Former Jasper Williams High School student Melania Turaga’s athletic career has taken a remarkable turn with the award of a prestigious scholarship. The scholarship from the Oceania Australia Foundation and Oceania National Olympic Committee will allow the 20-year-old to train in the USA, benefiting from superior facilities.
Despite her initial passion for rugby, Turaga transitioned to athletics due to the support from her family and the influence of her coach, Makelesi Bulikiobo. “Athletics was not my first choice as a young girl as I was more into rugby, but through the encouragement of my family, I realized that I had a talent for athletics. It helped that I had support from some athletic greats like my coach Makelesi Bulikiobo,” Turaga said.
Turaga described the scholarship as a significant blessing for both her and her family. The scholarship will enable her to attend Neosho College, where she plans to balance her athletic pursuits with her academic goals, particularly in Sustainable Energy. “While athletics has helped me get to this point, I understand that I will need to work hard to excel in both sports and my studies. I hope to make the most of my time at Neosho College,” she added.
Joining Turaga is 2023 Pacific Games High Jump gold medallist Rusiate Matai, who also received the scholarship. Other athletes like Kaiava Francis, Younis Bese, and Fane Sauvakacolo have previously benefitted from the joint Oceania Australia Foundation and Oceania National Olympic Committees Scholarship.