A former swimming star at Kaua’i High School, Malie Matsumoto, 19, has been named one of six winners in Wheaties’ “Search for Everyday Champions.” A goggle-wearing likeness of Matsumoto swimming will adorn the back of Wheaties Energy Crunch cereal boxes
A former swimming star at Kaua’i High School, Malie Matsumoto, 19, has been named one of six winners in Wheaties’ “Search for Everyday Champions.”
A goggle-wearing likeness of Matsumoto swimming will adorn the back of Wheaties Energy Crunch cereal boxes along with four other winners.
Marie Bartoletti, a married elementary school teacher and mother of two from Finleyville, Pa., was the grand prize winner. An image of her riding a bicycle will appear on the front of the boxes.
The cereal is expected to be on store shelves next year, according to Bryan Kirsch of Alan Taylor Communications, a New York City-based company handling the promotion honoring everyday Americans who excel in athletics and community projects.
Bartoletti will receive $5,000, and Wheaties will donate $25,000 to a charity of her choice.
Matsumoto, who’s from Kalaheo, and four other winners will each receive a check for $2,500. General Mills, the cereal maker, also will donate $2,500 to the charities of their choice.
Wheaties boxes have been traditionally reserved for America’s top athletes. The new promotion recognizes people not widely known outside of their communities. More than 10,000 people nationwide entered the contest.
Matsumoto and her mother, Suzanne Kashiwaeda, a faculty member at Kalaheo Elementary School, were flown to New York City last week for a recognition ceremony at Madison Square Garden. Mary Lou Retton, a Wheaties cover girl following gold medal-winning gymnastics performances in the 1984 Olympics, passed out awards.
“It was inspiring for Malie. It validated her vision for herself,” Kashiwaeda said.
She said Matsumoto felt the recognition “was a real honor, when compared with other finalists, because they are all accomplished people. She was the youngest winner.”
Some of the others raised funds to fight leukemia and lymphoma, set up sports programs, started crime-fighting programs and raised funds to fight cancer.
Kashiwaeda said her daughter wants to set an example that “young people can make a difference in whatever they get involved with.”
Matsumoto, an all-state swimmer, broke five district swimming records and qualified for four state meet events. She also was the most valuable player in her junior and senior years before graduating last year.
Judges in the cereal contest said Matsumoto’s drive and dedication set her apart from others.
Matsumoto served as president of the Kalaheo Kiwanis Club, coordinated fund-raising events, organized children’s reading programs and made hospital visits for long-term care patients.
Now a sophomore at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., she is studying speech pathology through a national student exchange program.
Matsumoto competed against nearly 400 Hawai’i residents initially, qualifying her to compete in the final rounds.
The four other winners are Cherie Gruenfeld of Blue Jay, Calif., James Hernandez of Presque Isle, Maine, Liz Sponagle of Sante Fe, N.M., and Doug Ulman of Austin, Texas.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
