Former Jasper Williams High School student Melania Turaga has experienced a significant shift in her athletic career thanks to a prestigious scholarship.
The 20-year-old athlete has been awarded a scholarship from the Oceania Australia Foundation and the Oceania National Olympic Committee, which will allow her to train in the USA and benefit from improved facilities.
Initially passionate about rugby, Turaga was guided towards athletics by the encouragement of 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,” said Turaga.
“This scholarship is a huge blessing not only for me but also for my family,” added the Ra native.
The scholarship will enable Turaga to attend Neosho College, where she plans to balance her sporting ambitions with academic pursuits in Sustainable Energy.
“While athletics has helped me get to this point, I understand that I will need to work hard to not only excel in sports but also in my studies, and I hope to make the most of my time at Neosho College,” she expressed.
Turaga is joined by 2023 Pacific Games High Jump gold medallist Rusiate Matai, who also received the scholarship.
Athletes such as Kaiava Francis, Younis Bese, and Fane Sauvakacolo have previously benefited from the joint Oceania Australia Foundation and Oceania National Olympic Committees Scholarship.