Keala named Eastern Student of Year
Senior earns recreation and tourism degree
Last updated 5/12/2023 at 8:39am
CHENEY —After finishing her career on the court this past November, Eastern Washington volleyball senior Ka’ehukaiiha’amaina’e Keala earned the Student of the Year in the field of Recreation & Tourism Management.
“I think I never was really afraid to ask questions, and that comes from the court, too,” Keala said. “If I don’t understand something, I have to ask or I would look dazed.
“ I think a lot of my confidence was speaking up and me asking questions to further my career, academically and athletically, came from my process as a volleyball player here.”
Keala, who goes by “Ehu”, received the award at a ceremony for the College of Health Science and Public Health on May 4. She graduated last week with her bachelor’s degree.
“I think the balance [between academics and athletics] is just to be grateful and enter everyday with gratitude, knowing that it’s a process,” she said. “Not every day is going to be positive or what you want. I try to look at everything like an opportunity and I’m grateful for the experience.”
Beyond the court, Keala was a consistent performer in the classroom, earning three All-Big Sky Academic honors.
“It feels really good to accept this award knowing that a lot of the efforts came outside of me, Kela said. “I’m going to miss my team and my girls.”
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