experience of the coaching staff and the culture that they instill in the volleyball program. The second thing was the community, there is such a huge support system outside of the volleyball team itself. Fans and even the State show their support in so many ways, which was very big to me. The last thing was the location, I had never been to Hawai'i before and taking this opportunity meant that I could experience somewhere new. Also, who would not want to live in Hawai'i! My overall experience was so positive and life changing. There was such a positive, supportive environment from my teammates to the coaching staff, faculty, and fans. I firmly believe that I wouldn't get an experience this anywhere else!Â
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What was your favorite memory as a Rainbow Wahine?
My favorite memories have to be either playing at home and seeing all the fans in the Stan Sheriff Center or traveling on road trips with my team.Â
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What's next for you? What is your career aspiration?
The next step for me is to continue my education and pursue my master's degree in psychology. My career aspiration is to work with the youth either as a counselor or social worker.Â
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What advice would you give to anyone interested in UH?
If anyone is interested in coming to UH, I would tell them to get a moped ASAP! I love my moped and it comes in handy with parking! Also, Hawai'i is unlike any other place in the world, so when coming here be open and try to soak in as much of the culture as possible.Â
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Who has been instrumental in helping you get your degree and what would you like to tell them?Â
There have been a couple different people that have helped me get my degree. The two people who have pushed me the most have to be Coach
Robyn Ah Mow AND Coach Angelica Ljunqvist. They drove me to get good grades by not only teaching me that good grades are important but also helping me with the organizational aspect of school, by making me write down all my assignments, quizzes, and exams. Also, I would like to thank Kari Ambrozich, my academic advisor. She was very helpful and supportive of any decision and answered any questions I had. She also helped me stay on top of my classes and made sure I graduated on time. I definitely could not have done this without her help. I also want to thank the facility and my past professors; they all were so nice and were there for me when I missed class due to volleyball when we traveled. Without their understanding and support I couldn't have had the flexibility to do so well in my classes. Lastly, I would like to thank all my teammates, whenever I had a question about a class, I knew I could always go to them and they would try and help me out. Thank you to you all!
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| TIMOTHY GALLAGHER  |  MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING  |  POULSBO, WASH.  |  MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY |
Why did you choose UH and what was your overall experience like?
I chose UH because I felt like the team culture as well as the school culture would be a great place for me to study and train.
What was your favorite memory as a Rainbow Warrior?
My favorite memory as a Rainbow Warrior has to be setting a couple of relay records at our conference championships this past year.
What's next for you? What is your career aspiration?
After swimming I hope to continue in the sport with coaching.
What advice would you give to anyone interested in UH?
The best piece of advice I can give to someone looking at coming to UH is take advantage of the location you're in. There is not a better place to be a student-athlete in the world.
Who has been instrumental in helping you get your degree and what would you like to tell them?Â
(Academic advisors) Justin Clapp and RJ Ozoa-Aglugub have been a huge help in getting my degree with how easy they made it for me to get into the classes I wanted so I need to give a huge shout out to them.
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| ANNIKA DONEZ  |  WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING  |  SARATOGA, CALIF.  |  MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY |
Why did you choose UH and what was your overall experience like?
I chose the University of Hawai'i because of its strong swimming and diving program and the unique environment for a college experience. My experience has been very rewarding, and I'm grateful for the memories I've made competing for UH and connecting with such a welcoming community.
What was your favorite memory as a Rainbow Wahine?
My favorite memory as a Rainbow Wahine was winning conference my freshman year. We finished diving early on the last day and drove down to where the swimmers competed. We were able to watch the last day of swimming finals in person, and when we won, it was such an amazing feeling!
What's next for you? What is your career aspiration?
After graduation, I plan on going back home to California and working full-time. I don't know what I want to pursue for my career, but I hope to incorporate psychology and criminology concepts.
What advice would you give to anyone interested in UH?
For anyone interested in attending UH, I would say that this college experience is very unique, and as long as you can meet academic deadlines, college in Hawai'i is worth it.
Who has been instrumental in helping you get your degree and what would you like to tell them?
My parents have been instrumental in helping me obtain my degree, and I would like to thank them for providing for me so I have the opportunity to go to college in Hawai'i and compete at a Division I level. Their unwavering support has helped make the college experience much easier and more fulfilling.
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