High Performance awards 25 students

High Performance Sport PNG awarded its first ever recipients of its Kamapim Kakana scholarship program over the weekend.

Kamapim Kakana is the brand name of the Emerging Talent Scholarship program initiated and delivered by the HP Sport PNG Talent Pathways team, which identifies talented and committed secondary and tertiary student athletes.

The program was rolled out in late 2016 and involved up to 10 secondary schools, 1,000 students and five partner NGO’s with a focus on Talent Identification & Development (TID) and the holistic development of the next generation of future PNG national athletes.

The 25 student athletes that were recognised on Saturday each received an Emerging Talent Scholarship (ETS) from HP Sport PNG after outperforming a total of 600 others in a trying yet satisfying 8-month trial that began in late 2016.

Glenda, parent of recipient Faustina Nalei, was appreciative of the program.

Both mother and daughter had to travel all the way over from Goldie Barracks where their father is serving as an officer in the PNG Defence Force to attend the event at the Sir John Guise Sport precinct.

“I didn’t know much about this program but after attending today’s presentation, I am very thankful for what you guys are doing for my daughter and all her other friends in this wonderful program,” said Glenda.

Faustina, a student at Marianville Secondary School, impressed enough with her athletic ability to make the initial cut and backed it up with commitment and dedication over the trial period.

“It was hard but I enjoyed it because I really like playing sport.

“So for me it wasn’t that hard.

“I really wanted to do it and it was kind of easy for me because I also play sport actively as well,” said Faustina.

HP Sport PNG team members, Kieran Scibberas and Jackie Travertz, also took time to acknowledge the various partners, parents, staff, PE teachers, schools principals and the Department of Education in driving the program forward.

Author: 
Troy Taule