12-year-old Benji Thompson has been eager to surf for years. He would chase down the owner of a local surf camp and beg him for a chance to learn to surf. Finally, last year, Benji got a spot in the surf camp and immediately showed competence on a board. Benji grew up around the ocean from a young age, spearfishing to help provide food for his family. As a result, learning how to ride the ocean’s waves came naturally. He was immediately able to paddle and catch waves without any assistance, leading the owner of the surf camp to call him “fearless.” Benji still doesn’t have a surfboard of his own, as he mainly rides the soft boards available at the club. Now with his scholarship award, he’ll be able to get a performance board with all the necessary accessories, as well as cover travel costs to Abaco Island and Florida to enter his first competitions.

When Nathan showed up to surf with an old 1980s-era board full of holes, he caught the attention of a man who manages a local surf camp. Despite the inadequate nature of his equipment, Nathan was still able to catch waves and show a natural connection to the ocean. Consequently, Nathan received an invitation to participate in the surf camp, showing excellence among his peers by winning a contest heat during the camp. Aside from being a competent surfer, Nathan has also proved to be an exemplary leader in his community. At the most recent surf camp gathering, Nathan brought three younger kids with him to introduce them to surfing as well. As a scholarship ambassador, Nathan will now get a surfboard of his own with all the complementary equipment. He hopes to travel to neighboring islands and Florida to hone his skill and enter competitions.

Esdras is a dedicated athlete who is motivated to improve his surfing skills. Esdras enjoys the discipline that his surfing career has brought to his life. He also appreciates that being a part of the global surfing community has allowed him to see new places and meet new people. In addition to pursuing a competitive surfing career, Esdras plans to attend college to study Physical Education. The ISA scholarship will help Esdras participate in more competitions and get more coaching to help him continue to improve.

“Surfing is a way of life, a source of inspiration, and part of who I am,” says Christina, a 14-year-old ISA Scholarship ambassador from Ghana. Christina initially faced stiff cultural barriers to pursue her passion for surfing. In her village girls tend to be afraid of the ocean, or their parents don’t let them surf. First picking up a board four years ago, Christina has progressed to become one of the most skilled surfers in the village, earning first place in a contest, and has grown into a role model for other girls. She dreams of becoming a professional surfer and using her experience to spread the sport to other girls in the village. The scholarship fund will allow her to continue her formal education, covering fees for school, books, and exams, as well as affording her a surfboard and gear.

Despite being just 16 years old, Prince has a ton of surfing experience under his belt. He’s been surfing for more than seven years, and it shows through his skill on the board. Italo Ferreira is his idol, which translates in Prince’s radical, goofy-foot style that has earned him top honors at several local surf contests. To Prince, surfing is much more than a hobby, but a vehicle that has taken him to new places and introduced him to new people. Aside from performing in the water, Prince has also shown promise in the classroom, earning exceptional grades across his various school subjects. He’s simultaneously enrolled in a vocational program to become a professional plumber and the scholarship fund will aid him in his studies, as well as providing him with his surfing needs.

For 10-year-old Likith, surfing is more than just a sport. It’s a way to find inner peace and a connection to nature. Through a love for surfing, Likith has been inspired to one day pursue studies in environmental science. With four years of experience surfing the waves of India’s West Coast under his belt, Likith has already entered competitions at his young age. The training, equipment, and travel that this scholarship will afford him will only help him continue to improve in this realm. Likith comes from a financially constrained background, but he hasn’t let that get in the way of his love for the ocean. He says that surfing makes him feel happy and he dreams of the day he'll get his first barrel.

Ahmad is a 15-year-old surfer from Iran who dares to dream big. He wants to become the best surfer in his country and one day surf in the Olympics. Despite having surfed for three years and excelling among his peers, he currently doesn’t have any equipment of his own, a problem that the ISA Scholarship will help him address. Outside of surfing, Ahmad aspires to go to university and learn English, so one day he can communicate with other surfers abroad, learning more about the sport as well as teaching it to others.

10-year-old Ariana doesn’t live near the ocean, but she doesn’t let that stop her from riding waves. For two years Ariana has been surfing the waves of the Caspian sea in northern Iran, even in the winter when the temperatures can get very cold. Surfing and water sports in general make Ariana happy and have motivated her to become a healthier person. Her scholarship funds will help her upgrade her surfing equipment and support her education. She dreams of learning English and going to university to one day become a doctor.

Menackem grew up around the ocean riding waves. At just 12 years old he’s already formed a deep bond with the marine environment through surfing, which has helped him understand the importance of a healthy reef. His experience in the ocean and concern for marine habitats has inspired him to pursue university studies in marine biology. Menackem is already excelling as a competitive surfer, having won a junior contest in Jamaica. His dream is to travel abroad to compete in surf contests, which his scholarship funds will help him achieve.

Nya, the ISA’s youngest scholarship ambassador of the 2023 class, strives to follow in the footsteps of her mother, Imani, and represent Jamaica in international surf competitions. For Nya, surfing is the key to happiness and joy. At just eight years old Nya has already been surfing for four years and entered local contests. Her teachers speak highly of her desire to learn in the classroom, and Nya will utilize her award to further advance her education. She’ll also get a surfboard of her own so she doesn’t have to always borrow her mother’s.

Through surfing, 12-year-old Augustine from Liberia says he's learned about discipline, resilience, and patience. Surfing has also provided him with a sense of community and surrounded him with like-minded people who are passionate about the ocean. He’s always encouraging others to join him in the water, showing them that there is no reason to fear the waves. Augustine comes from a large family, thus there are not sufficient funds to send him and all his siblings to school. With his scholarship award, Augustine will be able to continue his schooling. In the future he hopes to study informational technology.

Harriet’s parents were unable to finish high school, so she has made it a goal of hers to complete her education. But she’s not satisfied with a high school diploma, the 17-year-old Harriet dreams of continuing her education at university to become a mechanical engineer. Harriet discovered surfing three years ago and was immediately drawn to the sense of focus and calm that being in the ocean gives her. When she is feeling angry out of the water, she can always ground herself with a surf session. Harriet is looking forward to continuing her education journey and chasing her academic aspirations.

Predis is a surfer from the east coast of Madagascar who dreams of being a traveling surfer. Predis wants to study to become a doctor so he can help people and make his family proud. He also recognizes the natural healing power of surfing and wants to use it to help his community. Predis will use the ISA scholarship funds to purchase surfing equipment that he will use to improve his surfing. He also wants share this equipment with the other young surfers in his community so they can improve, too.

Tidahy started surfing at age 13 and has been hooked ever since. Tidahy enjoys surfing many different local breaks, and he enjoys surfing with his friends but also welcoming travelers in the lineup. He credits surfing to helping him stay disciplined and focused on his goals. He will use the ISA scholarship to purchase surf equipment.

Joelle was born in the world renowned surfing destination of Puerto Escondido, Mexico. It was on the waves of the notorious Playa Zicatela where her parents pushed her into her first waves. From then on she was hooked and surfing has transformed into much more than a sport. It’s also a channel for her to connect with nature. Joelle’s expertise in surfing earned her the honor of representing her country at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship two times in El Salvador and Brazil. With her scholarship funds she’ll be able to get necessary surfing equipment, travel abroad to competitions, and cover university costs where she wants to pursue a degree in foreign languages. Also, thanks to surfing, Joelle has learned the importance of sustainability and supports local initiatives that aim to combat damage to the environment that she has personally witnessed in her community.

Despite being born with a disability that resulted in a bent left leg, Cassimo learned how to adapt and ride surfboards. But not only did he adapt, he excelled. Learning how to surf gave him a newfound self confidence and ushered him into a new group of friends who also loved the sport. Cassimo recently went through a life-changing surgery to straighten his leg, and he is currently in the recovery process to get back in the water. When Cassimo finishes his schooling, he wants to open a bakery as well as learn how to shape surfboards so he can make boards at home in Mozambique. He says that with the scholarship award he won’t have to spend so much time working and he can focus his energy on his studies and surfing.

Neide is a newcomer to surfing, but she’s already impressing her peers with her dedication to the sport by participating in local events. Within her surfing community, she is commended for her fearless spirit and willingness to embrace new challenges. Neide aspires to attend university to study agronomy and her scholarship award will help her achieve that dream by covering school fees. She’ll also use the funds to upgrade her surfing equipment, hoping to show other girls in her community that surfing isn’t a sport exclusively for boys.

Among her peers, Favour is known as the one of the most enthusiastic and brightest surfers in Lagos, Nigeria. Favour loves sports and fitness and wants to translate that passion into a career. She wants to go to university and study physical education so she can have a positive impact on others. But at the same time, she has parallel dreams to become a professional surfer herself. Having been surfing for two years, in the ocean Favour found freedom, strength, confidence, and a place to forget about all her worries and doubts. Favour says her scholarship award will show her family that the surfing community also cares about her education so they’ll allow her to go surfing more often.

Feranmi has only been surfing for one year, but she’s already discovered that the sport is a source of happiness for her. Her favorite spot to surf is Tarkwa Bay Beach at home in Nigeria. According to Feranmi, the ISA Scholarship will take financial burden off her family, as she plans on using her funds to finish her secondary schooling and prepare for university. She’s also going to use a portion of her award to purchase more practical surf wear to be comfortable in the water.

Rebeca is a competitive surfer from Peru. Rebeca competes in all of the national circuit competitions and wants to pursue more international competitions. Outside of the water, Rebeca still has her mind on surfing, aspiring to become an industrial engineer to design surf technology that is both high-performance and affordable for all. Rebeca will use the ISA scholarship to purchase new equipment to help further her competitive career.

17-year-old Antoinette has lived and breathed surfing for nearly her whole life. Both of her parents are surf instructors and introduced her to the sport at a young age. Thus, since she was young, Antoinette says she was instilled with awareness of the relationship between sports, the environment, and personal growth. Antoinette has gone on to excel in surfing competitions, but she is just as motivated and passionate about her education. She’s currently enrolled in STEM courses and plans on going to university to study sports science. Her scholarship will help alleviate the burdens associated with her educational aspirations.

15-year-old Jacilina from Sao Tome and Principe has been a bright spot among the young, female surfers of her community. Jacilina learned how to swim and surf simultaneously and quickly showed her natural talents. Within just 10 months she entered the national championship and earned first place. Her instructors recognize her raw talent and are impressed with her confidence in the ocean, something that is rare for girls of her age in Sao Tome and Principe. With her scholarship award, Jacilina will travel Portugal to participate in a two month surf training program with professional coaches. She hopes that it will get her one step closer to accomplishing her dream of becoming a professional surfer.

According to 16-year-old Celmira, surfing is life. Celmira helps her mother sell fish in Sao Tome and Principe, which, unfortunately, limits the amount of time that she can spend in the water. However, now with the scholarship fund, Celmira says she’ll be able to spend less time selling fish and focus her effort more towards surfing and education. She doesn’t currently have any surfing equipment of her own, so she plans on buying her own gear and sharing it with other surfers on the island. Celina’s immediate goal is to become national champion, and she aspires to someday compete in an international event.

16-year-old Kueivo says that surfing has brought him great friendships and opportunity. Because of his advanced skill, Kueivo was selected to represent Sao Tome and Principe at the 2023 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Brazil. Kueivo currently helps his family by selling fruit in the market, but now with his scholarship award, he won’t have to work as much so he can dedicate his time to education and surfing. He wants to enroll in English classes as well as participating in online judging courses so he can better understand how he will be judged in competition.

Oureye just started surfing last summer and she’s already one of the most enthusiastic surfers in the lineup. She is taking the time to learn how to repair surfboards because she understands how valuable boards are to her community. Oureye hopes to participate in her first surf competition soon. She will use the ISA scholarship to help pay for extra education so she can improve her French and excel in school.

Omar has made rapid improvements to his surfing since he started a few years ago. He can be seen in the lineup closely watching his more experienced peers, looking for skills he can improve. Omar is always respectful and positive, cheering on his friends with a smile. On Sundays, he helps with the community’s surf classes to teach others what he knows. Omar dreams of traveling to compete in surfing and will use the ISA scholarship funds to make sure his passport is ready when the opportunity arises. He will also use it to help with education costs so he can continue to pursue his education despite financial barriers.

Adji started surfing one year ago and she’s determined to keep getting better. Her teachers describe her as motivated and excited about the sport. She is determined to become a better swimmer so she can enjoy deeper water spots, and the scholarship will help her get the swimming lessons she needs. In addition to swimming lessons, the ISA scholarship will help her continue learning in her current school, where she loves her teachers.

Surfing changed Babacar’s life two years ago. He now competes in surfing and hopes to be able to represent his country abroad. Babacar loves that surfing has helped him learn how to respect the ocean and connect with nature. Babacar lives fairly far from his school, but he is dedicated to continue his education. The ISA scholarship will help Babacar cover his education expenses.

Lorenzo is a passionate competitive surfer from South Africa. To help support his family and competitive surfing career, he also works as a surf coach. His superiors in the surf school boast of Lorenzo’s ability to connect with his students and his good nature. Lorenzo is also a hard worker inside the classroom, taking extra classes to fill in the gaps his local education lacks. Lorenzo will use the ISA scholarship to purchase textbooks and help fund a custom surfboard from his favorite shaper.

Raemondo is a competitive Para Surfer from South Africa. Both his legs, his right arm, and left hand had to be amputated when he was an infant. Raemondo highlights that his differences make him unique and drive him to achieve everything he sets his mind to. He credits surfing with teaching him patience, hard work, and dedication. Outside of the water, he also competes in table tennis. He plans to study to become a lawyer so he can spend the rest of his life advocating for others. Raemondo will use the ISA scholarship to help fund his education to chase his lawyer dreams.

Alulutho AKA “Lulu” is a competitive Para Surfer from South Africa. Surfing has provided Lulu with many opportunities, including the chance to travel to represent South Africa in international competitions. Out of the water, Lulu’s other passions include swimming, wheelchair basketball, and singing. Lulu wants to continue her education and go to university. The ISA scholarship will help cover her academic expenses and continue her surfing training.

Asande is a Para Surfer from South Africa who has competed at the international level. In addition to surfing competitively, Asande also uses surfing as therapy to relieve stress and keep himself on track. Asande aspires to go to university to become a mechanical engineer so he can design equipment to help people living with disabilities. The ISA scholarship will help cover his school expenses so he can keep working toward this dream.

