A lot of well deserved recognition at this time of year goes to graduates who earned scholarships — with athletes in our community usually outshining the academics. Such scholarships provide a wonderful way for a select few of our youth to extend their skills beyond Koolauloa. We all feel a measure of pride in their accomplishments, and love to watch and read of their successes on the intercollegiate playing fields.

But there's another aspect of winning scholarships we don't discuss as much: Some recipients drop out after one or two seasons — some with injuries, others who can't handle the class work, and still others play out their eligibility but don't graduate. For whatever reason, some do not follow through with the educational aspects of their awards.

For example, according to NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) statistics, roughly about:

• 60% of all college athletes graduate, with women more likely than men to finish their studies, and the rates are slowly improving each year.
• BYU-Hawaii showed a recent rate of 82%.
• About 65% of the athletes at UH have recently been graduating.
• The type of sports makes a difference: 95% of DII water polos graduate, but only about 46% of DI basketball players.
• Not surprisingly, Navy graduated 99% of its athletes. Other schools in the 90s include Stanford, Notre Dame and Duke.
• UTEP bottomed out at about 39%.

Of course, any discussion of graduation stats includes lots of variations, such as the impact of those who take time out and then come back later. Indeed, graduation rates of athletes versus regular students may not be much different; but still, it seems some of our student-athletes face challenges along with the scholarship honors they gain.

Asai Gilman, Executive Director of Laie-based Education1st for the past five years — a nonprofit organization designed to "help motivate families and their student athletes to go to college and to give them the confidence to graduate" — said over the years he's observed that some of the athletes "are always trying to play catch up: They don't have the classes, they don't have the test scores."

"They don't realize the rigor of being a student-athlete," said Gilman, who is also Assistant Dean of Admissions and Director of Recruiting at BYU-Hawaii.

For example, he described Education 1st's programs such as "Game Plan" as a "wake-up call. If you're going to be a student-athlete in college, you do have to go to class, you have to show up and sit in the front, take notes, be a critical thinker and problem solver."

"Sometimes students are given scholarships based on their pure physical talents, but they don't realize the mental and academic aspects. There are those who don't make it, and return home, and those who don't make it but try and try again. They go to JCs [junior colleges] and then they make it, and I think that's commendable," he continued, drawing a connection between graduation and maturity.

Gilman noted that home environment also plays a role, and indeed, can even be a hindrance. "First of all, parents cannot live their dreams through their kids. They need to relax and make sure they're not the ones really doing it. They have to convince their children it's their idea, and that's done with a lot of aloha. Then the students are doing it for their own reasons. They are more accountable."

Kahuku High Athletic Director Joe Whitford agreed. "We hope much of the training is done in the home, so that when the students go away they're not going to get homesick, they realize why they're going, and they know athletics is a vehicle for them to get where they really want to be."

"The school will provide the opportunities, and hopefully the students and parents will take advantage of them.'

Whitford also said there's an interesting twist at Kahuku where some kids come here "to heighten their opportunity' for scholarships, such as a player several years ago originally from Maui who lived with relatives, played three years, left the day after high school graduation to start taking college courses and made the traveling squad.

"Since then, they've changed the transfer rules. Now, the family has to move into the district. People call that the Kahuku Rule," he said with a grin.

But, sadly Whitford continued, "Some just don't make the effort' to capitalize on their scholarships. Other students are strong athletes who struggle because, beyond sports, they don't have any idea what to study in college."

For these, Gilman said his "Game Plan" program includes college athlete mentors, such as J.T. Mapu, 'Inoke Funaki and others. "The kids ask them questions about college. They need to see such role models and envision what they'll be doing in school."

Whitford pointed to several other positive Red Raider role models, including Aaron Francisco, who graduated from BYU Provo in four years and now plays DB for the Arizona Cardinals, and Meris Smith, a water polo standout from Sunset Beach who graduated from UC San Diego in four years as an Academic All-American. "She's just finishing her master's at UH," he said.

Whitford also noted some of those athletes who struggled early on have since returned to school — sometimes years later and usually at their own expense. Some also walk on and continue to play their sports.

Gilman, who earned an athletic scholarship out of high school and is a former college athlete recruiter, said many students don't understand universities are looking at the "whole person. That's the kind of players coaches like June Jones and Greg McMackin want to see — the person who understands being holistically responsible for their actions — academically, mentally, physically, spiritually. When you speak with [UH football head coach] Greg McMackin, that's what he'll tell you. He wants the kind of kids who understand who they are.'

"Most colleges look at three things when they're recruiting: They look at physicality, your grades and test scores, and they look at your character," Gilman continued. "The kind of character where you want to do community service, you have leadership skills, you're a great husband if you're married and a great father, great communication skills — that's what they're looking for. You can be fast and strong, but if you don't possess the other things…even the professionals are now looking for this."

"When you line everybody up who possesses the physical talent, the academic, the college experience — character overwhelms the decision."

To former scholarship winners who didn't take advantage at the time, Gilman said "the education's still there. Every year older students from this community ask me what's the possibility of getting in at BYU-Hawaii. We have a 'second chance' program. It warms my heart when I see those students graduate from here and other places, because they're ready for it."

He strongly encourages them to seek an education. "Once you receive it, you'll have an incredible amount of confidence and see things much differently.'

He also recommended those with children "lead their families, not by force but encourage them with love. Work with the children when they're young, meet with them, read to them, problem solve with them, help them do their math — if they want their children to succeed."

For those who still have strong physical skills and still have a desire but haven't gone to college, Gilman suggested considering a junior college.

Looking back over his 17-year career with college athletics and recruiting, Gilman said, "There are plenty of resources now available. But parents of children in this area need to realize that athletic ability alone will not get them a degree. They have to be a whole person — a student-athlete."

"They have to desire to be a good academic student who is mentally and physically prepared for the challenges. It's rigorous. It becomes a job. You have to prepare your mind and your heart. It's a big challenge, but it's one of the greatest experiences ever for your future legacy and your family."

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