LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i High School senior Emma Burgess is a national finalist for the Heisman High School Scholarship, the program’s website said Tuesday.
Burgess, a cross-country runner for four years and state qualifying athlete in track and field events, is one of two state representatives for the prestigious scholarship. She was named the female representative for Hawai‘i and is joined by Roonui Satta-Ellis, a senior at Konawaena High School on the Big Island.
Burgess, who finished the recent Honolulu Marathon Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association state cross country meet in eighth overall in the 200-runner field with a time of 20 minutes and 1.33 seconds over 5,000 meters, earns a $1,000 scholarship for her achievement that includes advancing over the school and state winner categories.
The Red Raider student athlete, who created the Run Kaua‘i program as a means of continuing practice during the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down schools’ athletic programs, and Satta-Ellis will find out on Nov. 30 at noon EST where they finish when the Heisman High School Scholarship announces the two national winners, one female and one male.
According to the Heisman website, the Heisman High School Scholarship is open to any one of the 1.4 million high school athletes across the country who excel in the classroom, on the field and within the community.
Christopher Rapozo, the Kapa‘a High football kicker who booted the 3-point victory over Waimea High for the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation football title recently, was another of the Kaua‘i athletes selected for the Heisman honor.
Rapozo will be with the Warrior football team making its bid for the Division 1 title on Friday, when the Kapa‘a team faces Waipahu High School at Waipahu, O‘ahu.
Heisman High School Scholarship applicants must be a senior graduating with the Class of 2023 when they apply, and have a cumulative weighted high school grade point average of 3.0 or better.
Applicants must participate, or have participated, in grades 9, 10 or 11 in at least one of the sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games or the National Federation of State High School Association.
The applicant must also be a leader in school, in the community, and serve as a role model for underclassmen.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