13-year-old Ramil dreams of representing Thailand abroad in an international surfing competition. Filipe Toledo is his idol and he tries to emulate his style in his own surfing. Ramil is already showing signs of being a competent surfer, which he showed when he earned second place at a national event. Ramil has been borrowing old boards that aren’t his ideal size, so with his scholarship funds he will get a board suited for him as well as cover his school fees and international travel to competitions.

Chayton is currently Trinidad and Tobago’s youngest competitive surfer. Chayton works hard to get stronger every day. His competitive nature makes him Trinidad and Tobago’s next rising star. Chayton enjoys surfing with his older sister and hopes to represent his country on the international level soon. The ISA scholarship will help him enter more competitions to chase his surfing dreams.

In February 2023, Haydar’s town in southern Turkey was struck by a devastating earthquake. As people streamed in from all over the country to provide aid, one of those aid workers was a surf instructor who crossed paths with Haydar. The instructor taught Haydar how to surf and he immediately fell in love with the sport. Surfing was a way for Haydar to heal after the major earthquake disaster. Despite not possessing any equipment of his own, Haydar went on to earn the honor of U18 national surfing champion. Now Haydar is finishing high school and wants to continue his studies to become a physiotherapist. But Haydar also wants to help other people in his village to overcome their fear of the sea and connect with it. Surfing changed his life and he wants to see others have that rewarding experience too.

Sabbá’s happy place is the ocean and surfing means everything to her. Sabbá is a competitive longboarder and plans to continue to chase her competitive surfing goals. She is also studying photography, another passion of hers. She hopes to go to university to continue her studies. Sabbá will use the ISA scholarship to help purchase a board better suited to her height and weight so she can continue to improve and climb the rankings.

Kemily started surfing at just one and a half years old. She is now 18 years old and has multiple podium finishes under her belt. Kemily has remained committed to her family, her studies, and her development as an athlete. She currently attends university and plans to use the scholarship money to help pay for her books and tuition.

Alma is a dedicated competitive surfer from Santa Catarina, Brazil. In her eight years of surfing, she has achieved many first-place finishes and continues to train diligently to reach her full potential. Alma will use the scholarship funds to improve the quality of her education by purchasing educational materials.

Fabricio is a dedicated and talented surfer from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil who dreams of becoming a professional. Though he was out of school for 2 years due to recent hardships he’s faced, he is back in school and dedicated to keeping up his education. Fabricio is mastering the balance between studying and surfing and plans to use his scholarship to hire an after-school tutor and purchase new surf equipment.

João shreds hard and trains harder. He practices after school multiple days a week, watching film, learning competition tactics, and improving his physical fitness. However, this does not distract him from succeeding in school; he is currently one grade ahead for his age and continues to receive high marks. João is also an active role model in his community, volunteering for projects that promote access to surfing for other local youths. João will use his scholarship to help pay for travel to competitions.

Isidora is an aspiring competitive surfer who trains five days a week to improve her surfing. Her coaches boast that she is committed and focused during surf practice while also being present in the classroom. Isidora dreams of going to school to eventually become a doctor but first she wants to become a professional surfer. Her family is confident she can achieve both goals. She plans to use her award to help fund her training and coaches.

At only 11 years old, Matilda has already learned some valuable lessons while living the competitive surfing lifestyle: discipline, perseverance, and fun. She trains five days a week to improve her surfing skills. She is very responsible both in the water and in the classroom. She will use her scholarship to access more coaching and training to reach her competitive surfing goals.

Juan is a very dedicated competitive surfer from Atlántico, Colombia. He is described by his coaches as kind, dedicated and loving despite the challenges he and has family have faced during his lifetime. He attends night school so he can take care of his younger brothers and sister but still finds time to surf in between. He will use the ISA scholarship to purchase new equipment that will allow him to continue chasing his surf dreams.

At only 16 years old, Landy Jimena has already made waves in the competitive adaptive surfing world. Thanks to her discipline and perseverance, she has multiple world championship podium finishes under her belt. She is excited to be an ambassador for the growth of adaptive surfing. Out of the water, Landy Jimena excels in school and art. She plans to use the scholarship award to fund her travel and entrance fees to more competitions.

Kian is a competitive surfer from the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica who dreams of going pro. He is determined, competitive and disciplined in both the ocean and the classroom, excelling on both fronts. Kian loves studying math and learning new languages. Kian has to drive far to compete in Costa Rican competitions due to his location, but this doesn’t stop him from staying stoked. Kian will use the scholarship to pay for his competition registration fees and invest in more coaching.

After battling sickness for many years of her childhood, Brianna picked up surfing at age 11 and never looked back. Brianna acknowledges the healing power of surfing because she noticed an improvement in her overall wellbeing shortly after she first picked up the sport. Her goal is to study at university to become a commercial airline pilot and give back to her family who has always supported her. With her scholarship award, she will purchase educational equipment and materials to help her achieve her dream of being a pilot.

Askash is a 14-year-old surfer from a small coastal town of India. Akash has been spending a lot of time in the surf over the past couple of years, which has directly contributed to the improvement of his surfing skills. Akash also receives high marks in school and is dedicated to his studies. Akash will use this scholarship to purchase a new surfboard and help pay for school expenses.

Hanamanta is a passionate, driven surfer from a small town in India. Hanamanta never turns down an opportunity to get in the water and ride waves. Hanamanta works hard in both the water and in the classroom while radiating positive, kind energy to those around him. He will use the scholarship to fund his education and buy his own surfboard.

Adnan dreams of becoming one of the best surfers in the world to make his village proud. His unique surfing style has been described as “playful”, but he trains seriously and diligently to reach his athletic goals. Adnan is also an environmental activist, regularly participating in local beach cleanups. He studies hard and hopes to be one of the first surfers from his village to attend university. Adnan will use the scholarship to purchase his first shortboard and help pay educational expenses.

Mehrnesa is on a mission to become one of the best Iranian surfers. She is training with the goal of a podium finish at the next national championships. In addition to her own training, she enjoys teaching her friends how to surf and actively recruits more surfers to the lineup. She can be found brightening up the lineup with her infectious smile. Mehrnesa is also a stellar student and plans to use the scholarship to enroll in English lessons and purchase her own surfboard.

Abdollah is a stand-out surfer from a small coastal village in Iran. At only 14 years old he is already highly skilled and determined to become one of the best surfers in Iran. Abdollah is described as kind and hard working. His listening skills make him an outstanding student and a coachable athlete. Abdollah aims to finish regular school and continue his education at university. The scholarship will undoubtedly help Abdollah reach his goals as he plans to utilize it to purchase his own surfboard and study English.

Although Nathaniel has only been surfing for less than a year, he is already known by many to bring joy and positivity to the lineup whenever he’s surfing. Since he began surfing, he has trained diligently and has already progressed immensely. Nathaniel represented Jamaica in the ISA Para Surfing Championships in 2021 and continues to chase his competitive surfing dreams. In school, he is consistently at the top of his class and has participated in many extracurriculars, including student council. Nathaniel is stoked to use the scholarship to help cover the cost of his travel to the 2022 ISA Para Surfing Championships.

Thioune is a 14-year-old from Senegal who fell in love with surfing a little over a year ago. Since then, she has finished second in her age bracket at the Senegalese national championships and continues to practice her surfing to improve her skills. When asked what her goals are, she said she wants to be a professional surfer and help her mom. She plans to attend college and will use the scholarship award to help pay for her educational expenses.

Adama is a 17-year-old Senegalese surfer and university student. He was inspired by his brothers to start surfing and has progressed to a high level in only 4 years, placing second in his division at the last national championships. Being a part of the surfing community also inspired him to go back to school. Adama says he wants to continue his education so he can have a better future for and give back to his parents who have done so much for him. The ISA scholarship will help him stay in school as he plans use it to pay his school fees and purchase surf equipment.

Issa was inspired to start surfing while watching his uncle surf. He now surfs incredibly well and has competed in local competitions. He wants to finish with gold at the next competition and practices surfing every opportunity he gets. Issa embodies the spirit of sharing and joyfulness in the lineup. In school, Issa enjoys French class. He studied extra hard while his school was closed during the pandemic. Issa will use the award to help pay his school expenses and purchase a surfboard that is the right size for him as he continues to grow.

Muhammed is a young surfer from Senegal who can frequently be found asking for advice from his peers in the lineup to improve his surfing. He has a clear desire to thoroughly understand everything from maneuvers to proper board care. He credits surfing with changing his life because it brought him more friends. He now spends a lot of his time teaching younger kids how to surf. Muhammed also enjoys studying mathematics and French. He will use the scholarship award to participate in accelerated learning courses and purchase surf equipment better suited for his size.

Environmental activist Jesus can often be found cleaning up his local beach and pulling floating pieces of trash from the water while surfing. He loves surfing because it connects him with the ocean and with his friends. He recently had to change schools but has made the most of it by exploring all the opportunities the school offers with a smile on his face. He especially enjoys Algebra class. He will use the scholarship award to pay for his textbooks, school supplies and other educational expenses.

Kerry-Ann is always ready to grab a surfboard and catch some waves. During the pandemic she started participating in her local surf therapy program and has been in love with surfing ever since. Kerry-Ann dreams of becoming an airplane pilot someday and understands she will need to work hard in school to achieve this dream. The scholarship award will help her pay for her books, supplies and school uniform.

Cheyenne is an aspiring competitive surfer from the small island of Tobago. She says that being one of the few female surfers in Tobago only fuels her desire to improve her surfing. She is just as enthusiastic about surfing as she is about her studies and continues to excel in her homeschool program. Cheyenne will invest the scholarship award in high-level training to help her reach her full athletic potential.

Surfing is Riano’s number one passion in life. He has been competing in local competitions and is ready to take his surfing to the next level. As an athlete, he is described as self-driven and determined. When he’s not in the water, he also enjoys other action sports like skating and mountain biking. Despite challenges caused by the pandemic and political uprisings, he has remained a focused student in school and athlete in training. Riano plans to use the scholarship to purchase a new surfboard.

Felipe’s school teachers regard him as a student who is eager to participate and learn. Felipe started surfing competitively at a very young age. However, being the smallest surfer in the heat never stopped him from competing his hardest. Now, at 10 years old, he travels to new surf breaks when possible and continues to broaden his surf knowledge and capabilities. His home is far from most competitions, so the ISA scholarship will help him pay his travel expenses to keep chasing his surfing dreams.

For Ashelen, surfing is everything. She has recently climbed the rankings as a young competitive surfer in Uruguay. Ashelen hopes that her surfing will inspire more girls to try surfing. Ashelen volunteers at her local surf school to help teach younger kids how to surf. She is eager to keep competing in high-level events but traveling from her small town is very costly. The scholarship will help her overcome these financial barriers by funding her travel and competition expenses.

Jhonaiker is a talented young athlete from a small town in Venezuela. He competes in shortboard and bodyboard, excelling in both disciplines. Jhonaiker loves surfing because he gets to spend time with his friends and represent his community. Despite having faced some hardships in life, Jhonaiker plans to stay in school, study hard and attend university when he is older. The scholarship will help him purchase school supplies and a new bodyboard.

Valeria loves surfing because it gives her a healthy lifestyle and connects her to nature. She is a disciplined and responsible athlete and student, constantly pushing herself to excel on both fronts. She has represented Venezuela on the international stage and continues to grow in her surfing ability. She will use the ISA scholarship to help her enter and travel to more competitions.

A talented yet humble athlete, 14-year-old Sarah is well-respected for her character and serves as a role model in the Brazilian surf community. The ISA Scholarship will help Sarah remain dedicated to her studies by ensuring she is able to purchase necessary school materials. The ISA Scholarship will also provide resources to improve her surf skills through training and allow her to compete at more national, and hopefully international, levels.

Leticia is a surfer passionate about sustainability and the environment. At 13 years old, she dreams of pursuing a career in Biology and continuing to promote peace, joy and a human connection through her love of surfing. Leticia is an excellent student with a deep commitment to her studies. The ISA Scholarship will allow her to purchase school materials and will provide her the opportunity to continue participating in local and national surf competitions.

Isidora trains every morning before school with the dream of one day surfing in the Olympics. Perseverance, humility, passion, responsibility, and patience are values she has learned through surfing, and she wants to continue her studies to become a medical doctor. The ISA Scholarship will provide her with funds to pay next year’s academic tuition and allow her to purchase a computer to continue her studies online while schools are closed due to the pandemic.

At 10 years of age, Matilda has already learned to beautifully balance her passions of academics and surfing. Education has always been a priority for Matilda and she is dedicated to continuing her studies to become a medical sport surgeon. As a young surf ambassador, Matilda wishes to use the ISA Scholarship to improve her surf skills by purchasing surf equipment that will further her training and competition at the national level.

10-year old Madeline is drawn to nature as an intrinsic ambassador for maintaining our environment and preserving our oceans. Along with her friends, Madeline formed a group that safeguards their local beach through clean-ups where she ensures plastics are recycled properly. As a previous recipient of the ISA Scholarship, she promotes the growth and development of surfing by offering free surf lessons in her community. Attending school and receiving top grades to become a marine biologist is very important to her. She will use the ISA Scholarship to contribute to her school fees and training to compete at the Costa Rican National Championships.

Hailing from Puerto Viejo, Limon, Loany’s objective is to become a sports journalist and travel abroad to compliment her education through valuable international experience. Although she is fairly new to surfing, Loany is driven and has poured her energy into daily training where she displays promising discipline and skills. Loany wishes to continue her education so that she may pursue a career that will allow her to share her love of all sports.

Gregarious and outdoor enthusiast, Eli Sol, has been stoked on surfing from a very young age. Surfing brings balance and joy to his life and has allowed him to connect with his country on a deeper level through travel for competitions. His goal is to pursue a career in marine biology and be an ambassador for our oceans by sharing the importance of protecting all aspects of our environment so that future generations can enjoy. The ISA Scholarship will allow him to purchase his necessary school uniform and supplies as well as continue training for when surf competitions begin again in Costa Rica.

