LIHUE — Princeville resident Tommy Thompson recently presented two $5,000 scholarships to wrestlers from the Kauai High School program coached by Julius Saldana and assistant coaches Matthew Ballard and Jordan Davis.
Julius Naanep and Bea Kellerman received the Tommy and Penny Thompson Memorial Outstanding Wrestler Awards at the Kauai High School Wrestling team and supporter luncheon at the school in April.
“Julius wrestled for just two years, but has progressed immensely in a short time,” Thompson said in an email. “In his career, he has earned two Hawaii High School Athletic Association state tournament qualifications. Julies carries a 3.477 cumulative Grade Point Average. He plans to join the Army ROTC program as a chef in Madison, Wisconsin, where he will also attend the University of Wisconsin and pursue an undergraduate degree in kinesiology. He also plans to walk-on to the D1 Big Ten wrestling team there to try an earn a varsity spot and a full-ride scholarship.”
“Bella ‘Bea’ Kellerman has been wrestling for four years, and has amassed four trips to the HHSAA state tournament,” Thompson said. “Bea placed sixth at the Paani Challenge which is an all-girl tournament in the state of Hawaii. The tournament simulates the state tournament in terms of toughness, and she was able to procure a fifth-place finish in the 2024-2025 season. Bea has a 3.8 cumulative GPA and plans to attend the University of Segovia in the country of Spain, and study international relations. Bea was a captain for three years on the Kauai High School Wrestling team.”
This year, Thompson increased the $5,000 scholarship to two awards.
“While this is a small amount compared to the tuitions of many colleges these days, previous recipients have found it very useful at community colleges or state universities like the Grand Canyon University or the Kauai Community College,” Thompson said.
Thompson has been residing in Princeville for 26 years. His late wife, Penny, and he retired on Kauai in 1998 after being annual visitors to the islands since 1983. The scholarships are intended to reward those who have performed well in the sport, excelled academically and displayed strong leadership qualities as judged by their coaches, teammates and teachers.
Retiring following 37 years in the Department of Defense as an USAF officer, aerospace engineer and corporate contracting officer, Thompson and his late wife, a retired Safeway manager, have been very active in supporting the Kauai Humane Society, PBS, and other charities over the years.
Thompson was born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, and was a perennial wrestling power in the state. He earned his first championship medal in the 45-55 pound class at age 7 and went on to an excellent high school and college career at the United States Military Academy, West Point. He was elected to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 for his performance in wrestling, All-State football player, Little League baseball, and Pop Warner football All-Star, and high school baseball as well as academic achievements.
The award is presented as part of a program promoted by the West Point Association of Graduates Hawaii who is seeking to foster the continuous education of local students. It includes, among others, the Kauai scholarship awards given by retired Gen. Eric Shinseki, a native of Kauai and graduate of Kauai High School. Similar programs are sponsored by the Army West Point Wrestling group and the 1965 “Strength and Drive” West Point class alumni.