Drawn to surfing at age 4, Tomas trains daily at his local beach on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos archipelago. He is active with the local surf club and participates in fund-raising efforts to ensure the Club can fulfill their local outreach programs. His contributions to beach clean-ups and mentoring younger children through art activities makes him a well-rounded ambassador for surfing. Tomas not only shows dedication to his community and surf training. He prioritizes his education and has maintained the highest academic average in his class since the first grade. He holds Provincial Surf Championship titles and will use the ISA Scholarship to gain access to training that will improve his skills to compete at international competitions.

11-year-old Juan loves how surfing provides him with the opportunity to meet people of different cultures and he strives to be a better individual in and out of the water. He strongly believes that his education has provided him with the necessary discipline to succeed in surfing. In 2021 alone, he won 3 Gold medals at Santa Elena’s provincial competitions in the Under 12-14 category. His goal is to represent Ecuador at the international level and grow the sport of surfing in his country. Along with his dedication and love for surfing, he wants to continue his education to prepare for a better future. He will use the ISA Scholarship to hire a coach to improve his technique, buy a board to train, and supplement his education.

Enthusiastic and dedicated surfer, Julissa, shows a high level of perseverance and kindness in her everyday life. In the water she helps young surfers with their training. Out of the water, Julissa knows the importance of serving her community and volunteers to support first-responders from El Salvador’s National Fire and Police Departments. Throughout the pandemic, Julissa continued to receive high marks as a student, remained current with her studies, and even received an academic scholarship to attend high school. Julissa wishes to use the ISA Scholarship to buy a board with which she can train to hopefully qualify for Team El Salvador at the 2022 ISA World Junior Surf Championship.

Those who know Keisha describe her as an individual that exudes a great spirit with a big heart. She is a well-rounded role model who demonstrates kindness and work ethic in and out of the water. Her outstanding leadership is defined by patience, kindness, and strength and she dedicates equal time to her sports and studies. She has qualified for Fiji’s National Surf Team and she hopes to travel to Fiji’s outer islands to improve her skills on larger, more consistent waves. Her ability to improve her skills is currently hindered by a lack of good equipment. She will use the ISA Scholarship to purchase a board as well as a laptop to continue her studies while traveling for competitions.

Twelve-year-old Niko enjoys being a supportive role model to the many friends he meets through surfing. He tributes surfing to keeping him fit and making him a better person. Niko expresses that surfing allows him to be close to nature and enjoys riding waves such as Restaurants, Swimming Pools and Natadola in Fiji. Niko loves being creative and strives to one day pursue a career as a graphic designer. The ISA Scholarship will help him purchase school materials and the proper surf gear to train more effectively.

Ashley is a driven and passionate surfer who focuses on achieving both her scholastic and athletic goals. She wakes up at 5 am every morning in order to train prior to her classes. Since education is very important to her, she is determined to attend a university to pursue a career in sports. Ashley tributes surfing to improving her mental and physical health and likes to encourage others to incorporate surfing’s benefits into their daily lives as well. Ashley will use the ISA Scholarship to continue her studies and obtain adequate nutrition in order to train at a higher level.

Maria recalls her introduction to surfing as a life-changing experience. Maria struggled with illnesses as a child and surfing greatly improved her quality of life. Being a witness to the positive impact a sport can have on the body and mind, Maria now aspires to pursue a profession as a medical doctor while continuing to be a role model for future generations. In addition to prioritizing her studies, Maria ranked third in Guatemala’s most recent National Surf Competition. Maria personifies the qualities of a great surf ambassador and wishes to use the ISA Scholarship to study English and to cover travel expenses to competitions.

Before school every day, Sivaraj’s daily routine consists of waking up at 3am to work with his family and have time to surf. He is a true role model for other surfers and displays perseverance and determination. Sivaraj wants to improve his English as he knows that it can improve his life path by opening new opportunities for him internationally. As a talent both scholastically and in the water, Sivaraj currently ranks 3rd in India’s National Championships, placed 2nd at the Mahabs Open Surf Comp 2021, and even obtained an academic scholarship in order to attend a university next Fall. He will be the first in his family with the opportunity to pursue higher education. Dedicated to his studies, Sivaraj believes surf education is also important to improving his skills. He plans to use the ISA Scholarship to continue English courses so that he is able to attend a future ISA Instructor Course and help others find their passion within surfing. The ISA Scholarship will also assist with travel expenses to national competitions and allow him to obtain quality surf equipment.

Exceptionally mature for his young age of 12, Pradeep emphasizes the importance of a well-rounded education and makes it his primary emphasis. He credits surfing as the catalyst with which he has built confidence, learned valuable life lessons, and improved his character. He is thankful that surfing has opened his world and has allowed him to meet genuine people from varying backgrounds. The ISA Scholarship will contribute to furthering his education and providing opportunities to participate competitively.

When Raju surfs he experiences joy, empowerment, and freedom. The physically challenging work he does with his family strengthens his physical body and his character. Surfing has given Raju the ability to rise above life’s challenges, has earned him respect within his community, and has allowed him to develop his own identity. The mental and physical benefits of surfing, along with the positive encouragement from his community, have given Raju a spark to excel in both his studies and surfing. Raju believes surfing has been a positive life guide that has helped him possess the drive to improve his future.

Harish embodies a resourceful and creative individual. Using a small phone screen to watch all the surfing videos he can access, Harish learns new surf maneuvers and immediately mirrors them in the water. Harish currently holds the 5th place National ranking in India. When he isn’t surfing, Harish pours his energy into improving his English and understands the future opportunities that such a language skill can offer. Harish wishes to travel to India’s west coast where the next SFI National Indian Surf Competition will take place. He will apply the ISA Scholarship toward the purchase of a board more suited to his height along with competition fees and travel expenses. He emphasizes that surfing and a higher education will allow him to transcend his financial boundaries and improve his contributions to society.

Abdul portrays the definition of a strong work ethic while always wearing a smile on his face. Although his daily schedule involves balancing working with his family and attending school, he consistently does so with a bright, positive attitude that sets an example to all those around him. The ISA Scholarship will contribute to Abdul’s continued education and his acquirement of basic surf gear such as boardshorts.

Alfan is an individual that exemplifies the belief that “anything is possible". He surfs Lakey Peak daily despite having to walk 40 minutes each way. He demonstrates resilience and an intense dedication to improving his situation. Displaying talent scholastically and as a sportman, Alfan remains motivated and willing to work hard without complaining. He will use the ISA Scholarship to improve his life path through education and increased surf training.

16-year-old Gunawan is quiet, sweet and humble. Along with Gunawan's dedication to education, he wishes to promote surfing as a mechanism that creates positive change and improves lives. As an ambassador of the sport and a role model to his community, he aims to travel to Bali and Lombok to participate in competitions and increase visibility around local talent. The ISA Scholarship will provide Gunawan with the necessary financial support to continue his English language education and advance his aspiration of generating surf opportunities within his community.

Aimi is active in uplifting her community through her involvement as a member of JAM Surf Camp, which hosts Black Girls Surf Development Programs. Being a positive role model is important to her and she strives to become a better person both in and out of the water. Aimi is a true ambassador for the sport, displayed by her positive attitude and strong commitment to academics, surfing, and environmental conservation. Her academic goals include taking the SAT so that she has the capability to go to college for culinary school. She is an inspiration to younger girls through showing commitment to fearlessly charge larger waves and to excel in all aspects of life. This ISA Scholarship will provide her with the ability to continue her passion and life goals.

10-year-old Corey radiates a positive attitude and credits education as the key to achieving success. Surfing brings calmness to his life and gives him time with his friends through a healthy and character-building avenue. Corey remains focused on his schoolwork and will use the ISA Scholarship to pay for lunch money, school fees, and extra lessons to excel academically. He participates in the homework program run by the Jamnesia Surf Club, at Freedom Skate, and is confident to reach out when he is in need of assistance in his schoolwork and assignments. Corey uses the few resources available in his community to inspire his peers and portray a strong work ethic.

Despite only surfing for six months, this young man already displays great skill and potential. Shaqueal values his family and community and is a member of Freedom Skate Park. He aspires to become either a soldier or a mechanic so that he can successfully support his family and contribute to his community. Shaqueal’s primary focus is attending a university and will use the ISA Scholarship to pay for exams and school fees. He is strongly committed to creating a bright future for himself and others through education.

Zayaan has been surfing for three years and aspires to become a professional surfer and represent his country at the international level. Zayaan began surfing in early 2019 and went on to participate in the 2019 National Surfing Championship in the U-18 Junior division, becoming the youngest to compete in the Maldives’ Nationals. In 2020, he earned a position in the junior division for the Maldives National Surfing Tour and is currently ranked 3rd. Zayaan not only portrays exemplary commitment to the sport, but also to his education. He is preparing for his school exams and the ISA Scholarship will contribute to his high school education.

Rayan has been in the water since age four and shows a great deal of adaptability and curiosity for the world around him. Rayan excels in school especially in English, French, and mathematics. His intelligence, driven nature, positive attitude, and high regard for others makes him a quality role model in his community. His passion for education and the environment has contributed to his determination to become an engineer in sustainable energy. Rayan will use the ISA Scholarship to replace his broken surfboard and pay for school fees.

Mariano is a kind and empathetic young surfer who makes friends in and out of the water with ease. At just 10 years old, he has already been surfing for four years. He loves surfing because it provides him with the opportunity to explore various locations and interact with new people. The water bestows patience and tranquility upon Mariano which helps to balance his life and allows him to focus on his studies toward a career in architecture. He is very passionate about using surfing as a catalyst to support his goals and aspires to become an inspiration for future generations.

Manuel is an avid 15-year-old young surfer who aims to increase his skills through national and international competitions. His educational goals include mastering the English language to expand his opportunities in a future career as a systemic engineer. Surfing encourages him to strive for the best and he deeply values the connection he feels with nature. Manuel desires to see the world and travel to national and international competitions to improve his skills.

Determined, hardworking, and persistent, Vea is highly regarded by her teachers and coaches alike. Since 2019, Vea ranks amongst the top three female surfers in the Philippines in both the Shortboard and Longboard Open division. Vea is equally dedicated to her education and always holds her studies in high esteem as she works toward her dream of studying Criminology. Despite her tireless commitment to training for the 2021 ISA World Surfing Games, her grades did not waiver and her National Federation was supportive in monitoring her academic development. Vea is an ambassador of the sport and holds the key to inspire future generations.

Déguene is a courageous and energetic young surfer who only began catching waves last summer. When she is passionate about a cause, she pours her whole heart into the task. Déguene is one of the few girl surfers in her community, making her an example to those around her and paving the path for future generations. Her perseverance to improve in a sport she knew little about demonstrates her leadership and her willingness to welcome challenges. Her first priority is to cover her school fees and the ISA Scholarship will also help supplement the funds to purchase a used board for further training. With the goal to compete at the National level next year, Déguene demonstrates the strength and tenacity necessary to promote Senegalese surfing for women.

At only six years old, Yacine is promoting the next generation of surfing in Senegal. Her positive energy and focus have contributed to her remarkable progress in the sport. Her family and community avidly support her surfing and encourage her at every step. Yacine recently began attending school in October and she will primarily use this scholarship to set a solid foundation for her education. We look forward to seeing what this young ambitious surfer will achieve!

Assane is described as polite and energetic and is known for catching waves with “relentless determination.” He is seen as a very respectful and inspiring member of society and practices kindness and leadership in and out of the water. Assane’s primary desire is to be a valuable asset to society and help support his family. He is known to embrace challenges with energy and commitment. In 2021, his acquired skills and style ranked him third in his category at the Senegalese National surfing contest. Assane works hard to improve his scholastic marks and will apply the ISA Scholarship toward the necessary school supplies for his studies.

12-year-old Issa acknowledges the positive impact that surfing has already imprinted on his life. He now directs his energy toward positive influences and is focused on being a constructive member of society. He dreams of attending college and improving his skills as an athlete. This ISA Scholarship will allow Issa to pay for schoolbooks and surf gear so that he can achieve the goals he sets for himself in both surfing and his studies. He embodies a healthy mindset and is an encouraging role model to younger surfers.

At 13 years old, Natthapon is already establishing himself as a standout surfer. Hailing from Kalam Beach, he surfs daily and has ranked within the top 4 surfers at local competitions. Natthapon also placed 2nd in the 2020 Thailand Surfing Championship. Along with pursuing his studies, Natthapon is dedicated to training so that he can one day make the National Team and qualify for future Olympic Games.

Esther won her first National event at the age of 8. In 2019 she was recognized as the most outstanding National Youth Surfer in Trinidad and Tobago and was nominated for the prestigious First Citizens National Awards. Through the seven years that she has been surfing, she has displayed the high level of dedication, commitment and discipline needed to achieve her goals. Her strong work ethic allows her to excel in English Literature and Creative Writing and she aspires to study Journalism at the university level to acquire writing skills to document her surf travels. As the top-ranking female surfer in her country, Esther wants to showcase the opportunities available to women in the sport.

Kevon comes from the rural seaside community of Balandra. Although he faces many challenges due to the nature of his environment, Kevon is active in the local Surf Therapy Program promoting positive mental health for individuals in his region. The ISA Scholarship would not only help supply Kevon with surf equipment and school supplies but also bolster his hopes and aspirations. He will use the funds to purchase a tablet to continue his studies in the current online environment.

Theon exemplifies strong leadership qualities and is currently training to become a mentor with Way for Hope- a surf therapy program for youth in his community. With the belief that an education is also essential to being a positive role model, Theon prioritizes his academics while also portraying sound character and talent in the water. Given the current online education system, Theon is required to own a tablet to keep up with his studies. With the help of the ISA Scholarship, he will be able to purchase his own tablet, as opposed to borrowing one, so that he can continue prioritizing his education.

Arturo strives to be an exemplary individual in the water and seeks to help younger children find their love for the sport as well. He trains hard and is consistently focused on improving his skills by researching techniques and mastering new maneuvers. Surfing provides him with a sense of peace and through spending copious amounts of time in the water, he has come to value the importance of ocean conservation. Surfing has created a positive impact on Arturo’s life and he wishes to pass along that stoke to others. With the financial support of the ISA Scholarship, he will be able to buy a laptop so that he can remain current with his online education.

Leonel is motivated to excel and exemplifies this trait through his organization, punctuality, and focus on his academics. His love for the water brings balance and joy to his life. He currently must share a bodyboard with others his age and the ISA Scholarship will provide him the opportunity to purchase his own board and participate in competitions. The funds also allow him to attend school and purchase a school uniform.

Ayllen is passionate about her involvement in the She Plays Safe ambassador program and wants to use her voice to empower other young female athletes. An avid surfer, Ayllen took 3rd place in the 2021 Valida Nacional de Surf. To become an effective leader, Ayllen believes in furthering her studies as well. Through continuing English courses, she hopes to build her proficiency to an international level. Through her positive energy and her love of people and surfing, Ayllen is paving the way for future generations of female surfers in Venezuela.

Daily training has secured a positive impact on Jhony’s mental and physical health while also inspiring him to be more focused on increasing his grades in school. He dreams of attending culinary school to become a professional chef. Since he currently relies on borrowing school supplies to complete homework assignments, the ISA Scholarship will provide him with the means to purchase his own necessities to ensure he can excel in school. Jhony is always eager to get in the water and it brings him an immense sense of pride to be an ambassador for the sport of surfing.

Benjamin de Castro has been surfing since he was eleven years old when he moved to South African from Angola. Benjamin claims to love surfing because he is good at it. He has participated in competitions against the SA National team, as well as the team from Reunion. When Benjamin grows up he would like to own his own surf shop and surf school.

Surfing is Roger Vuuanza’s life. He claims that everything he does has something to do with surfing. Roger and his family moved to South Africa from Angola to have a better life. Roger is very thankful for what his mother has done for him and his family, and he would ultimately like to help her out. When Roger grows up he would like to continue his education and study Sports Science. His surfing dreams include participating and doing well in more competitions and to set an example by being a role model for younger surfers.

Ana Martina Gainza started surfing because it is a mixture of her two passions: sports and the beach. When Ana isn’t at school or studying English, she is surfing any chance she gets. In the summers Ana works to make money so she can compete in surfing competitions. She has previously participated in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship that were held in Ecuador and the ISA World Surfing Games that were held in France. When Ana grows up she would like to study more languages and photography.

Tobias Ortells and his family both have a shared understanding of his passion for the sea and how happy surfing makes him. Tobias has been surfing for over eight years and despite the cold waters at his local surfing beach, he still tries to suit up and surf any chance he can get. His family is very supportive of his surfing dreams. His father is always there for him at all of his tournaments and workouts, as well as through all the high points and low points that come with competition and life in general.

Belko Contreras has been surfing since he was twelve years old. At first he just started with a used board he received as a gift but later developed a passion for long boarding. Belko describes long boarding as a combination of “the classics with the radical”. When Belko realized his passion for long boarding, he dedicated himself to more rigorous training which incorporates practicing yoga, meditation, swimming, weightlifting and much more to help better his surfing overall. Belko aspires to study nutrition and dietetics and eventually work in a hospital setting so he can help people as well as finance his other dreams.

Jean Carlos Mendez hasn’t been surfing for very long, but ever since he started he has excelled exponentially. From all of his hard work and dedication, Jean Carlos is now a member of the national circuit. Jean Carlos knows that the probability of becoming the best surfer in the world is very small, so in the future he would like to become a dentist. With the understanding that surfing may not be career path, Jean Carlos will always live with surfing in his heart.

Cesar Reyes started pursing his passion for surfing when he was twelve years old. Cesar discovered the sport and instantly fell in love with it the first time he saw a group of surfers surf the waves of San Mateo. He originally started surfing on an old body board but when that broke he was given of an old surf board and began to realize his potential. Since that day Cesar has participated on a Surfing Contest Tour for schools of Manta and he has placed first in all three tournaments. When Cesar grows up he would like to become and Agronomic Engineer and own a farm in the rainforest while protecting the environment.

Tassy Swallow has been surfing since she was eight years old and is now sharing her passion with her younger siblings by teaching them to surf. Tassy has received a Sports Leadership qualification so that she can run a project along side with a surf school that will help disadvantaged women from local centers for single parents and victims of domestic violence, and help with young women who were referred as part of a healthy living intuitive. Another honor that Tassy has received is that she has been selected to join the South West Regional Talent Support Programme by the University of Bath. With this honor, not only has her surfing progressed but it has also given her a direction for her future educational goals. Tassy hopes to study psychology at Truro College as well as doing a Sport Excellence diploma.

Armani Green has been surfing since he was ten years old. School is very important to Armani so he makes sure to get all of his homework done before he is able to go surfing. When Armani isn’t surfing he plays football (soccer) with his brother and other surfers from the Jamnesia surf club or he is practicing his dance moves. Armani aspires to one day become a doctor. He really enjoys helping people and by being a doctor he feels that he can keep people health and safe. Armani would also like to become a professional surfer so he can travel the world, make money doing what he loves, and be able to represent his country and his sponsors.

Ronald Hastings has been surfing since he was seven years old. Ronald dreams of becoming a professional surfer where he is given the opportunity to travel the world and compete with other surfers. If Ronald isn’t able to become a professional surfer he would like to become a soldier so he can help defend and keep his country safe.

Naomi Kabayashi rode his first wave on the nose of a surfboard when he was only a year old. Not until he was five years old was he able to ride a short board on his own. Naomi has also been passionate and respectful of the sea. When he was in Kindergarten he received the nickname “the doctor of the sea” because he knew so much about the sea. After every time Naomi surfs, he makes sure to thank and respect the sea so he bows. Ever since Naomi’s first surfing competition, when he was in 5th grade, he decided he is going to be a winner in the future and everyday is continuing to pursue that dream.

Hussain is proud to call himself a Maldivian. He was taught by his brother at the age of thirteen how to surf. Even though his country consists of 98% water and attractive surf breaks most teenage and young Maldivian’s participate in land sports. Hussain’s surfing dreams are to become the number one ranked surfer in his country and to win a medal in an international competition. Another dream that Hussain has for his future is to educate the people of his community about surfing by teaching others to surf as well as having other surf related programs visible in his community.

Ever since Carlos Cervantes was a young child, he and his family would go down to the beach and watch people surf. It wasn’t until years later that Carlos was able to access a surfboard and begin to explore his passion for surfing. Carlos and his brother try to surf as often as they can but when they are unable to, they stay active by running to the boardwalk or skateboarding. When Carlos grows up, his dream is to own a surf shop with his brother.

Before Mahorahora McLeod started surfing two years ago his dream was to become a professional league player, but now he wants to be a professional surfer. Mahorahora is a part of the Taranaki under 15’s Touch and Taranaki Under 14’s league, but enjoys surfing much more and is practicing whenever he gets the chance. When there aren’t any waves to surf Mahorahora is on his skateboard practices his maneuvers. Mahorahora knows that in order to reach his life dreams he must “go the distance to get the rewards”.

Jean Carlos Gonzales lives in the small village of Saint Catalina which has the best surfing waves in Panama. Jean Carlos currently holds the 2nd position in the National Circuit of Surfing in the junior category and he also has represented his home country of Panama with high finishes in events such as Bolivarianos of Surfing in Ecuador. With the ISA scholarship Jean Carlos plans on putting the money towards school, tournaments, trainings, trips and to improve his quality of life.

Miluska Tello started surfing at the age of 11. She has recently becoming a part of the National Championship of Surfing in the U16 category. Miluska’s surfing dreams are to become a world champion surfer like her idol Sofía Mulanovich. She also aspires to continue her education at a University where she hopes to study Business Administration. During a normal week Miluska has to distribute her time between school, her chores, and surfing but when the weekend comes she spends 100% of her time surfing.

Juninho Urcia’s surfing and educational dreams have been furthered with the help of the ISA Scholarship. Not only is Juninho receiving high marks in school and being a role model for the other students but he is also participating at a very competitive level in his surfing career. Some of Juninho’s achievements in 2009 were the National Champion in the Under 14 Division in two competitions and 4th place in the Latin American event Juegos Bolivarianos, Salinas, Ecuador. Juninho aspires to continue to participate in national events as well as start competing in ALAS (Latin American Surfing Association) events to eventually end up competing in the WCT.

Mamadou Mbengue was nominated for this scholarship by Fédération Sénégalaise de Surf for his outstanding characteristics such as his respect and his motivation. The ISA scholarship will help Mamadou to improve his grades and excel in surfing and to the top of the podiums in future competitions. Mamadou and the Fédération Sénégalaise are committed and are working in the direction of the ISA motto, “For a Better Surfing Future”.

When Papi Makanyane started surfing in 2005 he turned his back on all other sports and focused on “the best sport in the world”. Last year Papi was invited to the SA trials for the SA Junior Team and despite not making it he tried he knows that he tried his hardest. Papi’s surfing dream is to become a pro surfer. He also hopes to continue his education and go to college to study sports marketing. Papi is “determined to be the best that he can be and never give up”.

Jarred Veldhuis has been surfing since his first wave at the age of six. With the help and support of Jarred’s parents he has become a PST competitor and started to surf the SSA circuit with all the local contests such as Billabongs, Quicksilver KOG, Volkom and Ripcurl. Jarred has made the National Team and is very honored and proud to represent his country in the Quicksilver ISA World Junior Championships in New Zealand in 2010. His future goal is to become a professional surfer and surf the WQS and hopefully qualify for the WCT. As Jarred is working towards that goal he is furthering his education and would ultimately like to become a professional chef.

Donghoon Kim started surfing in 2008 when he and some of his friends decided to sign up for the afterschool activity. Until that date Donghoon hadn’t found any other outdoor activities he enjoyed now he spends more time outside “for a ride in the sea”. Donghoon and his mother agree that having something that he is passionate about is very important because it keeps him focused on life. Donghoon’s dream is to someday become the best Korean surfer.

When Colby Stanley was around eight years old he developed his passion for surfing while partaking in a summer course. That first summer he spent every day in the water and traveled to a new beach every morning. After that summer Colby was hooked. When Colby and his friends aren’t able to surf due to lack of waves, they are staying active by playing tennis or football. In the future Colby hopes to continue his education and attain a degree in Sports.

Ian Ross Schweden started surfing when he was eight years old. He really enjoys partaking in the contests and surfing the big waves. Ian is now trying to expand his surfing knowledge by obtaining a better understanding of the different branches of surfing. In the future Ian would like to have a career on the sea. Ian is deciding between getting his captain license so he can sail boats around the Caribbean and taking the necessary steps to receive his helicopter license.

Marissa Shaw has always seen the beach as her playground but didn’t realize her hidden talent for surfing until six years ago. Ever since that day Marissa has continued to improve her new found passion for surfing and has made the finals in NSSA Nationals, anchoring for her high school surf team as well as getting close to making the Pac Sun USA Surf Team. Other than surfing, Marissa plans to continue her education and pursue another one of her hobbies, emergency medicine. When Marissa isn’t surfing she is focusing on school or working one of her two jobs as a State beach lifeguard and a City pool lifeguard. The water truly is Marissa’s playground.

Nicolas Bulla was draw to standing on a board, to create equilibrium and slide with the wave when he was thirteen years old. Leading up to Nicolas’s first surfing experience he tried other sports but none seemed to spark his interest like surfing did. Nicolas claims that when he stood up on his first wave he “had found what was mine, surfing”. In the future Nicolas intends to become a professional surfer and study photography and art.

Tobias Ortells has been surfing as much as he can ever since a family friend introduced him to the sport when he was nine years old. When Tobias grows up he would like to continue his education and travel the world. His surfing dreams include becoming a Latin surf champion, an Argentinean champion, and to be in the Top 100 WQS.

Jack Murray has loved the sport since the first day his father took him surfing. His favorite wave is Uluwata but his dream is to surf at Desert Point, Lombok. When Jack isn’t surfing he is attending school, skateboarding or snow skiing (season permitting).

Kelly Norris has been surfing since the age of seven when his family was on holiday and his dad pushed him onto the board. Ever since that day he has loved it. Kelly took his passion for surfing to the competitive circuit when he was eleven years old. When Kelly isn’t surfing he is staying active by skating, wakeboarding, and playing tennis. Kelly’s dream as a surfer is to be on the world tour and be in the top 10.

Chelsea Roett started surfing at the age of four on her bodyboard. She would compete with her friends for who could stand and ride the longest wave, and has been surfing ever since.In 2005, Chelsea took her surfing to a new level and started competing. That year she made the Barbados Junior Team, and it inspired her to become a better surfer by perfecting her maneuvers. When Chelsea isn’t surfing she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, as well as interior decorating and playing the drums.

When Irons Burgos was six years old he learned to surf at his father’s surf school. Irons’ surfing dream are to become a professional surfer and to be the first Ecuadorian World Champion in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship and in the ASP Championships. He would like to one day be able to go to and surf at all the famous beaches in the world such as: Hawaii, California, South Africa, and France.

William Dansey’s passion for surfing started from the first wave he stood up on in Taunovo. From that day he has been surfing anywhere and anything he can. His surfing dreams include opening the first ISA certified surf school in Fiji, as well as owning a surf shop. When William isn’t surfing he is partaking in one of his many other hobbies: basketball, skating, singing, playing guitar, fire dancing, drawing and teaching his pastor’s son how to play rugby.

Louis Baltazar Fears started surfing because his Dad surfed and has been hooked ever since. His surfing dream is to be a world champion and surf in Mexico. Louis’ favorite waves are Hossegor waves because they can either be really good barrels or long waves. When Louis isn’t surfing, he is either skating or skiing.

Jaide Lowe’s father surfs and shared his passion for the sport with his daughter. Jaide has had many accomplishments since she started competing. She finished 1st place in numerous events from Volcom VQS, Ripcurl Grom Search, and the National Trust series. Jaide also made the quarterfinals in the Ripcurl Pro Juniors Euro Finals. Jaide dreams to one day surf in Indonesia. When Jaide isn’t surfing she enjoys swimming, skateboarding, as well as hanging out and watching movies with her sisters.

Mario Vega has been surfing competitively since he was ten years old. His surfing dreams are to be a world renowned surfer. Mario is a part of the Guatemala Surfing Association where he has had the opportunity to travel to places both inside and outside of his home country of Guatemala. Mario’s other hobbies include running, which gives him energy, and playing football.

Gai Sato wanted to be like his brother, and when he saw him getting on a surf board he wanted to start surfing. He realized his passion for surfing when he was eight years old. Since then the best result that Gai has achieved in surfing competitions was fourth in the Haleiwa International Open in 2011. Gia’s surfing goals include becoming a grand champion in JPSA (Japan Pro Surfing Association) as well as surfing in Mentawai, Indonesia.

Minato Takahashi admiration for his father was what drove him to first start bodyboarding. His passion moved into the realm of surfing and ever since then he has been learning to surf at a surf school. Minato would like to become a surfer who people enjoy watching surf. Ever since Minato watched the final of ASP Quiksilver Pro 2011 in Ericeira Portugal, this surf spot has been on his wish list.

Jelle de Roodes was literally pushed into the waves when he was five years old. He first started out on a bodyboard but moved up to a longboard shortly after learning. Jelle’s surfing dream is to be Dutch Champion. He also dreams about surfing in Bali. Jelle has never been to Bali, but has heard that they have good waves there. When Jelle isn’t surfing he enjoys hanging out with his friends and playing soccer

Curiosity is what drew Aaron Ernesto Gomez Selva to the sport of surfing. Aaron hopes that in the future he can become a nationally recognized surfer, and also pursue his studies to become someone who can help make his community better. He would ultimately like to have a successful, professional career in the administration of hotel and tourism enterprises. Aaron also dreams to one day surf the beaches of San Diego, California.

Milton Bladimri Aguilar Quintanilla was drawn to the sport of surfing at the age of twelve when he was mesmerized by the other surfers. Milton enjoys surfing so much, but getting a hold of board is very difficult. He claims that when the waves are good and you don’t have a board, it is horrible. Unfortunately, where Milton lives there are very little resources for his surfing career. Milton hopes to better his families’ economic situation by studying hospitality and tourism. When Milton isn’t surfing, he enjoys going to the river, playing soccer, fishing and helping out his parents.

Juninho Urica followed in his older brother’s footsteps and picked up the sport of surfing. He started surfing at the age of five, but decided when he was thirteen to take his career to a new level and compete in more national and international events. Juninho’s surfing dreams include being on the WTC and surfing the perfect tubes of Indonesia. Juninho understands how difficult it will be to achieve his dreams, but he believes that with support “everything is possible”.

Jorge Luis Guiterrez’s love for surfing started out when his friend bought him a boogie board. Ever since that day Jorge’s daily routine includes skating to the beach to check out the waves and then surfing until he has to attend school in the afternoons. Jorge’s surfing dream is to travel the world in search of the best waves. One of the surf spots that Jorge would like to surf is Chicama, Peru.

When Niki Luksic Druskovic started surfing at the age of eleven, she was the youngest surfer in Slovenia. After finishing high school, Niki plans on studying medicine, preferably near the ocean so she can still surf. Niki would like for her country, as well as the surfers from Slovenia, to be better known throughout the world. The waves that Niki dreams to surf are all around the world. She would like to take a world surf trip that would include Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Hawaii and South America.

With the support and help from Robin De Kock of Surfing South Africa, Brandon Benjamin understood that if he worked hard enough, his hobby of surfing could become a career. Brandon aspires to one day become World Champion and starting a community surfing organization to help and teach surfing to underprivileged kids. When Brandon isn’t surfing, he enjoys cycling, skating, and playing the drums.

Marchall Reans started surfing in 2008, and with the support of the J’Bay Surf Club he has been given the opportunity to compete in provincial and national surfing trials and events. Marchall’s surfing dreams are to become a professional surfer and travel the world to compete at the best surfing breaks. His dreams outside of surfing are to become a lawyer so he can provide a better life for himself and his family. When Marchall isn’t surfing he likes to skateboard and play soccer with his fellow surf club members.

Nahir Aylen Manduca has been surfing on and off since he was eight years old. When Nahir was twelve, he started to take his surfing more seriously and began to train as well as compete. Nahir dreams to become the best surfer in the world, as well as work in the field of marine biology and help animals. When Nahir isn’t surfing, he enjoys doing acrobatics with fabrics, skateboarding, diving, fishing, tennis, and many other sports, as well as spending time with his family and friends.

Panu Wisetsombat was taught how to surf by his mother, but now the roles have reversed and the student has become the teacher. Panu’s dream is to be able to surf all around the globe at world class surfing destinations, especially Bali and Australia. His highest result in surfing competitions thus far was 1st place in the Rip Curl Grom Search 2010. When Panu isn’t surfing, he is skateboarding, scuba diving, or performing what he calls a fire show for tourists.

Mary-Townsend Bourque claims that she was “out of the womb and into the water”. MT has been dragging her father to go surfing with her for as long as she can remember, and is still doing it to this day. In the future MT would like to be a famous singer/song writer and surfer/philanthropist, but if those don’t work out she would like to be a physical therapist. MT would describe herself as a good surfer but her home state of South Carolina doesn’t have the most consistent waves, so she yearns to have the opportunity to travel and compete in places with consistently suitable waves.

Maddie Swayne started surfing when she first moved to California at a young age. Currently Maddie is attending college at University of Southern California (USC) and pursuing a degree in Environmental Science. Maddie’s dream is to graduate from USC and ultimately have a career in an industry that is a mixture of her passions for knowledge and surfing. When Maddie isn’t at school she is surfing any free opportunity she gets. If for some reason she can’t go surfing, she enjoys spending time with her friends or being outdoors hiking, backpacking, kayaking or even just laying on the grass.

Francisco Morosini has been surfing for fun since the age of five, and started his competitive career when he was just seven years old. He hopes to be able to experience other waves and interact with other surfers all over the world. When Francisco isn’t surfing, he is either at school, playing guitar, swimming, or cooking. His dreams are to be a professional surfer, travel, learn English and Portuguese, and become a chef.

Franwil Vento has been surfing since he was eleven years old. Franwil wanted to surf so badly that he sold his bike so he could purchase his first surf board. Surfing is Franwil’s life! He is always in the water, either surfing or making sure that his beach is taken care of, through local beach clean-ups. Franwil has had the opportunity to compete in many local competitions, but his dream is to be able to travel to new places and compete outside of his home country of Venezuela. Despite not having an abundance of resources, Franwil has many goals and big dreams he is striving to achieve in the future.

Liam Taylor began surfing at the age of ten while on vacation in Queensland, Australia. Currently, Liam attends Kings College in Reedy Creek and every chance he gets he is surfing. When Liam gets older he would ultimately like to become a professional surfer “just like Mick Fanning”, but Liam is also interested in a career in the Navy protecting his country.

Caelum Blandford had always watched and admired his dad and step dad surfing. At the age of six, Caelum picked up the sport and ever since then his passion for it has and continues to grow. When Caelum grows up he isn’t exactly sure what he wants to do but he knows “for sure it has to involve the ocean.” Aside from surfing, Caelum likes to help those in need by participating in a cross country run for the Breast Cancer Charity, as well as a local Christian Surfing event for handicapped kids.

Danilo Cerda has been surfing since he was eight years old. He enjoyes the sport because he loves the water and the laid back feeling of surfing. When Danilo grows up hopes to become a professional surfer and travel the world. Danilo tries to surf as much he can with school and chores, but he always makes makes it a priority to get a good night’s rest and lives by his fathers motto, “A good athlete needs a good night’s sleep.”

With the encouragement of her father and the beautiful waves in her hometown, Javiera Veliz, was drawn to surfing at a young age. Javiera’s achievements in surfing are not only because of her physical skills but also her remarkable responsibility, discipline and perseverance. When Javiera grows up she would like to continue to surf as well as travel and learn about new waves.

Growing up in a surf town, Esteban Josue Fernandez Matamoros, was drawn to surfing. When Esteban was eight years old his mother allowed him to start surfing and ever since that that is all he can think about. Esteban strives to become a professional surfer as well as a surf instructor when he grows up. When there aren’t waves for Esteban to surf, he enjoys spending his time playing soccer, riding his bike, or watching surf videos.

Jyothi M. Bangera always puts her family first. Jyothi is new to the sport of surfing and has only been surfing since January of 2012. Surfing to Jyothi is more than just a hobby, but to her it is a representation of a bright future for herself and her family. When Jyothi grows up she would like to become a better surfer so she can represent and help save her country of India.

Samuel Marabici strives to become a more complete athlete. When there aren’t waves for Samuel to surf, he is either studying or staying active by windsurfing, skim boarding, or skateboarding. Samuel believes that in order to achieve his goal of becoming more complete athlete he not only has to be good at surfing but also needs to learn to speak English and obtain a proper education.

Javaun Brown has always admired the older boys and their surfing skills. When Javaun was nine years old he taught himself to surf. Surfing is just one of Javaun’s hobbies. He also participates in football, cricket, and cadet. When Javaun grows up he would like to be a professional surfer as well as a soldier or a mechanical engineer.

Nick Robinson is a student at Donald Quarry High School and his favorite subjects are Biology and Mathematics. Nick is a part of a very supportive family and whenever he can he likes to spend time with his family, especially at the beach. When Nick grows up he would like to become a Physical Education Teacher so he can continue to take part in sports as well as work with children.

When Paswayne Douglas was just four years old he learned to surf. When Paswayne isn’t at school studying his favorite subject of mathematics he is surfing with his idol, the man who taught him to surf. In the future Paswayne hopes to become a soldier so he can protect his country.

Armani Green saw the joy and happiness that surfing brought to surfers, so at the age of ten he decided to join in on the fun. Ever since that day, Armani hasn’t been able to get enough surfing. He loves “the feeling of gliding across the water.” Armani would love to become a professional surfer and travel the world making money doing what he loves to do. He also aspires to be a doctor so he will be able to help to keep people healthy and safe.

Carlos Dominguez Cervantes strives to be a professional surfer, but also understands how important his education is. Carlos is very family oriented and strives to help them in any way he can. Even with his family on his mind, Carlos still makes time to surf and go to school.

Phillip Seidler's father taught him to surf when he was five years old in the warm waters of South Africa. When Phillip isn’t surfing he is competing on the Namibian swimming team or in open water swims. Phillip considers the ocean his playground, even though the waters and weather in Namibia aren’t the best. He is constantly being push by himself, as well as his friends and family, to further his limits to surf bigger and harder waves.

Dayna Story has been surfing for fun since she was ten years old and joined the competitive circuit when she was eleven. Other than surfing, Dayna excels in school in the subjects of Music and English. Every night she either plays the piano, guitar, or sings as well as keeping up with her other studies. Dayna isn’t sure what she wants to do when she grows up but she would ultimately like to continue to pursue her passion for surfing.

Waretini Wano from the age of four has had the “surfing bug”. He shares this hobby not only with his friends but also his family. Waretini’s family encourages him to “live the dream” and “be what you dream to be”. This year Waretini has been chosen to be the perfect/leader for his high school and has also been selected for the NZ Junior National Team. In the future Waretini hopes to become a great surfing like many of his idols and also to teach others to surf. Waretini is very thankful for the positive role models in his life and would like to be that for children who aren't as fortunate as he has been.

Luis Angel Arroyo started surfing when he was four years old. His passion and talent has earned him a spot on many podiums as well as a position on a surfing team for two years. When Luis isn’t surfing he is focusing his education. It is important to Luis to keep a balance between surfing and school.

Monica Munn has a passion for competing. She began surfing when she was eleven years old and hopes to continue to do so in the future. When Monica isn’t surfing she is going to school. She has always enjoyed reading and sports. Monica’s main priorities are her education and her surfing.

Estephani Tello has been surfing since she was eleven years old and has been participating professionally since 2009. When Estephani grows up she would like to become a world champion surfer, like her idol, Sofia Mulanovich. Estephani would also like to travel the world and learn about other countries, as well as work on her English. She also hopes to further her education with a degree in Economics.

Nikita Avdeev has been surfing since he was six years old. The day after his first surf lesson he told him mom that he “was born to ride the waves”. Nikita was invited to the Russian Surf Contest in 2011, and won first place in the junior category. When Nikita isn’t surfing he is either at school, doing homework, skateboarding, or playing chess. Nikita hopes to become a surfing world champion when he grows up. In the future he also would like to further the development of the surfing, skating and chess industries in his home country of Russia.

Simo Mkhize has been surfing since he was eight years old. He won his first surf competition in Durban at the age of eleven. In 2011, which Simo claims to be his best year ever, he had a big year in surfing. Some of his surfing accomplishments in 2011 were his selection as a reserve for the National Junior Team and being chosen for The South African Junior Invitational Team. When Simo isn’t surfing he is attended school and hopes to someday become a lawyer.

Brandon Benjamin’s passion for surfing began at the age of ten. Brandon is a very dedicated and hardworking surfer. He is out surfing any chance he gets and is always “the first one in and the last one out”. Brandon started surfing competitively when he was eleven and a year later won an U16 event which gave him the confidence he needed to continue to succeed. His dream is to become a World Champion surfer and ultimately give back to his community by teaching others how to surf.

Colby Stanley is one busy surfer. This year he qualified for the Spanish National Final, in Asturias and also competed in the VOLCOM OFM where he earned himself an invite to next year’s competition. When Colby isn’t surfing, he is studying, at the skate park, watching surfing videos, or listening to music. In the future Colby would like to be a physical education teacher or a graphic designer.

At a young age, Melodie Bhony Traynor and her family moved to Fuerteventura from Ireland because of the sunshine and beautiful weather. Melodie has been surfing for about four years now, but within the last two years she has taken her surfing and her training to another level. Melodie claims that she always challenges herself in all ways. Surfing isn’t Melodie’s only hobby, she also plays guitar and composes her own songs. When she grows up she would like to be a professional surfer and participate in the ASP.

Elton John was given the opportunity two years ago to take surfing lessons on the weekends and ever since then surfing is all he wants to do. Elton is currently a member of the Junior Surfing Group of Trinidad and Tobago. When Elton isn’t surfing he enjoys hunting with his brothers, going to school and helping out at home. In the future Elton hopes to become a policeman so he can help and stop some of the problems that are affecting his village.

Jyiell Lewis always admired his older brother and his surfing abilities. Jyiell secretly started surfing at the age of seven but once his brother found out, Jyiell was encouraged to follow his dream. His dream is to traveling and surf the world. Jyiell always makes sure that whatever hardships are thrown his way, he will never give up without a fight. In the future Jyiell would like to teach younger children how to surf and allow them to have better opportunities in life.

Elenna (Lulu) Erkeneff has been surfing for eleven years and has successfully found a way to create balance in her life between school, friends, family, and competitive surfing. She has competed in both long boarding and short boarding competitions. Currently, Elena is focusing on become a better competitor and learning to ride any kind of surfboard. When Elenna isn’t surfing she is focusing on her studies, spending time with her friends and family, or helping out with the Surfrider Foundation. With Elenna’s plans to further her education her fascination with the ocean has driven her to want pursue a degree in environmental science or marine biology.

Francisco Morosini’s main priorities are surfing and school. Francisco hopes to continue to do well in surfing and in his studies. His surfing dreams this year are to participate in WINGS and hopefully place high enough to participate, again, in the ISA World Junior Championships.

Julian Iturralde is seventeen years old and is a member of the Association of Chubut surfers in Argentina. He commutes long distances to every contest and wants to dedicate his life to the sport of surfing. He plans to travel to other countries where his training can be taken to the next level.

Bianca Schipani is thirteen years old and started surfing in 2012. Bianca wants to be one of the only women to pull an air, a trick that she believes very few women have succeeded at. She dreams of making her national team and participating throughout the world. Bianca is very passionate about school and when she is not training, she is studying or hanging out with her family.

Kaue Germano is a dedicated eleven-year-old surfer and student from Brazil. His "Golden Dream" is to be a top ranked competitor in his State Tour and in the National Brazilian Tour. Kaue hopes to someday represent Brazil in a future ISA event.

Vinicius Parra has grown up competing in Brazil in surf club and city contests. He is eleven years old and strives to expand his range of competitions by participating in the State Sao Paulo Tour and the National CBS Tour. In doing so, Vinicius hopes to be noticed by future sponsors so that he can continue his dream of becoming a professional surfer.

Bruno Santos is eleven years old and has been competing in surf contests for the last three years. He is very goal- oriented and always pushes himself to succeed in school as well as in surfing. Bruno dreams of participating in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship within the next two years.

Sixteen-year-old Laura Godoy contributes much of her success to the outstanding support she has received from her parents, her two brothers, and Viña Surfing Club, especially Paula Muñoz, the current Club President. The club has helped Laura compete in several championships including the National Women's Surf Ranking, where she recently ranked 8th.

Christopher Rojas is a well-known name in Pichilemu, Chile. He has been in the water showing his perseverance and capacity to overcome obstacles since the young age of six. Christopher has won numerous Under 14 and Under 12 local, national, and various youth competitions. With the help of Casa Roja and Waitara Club, Christopher has been able to travel to many surfing competitions. Christopher is now twelve years old and one of the best students in his class. He is passionate about surfing and in order to learn and acquire more competition experience, he needs to travel and compete with other surfers. With the help of the ISA Scholarship, Christopher will be able to gain the competitive experience he needs.

Trinidad Salas has the recipe for success: she is enthusiastic, persistent, and highly motivated. She gets much of her surfing influence from her father who she surfs and trains with on a daily basis. Trinidad is currently eleven years old, lives in Pichilemu, Chile, and is starting to compete in regional championships.

After competing in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Nicaragua this past year, fifteen-year-old Javiera Veliz strives to continue traveling the world to compete in National Circuit Championships. She plans to maintain her studies and her passion for education while competing internationally.

Santiago Nakogui Barro is an inspiration and role model to many children in his indigenous community in Northern Columbia. Sixteen-year-old Santiago belongs to the Tayrona Surf Club, one of the oldest registered surf clubs in all of Colombia. He is the current Amateur Champion of Colombia, winning two out of the three national championships this year. Santiago continues to push the boundaries to expand his skills and plans to continue traveling and competing.

Thirteen-year-old Santiago Mendoza chooses to overcome life's obstacles by focusing on surfing and school. When he is not training, Santiago can be found helping his father run his business at Casagrande Surf and Camp, a recreational camping and restaurant site near the ocean. Santiago recently won the National Amateur Competition held in Barranquilla and is the youngest to have ever won an amateur championship in Colombia.

Estaban Chaves Morua's happiness stems from his mom and his friends who support and encourage him in surfing and in school. He is fifteen years old and enjoys traveling and competing not only because he furthers his surfing, but also because he gains valuable friends through his experiences.

Eduardo Venegas is one of five brothers in his family. He is sixteen years old and plans to use the ISA Scholarship to pay for school for his four brothers and himself. Eduardo believes that although surfing is a fun sport, "education is essential to having a decent life."

At the age of fifteen, Irons Burgos is a three time National Champion in Ecuador and is determined to travel the world to continue improving his surfing. He hopes to compete in NSSA and Pro Junior events in the near future and his dream is to be the first Ecuadorian to win a medal in an ISA World Championship.

Michael Jordan Macías Viera’s is fourteen years old and his main priorities are his family, his education, and surfing. When he's not at the beach or helping around the house, you can find him watching surf videos of professional body boarders and studying their techniques. Michael has great enthusiasm for competitions and is excited to see his progress in future events.

Fifteen-year-old Titouan Byer is originally from a small island in the Carribean. His extreme dedication to the sport of surfing has him moving to new locations each year in order to push the boundaries of his surfing and training. Titouan has big dreams for both his education and for surfing. He will begin college next year and will take the BAC exam in France in three years. Even with the high demands of college, Titouan will continue his training and competing in hopes on one day competing on the WCT.

Sixteen-year-old Williams Alfredo Garcia Avila has successfully found a way to create balance in his life between school, friends, and competitive surfing. He has a rigorous training schedule for competitive surfing, working an average of three hours per training session. William's responsibility and discipline have allowed him to climb into the national ranking and occupy the podium three different times.

Jose Anthony Diaz Chachon only began surfing five years ago but has already made a name for himself within his surfing community in Guatemala. He is now sixteen years old and has made a presence by participating in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship and the American Championship in 2012. Jose hopes that his passion and dedication for the sport will lead him to achieving his goal of one day becoming World Champion

Miguel Angel Castillo Pimentel aspires to be a professional surfer similar to his idols, Kelly Slater and Gabriel Medina, who continue to bring raw talent and innovation to the sport of surfing. Seventeen-year-old Miguel is the reigning National Champion in the Junior U18 category and is in the top six of the National Open Category in Guatemala. Miguel also continues to excel in his studies and hopes to finish his schooling in the near future.

Bianca Macedo is a thirteen year old surfer who was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii. She has been surfing since she was two years old and has been surfing competitively since she was seven years old. This last year was the year that Bianca traveled to compete in the NSSA Hawaii Tour, Nationals, Regionals and the HSA Series. Bianca loves to surf and surfs every day with her brother. Her goal is to be apart of the Hawaiian National Team and do really well on the National stage.

Sunshine Pately is thirteen years old from Kauai, Hawaii. She travels often with her family to Oahu and California to compete in various surf competitions. Sunshine enjoys surfing with her friends and the thrill of winning heats because it reiterates that hard training pays off. Keep your eyes peeled for Sunshine who will soon be ripping on a new John Pizel Surfboard.

Anabella Yukojati is a role model to many. She is fifteen years old from Indonesia and has been described by her friends as "humorous, easy to get along with, and multi talented." When Yukojati is not surfing, she can be found playing guitar. She enjoys playing music because it is a chance to get all of her friends together to sing. Yukojati desires to be an icon for other young surfers to look up to.

Ronald Hastings started surfing at the age of seven and instantly fell in love with the sport because it has the ability to clear his mind and keep him connected to nature. On the weekend, he enjoys going to the beach with his family and reading a book or doing a puzzle with his sister. Ronald's greatest life lesson came from his mother who taught him to "live a happy and peaceful life, while taking full advantage of your opportunities." Ronald is now fourteen years old and dreams of being a professional surfer so he can tour the world and have the funding to further his education.

Nathan Miller is a fourteen year old from Kingston, Jamaica. Nathan grew up admiring his father surfing. At age seven, he decided he wanted to pursue the same lifestyle. He enjoys summer time because he gets to surf every day at Jamnesia Surf Camp with other surfers his age. Nathan is also very passionate about school. His favorite subject is science because it gives him an understanding of the various wonders of the planet.

Surfing has run in Ivah Wilmots's blood for four generations. Ivah and his family also run a surf camp on the beach in St. Andrew, Jamaica that surfers travel internationally to come stay at . His biggest surfing inspirations include Rob Machado and his brother, Inilek. Ivah is sixteen years old and attends Kingston College where he is studying Engineering. Some of his favorite subjects include art, technical drawing, and metal work. Once he completes college, Ivah hopes to use his technical drawing skills to start shaping surfboards.

Adama Browne is a fourteen years old from Liberia. Benjamin McCrumuda, the President of the Liberian Surfing Federation, first taught Adama how to surf when he was eight years old. Adama gets the most thrill from riding big waves on a Rusty fish. He also enjoys reading, especially surf magazines, and would love to work with computers when he grows up.

Surfing is the only sport that can satisfy sixteen-year-old Morris Gross' heart. Morris first learned how to surf regular foot but after realizing that there are only left hand breaks in his home town of Robertsport, Liberia, Morris taught himself to surf goofy foot as well. Outside of surfing, Morris is very passionate about his studies. He loves math and science and aspires to be an engineer when he grows up.

Luis Rey Hernandez is the current Under 16 National Champion and according to the President of the Mexican Surfing Federation, "is one of the most promising Mexican surfers." Fourteen-year-old Luis' respectful nature makes him a wonderful candidate to be an ISA Ambassador. He plans on using his scholarship funds to further his education, for surfing equipment, contest fees, and transportation costs.

Alejandro Meza is seventeen-years-old from the small village of San Juanico, Baja California Sur, Mexico. After finishing primary school, Alejandro decided to further his education by going to secondary school in a town 40 miles away. He lives with another family during the week while in school and travels back to San Juanico to surf on the weekends. Alejandro is one of the top students at his school and plans to attend college- a first for his family. Alejandro's ambition is contagious to all those around him and he dreams of surfing in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship for Mexico.

Nils Kintscher is the first born of his triplet brothers, all of which started surfing this past year in their home country of Namibia. Nils and his brothers are all very enthusiastic about surfing and have attended mini events and coaching sessions in their town. Nils loves the sea and wants to spend as much time as possible surfing with his brothers and his friends. He plans to use his scholarship funds to travel and for new surfing gear.

Nick Tuhikarama is eleven years old and currently lives in Christchurch, New Zealand where he attends Shirley Boys High School. Nick has won the Cadet Title on his South Island Circuit in the Under 17 category two years in a row. With the help of the ISA Scholarship, Nick will expand his surfing potential by traveling to the North Island of New Zealand to compete in the New Zealand Nationals and the Grom Bash Contest. Nick has gotten enormous support from his father and from the North Wai Board Riders Club over the years and he hopes that in the near future, he will be able to travel overseas to Australia to compete in the Queensland Championship Circuit.

Joel Chaves has always placed as much importance on school as he has on surfing. He is eighteen years old in his last year of high school and plans to go to college where he can perfect his English speaking skills and can study to achieve his goal of working in tourism. Joel sees his home country of Nicaragua as a blossoming surf country with a bright future full of surf contests. The ISA Scholarship funds will help Joel surf in international surf contests, as well as assist him with funding his first year of college.

Kevin Cortez' interest in surfing sparked when working for Dale Dagger's Surf Tours in Nicaragua. Kassidy, the owner of the camp, has always encouraged him to excel not only at surfing, but also in school. Kevin is currently seventeen years old and is thriving in his third year of high school. His future educational plans are to continue his education at a university level after graduating. Kevin also continues to improve on his surfing every day and will use his scholarship funds to maintain surfboards, pay for schooling supplies, and pay for the bus.

Juber Martinez aspires to travel and compete in various international contests in places such as in Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador. Juber is eighteen years old and has been surfing for the past four years. He first learned to surf when a traveling surfer gave him a surfboard. Thanks to the help of his part time employer, he has been able to compete in local tournaments in Nicaragua and this year, was able to qualify for the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.

Edwin Bismar Morales Rivas is an ambitious seventeen-year-old surfer. Surf tourism is quickly changing the face of Edwin's community. Therefore, he plans to study tourism at university so he can open his own tourism related business in his home town. When he's not surfing or in school, Edwin can be found volunteering at Project Wave of Optimism, a nonprofit organization in his community that hosts beach cleanups, community surf days, and youth group excursions.

Jackson Obando first fell in love with the ocean at nine years old when he started going in the water with a donated body board. Jackson progressed to surfing when a tourist left him an old yellow surfboard. Since then, Jackson has excelled at a national level, advancing the farthest for his country in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. Jackson thrives from competing with surfers from other countries and is well on his way to achieving his dream of becoming a professional surfer, having a sponsor, and traveling the world.

Luis Angel Arroyo is a two-time ISA Scholarship winner. He began surfing when he was four years old and his passion and drive have allowed him to excel in both surfing and school. Luis travels an hour and a half each day to school and when he returns, he is able to surf and practice for upcoming competitions. Luis plans to use this year's scholarship award to assist in travel funds for competitions, bus fees, school supplies, and surfing equipment.

Monica Munn is a two-time ISA Scholarship winner. She first began surfing when she was eleven years old and has continued to do so ever since. With the funding from last year's scholarship, Monica was able to travel to her first ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. She desires to continue to improve her education and surfing and plans on participating in national and international surf contests this year.

Selvester Bactad is sixteen years old and continues to place a high value on his education, even though outside factors have prevented him from keeping up with other kids his age. Selvester's mentor, Bjorn Pabon, inspires him to go to school and to surf in his spare time. Selvester recently won the 2013 Southswell Shootout in the Philippines for both the Open Longboard and Open Shortboard division. The ISA Scholarship will not only help alleviate the financial burden of Selvester's education, but it will also help with traveling expenses for upcoming national competitions this year.

Gabriel Amaru Rodriquez is a ten year old surfer from Peru. He enjoys surfing because it allows him to forget about everything and focus on improving his performance. Gabriel plans to invest the scholarship money in pursuing his career. He embodies what an ISA Ambassador should be by sustaining good grades and having an overwhelming passion for surfing.

Daniela Rosas is ten years old and believes that surfing is her biggest love. Daniela enjoys being in the water and training with her uncles. She enjoys the freedom that each new wave gives her, even if the waves are big Daniela pushes through fear and excels. Daniela plans on using her ISA Scholarship to afford competing in surf contests.

Jolari Carreras is a fifteen-year-old honor student from Puerto Rico with aspirations to become the first Puerto Rican surfer to qualify in the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour. Due to Jolari’s economic situation, she has been not been able to afford a coach or travel to the events she needs to in order to one day reach her dream. Jolari was able to travel to Nicaragua in 2013 for the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship and said it was an excellent experience. With the help of the ISA Scholarship, Jolari is going to be able to have more excellent experiences. “I am sure you will hear my name, JOLARI, in the near future,” if you haven't already.

Andrea Martinez is a nine-year-old Puerto Rican with big dreams. Out of all Andrea’s talents she is the best at surfing and she knows that she has what it takes to be a good surfer. Andrea is able to maintain good grades while still making sure to surf everyday. With the help of the ISA Scholarship and Andrea’s determination, we expect to see her achieve her wildest dreams.

According to sixteen-year-old Ntando Msibi, “surfing is my school." Orphaned at a young age, Ntando was taken in by the people of Umthombo and was taught how to surf. Ntando didn’t have the privilege to attend a real school until the age of twelve. He was able to learn from his surfing peers as well as his fellow competitors at surfing contests. The people around Ntando have told him that he can be a champion if he surfs in all of the competitions, yet with Ntando’s economic situation, this has been impossible. With the help of the ISA Scholarship Ntando will be able to get one step closer to his dream of being apart of the South African team.

Caitlin October is a fourteen-year-old surfer from South Africa. She has recently earned a place to, once again, represent the Western Province Team in the 2013 National Junior Surfing Contest held in Jeffery’s Bay. Unfortunately, Caitlin has been affected by racial segregation by the apartheid system but with the help of Surfing South Africa, she is trying to bridge the racial gap in the surfing community. When Caitlin isn’t surfing, she enjoys scouting activities, dancing, attending church, and spending time with her friends.

Kalani de Silva has been surfing since he was three years old. Kalani was born in Argentina, learned to surf in Brazil, and now resides in Fuerteventura, Spain. When Kalani was ten years old, he took his surfing to a new level and started traveling to events. Now fifteen years old, Kalani is determined to achieve his goals so he goes to the gym three times a week, takes swimming lessons twice a week, as well as attends school everyday that he is not traveling for surfing competitions. This year was Kalani’s first year competing in ASP Pro Junior events in Northern Spain. He hopes in the coming year to compete in all of the Pro Junior contests throughout Europe and to compete in some of the WQS events in the Canary Islands.

Karelle Popple first began surfing eight years ago in her district of Papeno'o in Tahiti. She is now fifteen years old and has competed in every surfing category ranging from Women, Junior, Longboard, StandUp Paddle, Bodyboard, and Kneeboard. She idolizes fellow Tahitian, Michel Bourez, and desires to represent her country as well as becoming the first Tahitian recognized among the best women surfers. Despite her busy surfing schedule, Karelle remains very passionate about her studies. She wants to prove to the whole world that Tahiti has great surfing potential which needs to be developed and recognized internationally.

Peckett William is very enthusiastic about competing internationally. In years past he has competed in two of the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships. Peckett is sixteen years old and desires to continue to expand his surfing potential by traveling from Tahiti to places all over the world.

Tuna Yigit Konukcu is an aspiring nine-year-old surfer. The President of the Turkish American Sports Club says “Tuna, which means “Tuna Fish” is apart of the water life”. Due to Tuna’s financial situation, he has been unable to purchase a board to help improve his surfing. With the help of the ISA, Tuna will be able to purchase a board and set new goals for his surfing career.

Nicolas Sardi always puts family first and gives surf lessons and surf rentals to help out with house hold expenses. He is fifteen years old and has been surfing for five years. Nicolas aspires to use the funding from this scholarship to learn English, pay for international surf competitions, buy a surfboard, and improve his education so he can study at a university.

Seventeen-year-old Sebbih Abdelhak is eager to expand his training and he dreams of traveling to get surf lessons overseas. With the 2014 ISA Scholarship Award, Sebbih will purchase a new wetsuit and a surfboard so he can practice more often using his own equipment. He aspires to compete to make his surf community and his nation proud. Additionally, Sebbih desires to continue his studies and would love to get a college degree, which for him would be the ultimate reward.

Belabbes-nabi Amine is a member of the Djazair Surf Club in Algeria where he trains rigorously to improve his surfing. He hopes to gain a sponsorship for surfing one day, so he can use his funds towards education, instead of having to buy surf equipment. Belabbes-nabi tackles every assignment with dedication and a smile and dreams of completing his college studies. He plans to use his 2014 ISA Scholarship Award to purchase surf equipment and would like to use the funds to further his education.

Oughideni Mohamed is an eighteen-year-old surfer from Algeria. He has trained for several years at the Djazair Surf Club and hopes to be noticed by future sponsors so that he can continue his dream of traveling and surfing overseas. Oughideni is dedicated to using his funds to pursue his education and to improve his surfing so he can one day compete at an international level. He is highly motivated and his peers and mentors speak very highly of his dedication and love for the sport of surfing.

Thirteen-year-old Biana Schipani is a two-time ISA Scholarship Award Recipient. Bianca trains three times a day to strengthen her maneuvers and accomplish her dreams of being the first woman in her category to complete an air. Her coach exclaims that, "She is always eager to learn, is constantly smiling, very motivated, and has much respect regarding for the sea and the conditions." She will use her 2014 ISA Scholarship Award to continue her training and hopes to one day represent Argentina in an ISA World Championship.

The 2013 ISA Scholarship Award gave twelve-year-old Kauê Germano the opportunity to pay the entry fees for his state and national tours. Over the year, Kauê has significantly improved his competition results and will continue to do so with the funding from the 2014 ISA Scholarship Award. By the end of 2015, he aspires to finish in the elite group of Under-14 Brazilian surfers.

As a recipient of the 2013 ISA Scholarship, Vinícius Parra used his award to compete in the Sao Paulo State Federation Tour and the Rip Curl Grom Search. Vinícius expanded his competition experience and will continue to do so with the 2014 ISA Scholarship Award. He dreams of one day representing Brazil in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.

Amaya Merino began surfing four years ago in Chile. Now at age seventeen, Amaya is ranked 10th in her country of Chile and desires to continue to train and improve her fitness level. She is passionate about traveling and hopes to one day travel overseas to surf new waves, experience new cultures, and meet new people. In her words, she would love to use the ISA Scholarship to "open doors in life".

Diego Elias Cabezas Vidal is only ten years young and has already received national exposure from one of the largest surf magazines in Chile. Diego displays tremendous discipline as he goes to bed early each night, wakes up first thing in the morning to train, and studies hard during the week to ensure he has time to surf on the weekend. He is motivated, responsible, and tremendously passionate. Keep your eyes peeled for this young up and comer!

Fifteen-year-old Josefina has grown up surfing Wolf Point, Pichilemu, with her five brothers. This year, Josefina will be progressing her skills by surfing Punta de Lobos, a larger and more demanding wave. With rigorous training, she hopes to represent the Chilean National Team at the 2015 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.

When Edgardo Herazo is not in school, you can find him either training at his local beach to improve his surfing skills, or studying to further his education. He studies each night to keep organized and on top of his school work because he knows the importance of a good education. Edgardo will be using the 2014 ISA Scholarship Award to complete his high school studies and to get himself a new bodyboard.

Seventeen-year-old Jawer is a role model for future generations of Colombian surfers. His passion for school and surfing is unparalleled and he is always eager to learn. Despite financial difficulties, Jawer has remained in second place of the national circuit. With the help of the 2014 ISA Scholarship, Jawer will be able to support his family and further his surfing aspirations.

Santiago is a member of the Wiwa indigenous community based in the mountains of Northern Colombia. After a year of being an ISA Ambassador, Santiago has been able to successfully stay in school where he was able to improve his Spanish speaking and writing. Santiago was also able to achieve excellent results in local and national competitions and will continue to do so with the financial support of the 2014 ISA Scholarship Award. The funds will also be used to pay for transportation, food, and uniforms for school.

As an outstanding student and an avid surfer, Juan José dreams to one day surf Hawaii. Juan knows how to dream big, as he strives to become the world’s best surfer and also a music star. Juan had to learn how to surf standing on a bodyboard, but thanks to the ISA Scholarship, he will be able to buy a surfboard in order to chase his dream.

Axel Castro Bolivar is only nine years old, but dreams big! He aspires to be the National Grom Champion of Costa Rica, then he would like to go on to win the National Open Championship, and eventually he would like to train hard to be a future world champion. With the ISA Scholarship Award he will use the funds to compete in eight national surfing events, get himself some new surfing equipment, and use the rest of the funds on his education.

Thanks to his first year as an ISA Scholarship winner in 2013, Esteban was able to give a great push to his surfing career by being able to compete in the Costa Rican National Championships. This is the first step in following his dream to becoming a professional surfer. Esteban is a proud ambassador for the ISA and understands the importance of a good education and a college degree. He enjoys meeting new people through surfing competitions and aspires to represent his nation.

LiaRoan Reyes is in third grade, but is well beyond her years. Her first language is Spanish, however she speaks, reads, and writes English fluently. Not only is she an avid surfer that believes surfing should be fun and not stressful, but she also represents her school by participating on the swim team and the track team. According to LiaRoan, "I honor the people that believe in me. I am confident the ISA Scholarship will give me the opportunity to develop my talent, so I can represent my province, my country and the ISA with pride."

At eleven years old, Braulio Brito was given a bodyboard. He quickly learned to stand up on the bodyboard and fell in love with surfing. Braulio also takes his studying very seriously and and aspires to obtain a law degree in the future. He is very close with his family and enjoys surfing when there are waves.

Santiago Joel Bowen is fifteen years old and his major passions are bodyboarding and school. He wants to be able to focus on both his bodyboarding skills and his studies, while avoiding falling into bad habits that affect many youth. He dreams of the possibility to represent his country one day by being a proud ambassador for the ISA.

Surfing runs in Daniel Flores’ family. Through the years, his parents have supported his passion; however, he has been unable to grow to his full potential without the funds to compete in many national and international competitions. With the help of the 2014 ISA Scholarship Award, Daniel will be able to buy new school equipment and be able to compete in surf competitions, where he dreams of making his family and his nation proud.

Esnaider Alfredo Parrales Zambrano is currently competing on Ecuador’s National Junior Circuit. However, he has been unable to attend many events, which is restraining his progress as a competitive athlete. The ISA Scholarship will not only help ease the economic burden of Esneider's education, but it will also help with traveling expenses for upcoming competitions. Esnaider takes pride in his surfing and looks forward to representing the ISA.

Narvi Rokete is currently attending the Fiji Surfing Association Nippers program on a weekly basis and he enjoys sharing his passion for the sea by teaching younger surfers what he has learned. In addition to surfing, Narvi competes in the competitive rugby union at his school. With the 2014 ISA Scholarship, Narvi plans on putting the money towards surfing equipment, his education, tournaments, transportation to the waves,and helping other Fijian youth with their surfing development.

Timoci Tomeru is a young and motivated surfer from Fiji who enjoys meeting other surfers from around the world. He is a dedicated student who puts his education first, but enjoys surfing the near-by break three or four times a week. Timoci aims to harness his skills and would like to one day and become the best surfer in Fiji. Ticomi plans to use the 2014 ISA Scholarship for surf equipment and for boat transportation to get to some of the waves at the outer reefs.

The Gambia’s most dominant sport is soccer and Momodou Lamine Saine is an active participant, but when he started surfing, he realized that he found his new passion. Momodou would like to help develop the sport of surfing in his country and dreams of representing The Gambia at major international surfing events. He prides himself on being an ambassador for the ISA and is very grateful for the 2014 ISA Scholarship opportunity.

Since Fatou Ndong discovered surfing she knew it was “her thing”. She would love to see surfing become an Olympic Sport and dreams of represent her country. Fatou prides herself in becoming an ambassador for her nation and role model to her peers. Surfing makes her happy and keeps her healthy. She is proud to share the sport with her friends and the other youth of her community.

Kebba Sarr, a thirteen-year-old surfer from The Gambia, dreams of one day representing his country in the Olympics. He lives in a village close to the beach with nice waves to progress his surfing; however, he currently lacks the equipment to do so. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will provide Kebba with a surfboard and allow him to continue his education. Kebba looks forward to developing her surfing skills and doing well in school so she can make her family and her community proud.

Lilly von Treuenfels is an ambitious fifteen-year-old surfer. She was born in South Africa, but lives in Germany and prides herself in being one of a handful of girls that are surfing in Germany. She learned to surf in 2009 during a long stay in Barbados and she was immediately hooked. Since then she has become part of the German National Surf Team and has competed at the World Junior Surfing Championships in Ecuador. Lilly is very passionate about ocean conservation and protecting our beaches. Additionally, she has written a book about learning to surf and has been featured on national television As an ISA Ambassador she would like to make surfing more popular in Germany and spread the word about protecting the coastlines.

Emmanuel Ansah is seventeen years old and comes from a small village on the west coast of Ghana called Busua. Emmanuel loves surfing and tries to surf 2-3 hours every day. He has participated in local competitions and won several of them. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will give him the chance to continue his education while improving his surfing abilities. In his words he says that, "I would be very happy if I was given the 2014 ISA Scholarship because it would give me a chance to get a good education so that I can get a good job and also help my family. I am also going to continue to improve my surfing so I can train younger surfers in the future."

Thirteen-year-old Emmanuel Koomson has never owned his own surfboard. He originally learned to surf on a board that he borrowed from a European tourist and he has progressed his surfing by riding surfboards that he borrows from a local surf shop in exchange for cleaning their shop front. He recently surprised local Ghanaian surfers when he placed 2nd in a local competition on a borrowed board. Emmanuel is a dedicated student and is focused on moving forward with his education and his surfing.

Anthony Rabbi Hemans started surfing thanks to his Uncle Peter who would push him into the waves in the warm waters of Busua. Anthony wants to become a professional surfer and one of the best in the world. When there aren’t waves for Anthony to surf, he enjoys spending his time studying and helping out fellow classmates with their school work.

Being an active competitive surfer in his country for almost three years, fourteen-year-old Lester Hernandez has shown great performance and participated in as many surf competitions as possible. Lester’s peers recognize him for his good behavior, teamwork, and hard-working attitude. His passion for surfing has developed in him a competitive edge that has helped him to excel academically and in other sports. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will help him to keep improving his education and continue participating in surf events.

Ten-year-old Jose Marroquin Oqueli, is a hard working student. He does his best at school to make his mother proud and honor her efforts to pay for his attendance. He really enjoys surfing and is excited to be able to further his efforts in both school and surfing with the help of the 2014 ISA scholarship.

Jose Orozco Lopez is a seventeen-year-old surfer from Guatemala. He has competed in as many surf competitions as possible, including the Guatemalan National Championship for the past two years. Jose has a great interest in surfing and the 2014 ISA Scholarship will aid in the continued improvement of his education and competitive surfing.

Hailing from Tangeran, Indonesia, a city without quality local surf breaks, eighteen-year-old Sabina Chinantya Anzaltha has made consistent effort to improve her surfing. On the weekends when Sabina does not have exams to study for, she goes to the beach to practice. With the aid of the 2014 ISA Scholarship, she will be able to continue training and improving her surfing skills while also reducing the costs for her family. Sabina also plans to donate some of her 2014 ISA Scholarship money to a local surf organization.

Iyan Herdiyanto is a sixteen-year-old Indonesian surfer from the Southeastern coast of Java. Iyan began surfing when he was only eight years old with the help of his older brother Didin Hermawan. He currently gets support for his education and surfing from SPORA, the School of Water Sports and Safety in Pangandaran. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will help this local surfer compete in Indonesian contests, upgrade his education, and support his family.

Fifteen-year-old, Vijin Fernandas comes from a small town in Kenia, India. Despite coming from a difficult background, Vijin has an incredible drive for learning, surfing, and having fun. As one of the top surfers in the Kovalam Surf Club, Vijn serves as a role model for all the surfers in his community. Vijn’s determination and no-nonsense approach of charging big waves will create many opportunities for him in the future. While he would love to make a living out of surfing, he also has big dreams to do Computer Studies as this will create many future opportunities in his country.

Fourteen-year-old Sakunthala Hanumanthapa has overcome many obstacles as the only female surfer in the Kovalam Surf Club. Saku, as her friends know her, is breaking down boundaries and acting as a role model for other girls to begin surfing. She has big ambitions to become a fashion designer and plans to use the 2014 ISA Scholarship to continue surfing and pursue her fashion dreams.

Eighteen-year-old Kivins Pushpalilly is an outstanding person, surfer, and student. He has been surfing for over nine years with the support of the Kovalam Surf Club and has show tremendous talent in and out in the water. He is also a straight-A student and at the top of his class. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will aid Kivins in his engineering studies at university and help him to continue to develop as a surfer and role model in his community.

Vinay, as his friends call him, really loves science because he gets to learn about nature and the sea, especially in biology. As a fourteen-year-old surfer, Vinay would like to be the best surfer in Jamaica and if he can, the entire Caribbean. “When I get older I would want to add value to my dad’s eco-tourist park and then join the pro tour and be a professional surfer.”

As a 13 year-old student/surfer, Sneha has big plans for her life. “In the future my aspiration is to become a world renowned astrophysicist”, she said. Sneha’s source of inspiration for surfing are Bethany Hamilton and her surf coach, from whom she has learned that surfing is more than just riding waves. She wants to be a role model for her friends and especially to her seven year-old little brother. The ISA Scholarship Program will help her achieve her goals.

Nick Robinson was introduced to his favorite sport of surfing when he was seven years old. From this young age, his father instilled in him a sense of commitment and a value for education. Nick, now seventeen years old, is about to enter his 12th grade year of school and plans to use the 2014 ISA Scholarship to pay for his increased school expenses. After finishing all of his homework, Nick loves to go surfing with his friends and relax his mind.

Shatwain Wright, nicknamed “Pookie” by his peers, is a fourteen-year-old Jamaican surfer who is a leader in his community. He has a passion for sports and outside of surfing he participates in football, basketball, and lacrosse. Pookie leaves his mark wherever he goes and has learned that a healthy balance of surfing, education, and chores around the home are essential to building his character. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will assist Shatwain’s family to pay for his surfing and schooling and be an incentive for him to keep up the good work.

Yuki is sixteen years old. After the tsunami tragedy in Japan, he and his family moved to Chiba Ichinomia, the prime surfing area of Japan. Yuki started surfing at the age of seven at his hometown Sendai, but when he arrived at his new town he realized how much work would take to excel at surfing. He is very organized and is already working on a plan to achieve his goal of becoming a pro surfer. The 2014 ISA Scholarship Program will help him cope with his training and coaching expenses.

Irene Armstrong is one of the first female surfers of Liberia. She has competed in the Liberian Surfing Championships for the last few years and really loves the sport. Irene is a great surfing ambassador; she’s been encouraging all her friends to start surfing. With the ISA Scholarship Program’s aid Irene would be able to continue improving her education, and pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.

Otu Commey is sixteen years old and is an up and coming surfer from Liberia. He really wants to improve his surfing and use his surfing as a tool to get an education. He is currently in 9th grade and wants to graduate from high school and go to college in Monrovia. With the ISA Scholarship Program’s aid, Otu will strive to meet all his goals due to his drive and will to achieve his objectives.

Morris saw his friends surfing a couple years ago. He borrowed a board and learned very quickly. Surfing brings joy to his life and allows him to express himself in new ways. As he said “Surfing has changed my life and I hope it will bring me opportunities in the future to teach surf lessons and make surfboards. I want finish school and become a successful man, and I believe surfing will help me get there.”

Esther strives to continue her educated, finish high school, and attend a university to help her brother and the surf club she belongs to. “I surf on the weekends when I am not in school, and I encourage my friends to surf with me. Surfing has changed my life and I hope it will bring me more opportunities in the future to travel and surf nation-wide.” At sixteen years of age, she puts her education first and hopes for a better future.

Mariyam is one of the few female surfers from the island of Male. When Mariyam scored well on an exam, her parents rewarded her by enrolling her in Malhu Surf School. In her words, "The feeling of happiness that I get through surfing cannot be described." The passion was instant. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will give Mariyam the financial means to continue her education and the means to continue excelling in her new passion.

Ayshan is from the Maldives. She is twelve years old and has been encouraged by her family members to get involved in water sports since she was a little kid. Furthermore, Ayshan has been a member of the inter-school swimming team since 2011. The ISA Scholarship Program is a motivation for her to keep up the good work both in waters ports and in school.

Joshua lives in Rosarito, Mexico. At eleven years of age, he already has competed in several tournaments. Joshua is also a member of the volleyball team and is very committed to sports. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will help him to continue improving his education and surfing skills.

Luis started surfing when he was eight years old at Revolcadero Beach in Guerrero, Mexico. He began surfing with the help of a friend and a local shaper. Since then, he has participated in several contests and championships. Luis’s father used to be a surfer in the 80’s, and has been a big support for him. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will be a source of further motivation for him on his way to success.

Jose Manuel is an eighteen-year-old surfer from Ensenada, Mexico. He loves math because he likes to work hard to solve problems. In 2012, Jose Manuel was the State Junior Champion and went to the National Championships. “I truly appreciate to have this unique opportunity in order to continue in my studies and my favorite sport of surfing.” He said.Jose aspires to be a civil engineer and build a career in naval construction while continuing to further his surfing future. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will help him achieve those goals.

At fourteen years of age, Valeria works hard to balance, home shores, school duties, and surfing in her life. “I love school and my goal is very clear. I want to go and represent my country on the next ISA World Junior World Championship,” said Valeria. She recognizes that education will give her the opportunity to let her community know that surfing has been a good influence for her.

Seventeen-year-old Namibian surfer Nikolai Hof has found many adventures and challenges out in the ocean. By giving his best at everything he does, Nikolai has excelled in bodyboarding, fist ball, and whatever he’s set his mind to. Living in Swakopmund, Namibia, he is surrounded by a plethora of waves including the infamous Skeleton Bay where Nikolai has logged a quality amount of time in the barrel. When he finishes school in Namibia, Nikolai plans to study in Cape Town and continue his surfing adventure there. Getting surf equipment in Namibia is often difficult due to the high import costs and the 2014 ISA Scholarship will help Nikolai buy new equipment and charge more waves.

Seven-year-old triplet, Sören Kintscher, is the third part of a Namibian super-grom surfing trio. Along with his brothers Lars and Nils (2013 ISA Scholarship Recipient), Sören loves the fact that he has grown up close to the coast and learned to surf at a young age. He desires to attend regular surfing lessons with his brothers so that they can progress their surfing and enjoy special moments together in the ocean. Sören dreams of someday “catching the tunnel waves at Donkey Bay.”

David Adeyemi is eighteen years old and is considered a very good surfer in his community. He needs the 2014 ISA Scholarship's financial aid to be able to receive a good education, and help cover the expenses of becoming a professional surfer. David aspires to become the best surfer in Africa.

Seun Williams Blessing, a sevententeen-year-old surfer form Lago, Nigeria, is considered the “queen of surfing in her community.” Appropriately given her last name, Seun is a “Blessing” to the people of her community and loves teaching others the sport that she loves. She is a mentor for the youth and a proud ambassador for Nigerian Surfing. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will help her to pay for school and continued surf lessons.

Omololu is eighteen years old, and wants to be able to teach all his friends and the people of his community how surfing can change lives. He is very smart, his teacher and friends refer to him as “genius”. With the aid of the 2014 ISA Scholarship, Omololu will have the opportunity to keep pursuing his personal objectives.

Fourteen year-old Aimee just moved away from her family to attend school in Auckland, New Zealand. She is very keen on sports and has been surfing for several years. When she is at her house in the Great Barrier, she goes surfing every opportunity that she has. With the 2014 ISA Scholarship, she will be able to keep improving her education and surfing skills.

Lourdes is now fifteen years old and lives in the town of Playa Santa Catalina, Panama. At age thirteen, Lourdes was fortunate to represent Team Panama in the 2013 ISA Junior World Surfing Championships. Lourdes says, “I look forward to the opportunity and responsibility of becoming an official ‘ISA Scholarship Ambassador’.” The 2014 ISA Scholarship will help her ease the financial load of school on her parents, so she can keep participating in national and international events.

Jose Luis is eighteen years old and wants to be awarded with the 2014 ISA Scholarship so he can complete the last stages of the national circuit and the Discovering Surfing Talent Circuit taking place in Panama. Jose plans on spending the 2014 ISA Scholarship funds on school transportation, nutrition, contest expenses, and surfing gear.

Growing up in Huanchaco, Peru, a town blessed with rich ties to the sea and innate surfing talent, seventeen-year-old Walter Blas Rodriguez naturally came to love the ocean and surfing. He learned to surf when he was ten years old on a broken old board with the help of a local surf school. At age thirteen, Walter won his first contest which began his passion for competitive surfing. He currently aspires to compete in both national and international competitions with the help of the 2014 ISA Scholarship funds. Walter currently holds a job in a local surf school and helps mentor and train underprivileged kids who are in the same situation that he was.

Gonzalo enjoys surfing in his home break in the city of Punta Negra, Peru. The eleven year-old grom fell in love with the sport since the moment he first tried it. Nowadays, Gonzalo considers surfing his life. Struggling with a medical condition has not stopped him from paddling out for surfing. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will be one more contribution to Gonzalo’s well being by allowing him to keep practicing the sport he loves.

Hailing from the cold waters of Cape Town, South Africa, fourteen-year-old Jaro Conradie has a hard time imagining his life without surfing. He is an avid free surfer and this year he won his first U16 surf contest, the 2014 South African Grommet Games in Port Elizabeth. Training hard has improved Jaro’s confidence and he recently represented the Western Province at the South African Championships in October. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will help Jaro continue to compete in contests across South Africa, as well as help him to pay for his education. At his school, he also plays cricket and is involved in community projects.

If you are looking for fifteen-year-old South African surfer Joshe Faulkner, you are more than likely to find him in the water at Kitchen Windows in Jeffrey’s Bay. Growing up in Pellsrus, a township a stone’s throw away from the world’s premier right-hand pointbreak of Jeffrey’s Bay, Joshe’s backhand surfing and humble attitude are an inspiration and an example to members of his community. Joshe’s surfing has given him hope and the opportunity to rise above his circumstances and achieve a better life. Filled with nervous excitement, Joshe got an airplane for the first time this year and traveled to Ecuador to represent South Africa at the 2014 ISA World Junior Surfing Championships. This opportunity expanded his worldview and gave him a desire to push his surfing and education further, which will be enhanced by the 2014 ISA Scholarship.

Eighteen-year-old South African surfer Paci Irumva is very grateful for the impact that the sport of surfing has had on his life. When his brother’s friend introduced him to surfing, he fell in love with the ocean and it changed the direction his life was heading. Able to avoid the negative influences of drugs and crime, Paci has excelled in the water with his focus and determination. He is a natural athlete, competing in seven different sports in school. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will allow him to purchase his own surfboard and wetsuit and follow his wild dream of becoming a professional surfer.

Seventeen-year-old South African surfer Ntando Msibi has seen incredible transformation in his life through the sport of surfing. Orphaned at a young age and growing up on the streets in Durban, he was mentored and taught to surf by the Surfers Not Street Children organization. Ntando left South Africa for the first time in his life to compete in the 2014 ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Ecuador with the help of the 2013 ISA Scholarship. Receiving the ISA Scholarship in 2014 will further Ntando’s development as a student, a surfer, and an inspiration to others.

Surfing has been a part of sixteen-year-old Colbert Stanley’s life ever since he caught his first wave when he was eight years old. Living in the Canary Islands, he is blessed with consistently good waves, which has helped his surfing to progress to its current level. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will help purchase a new surfboard and wetsuit so that he can continue to progress his surfing abilities.

This is Elton John's second time winning the ISA Scholarship Award. Since first being awarded in 2012, Elton has improved his results in school but also knows that he has to work harder and study more. Elton surfs from 3pm to 6pm most evenings after school, and then goes home and do his chores and homework.

In 2014, Daniel and his brother Jyiell got the chance to travel to Ecuador to represent Trinidad & Tobago in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. With the 2014 ISA Scholarship Award, he plans to improve his surfing and keep up the good work at school.

Jyiell is sixteen years old and lives in a small fishing village in Trinidad called Rampanalgas. He received the ISA scholarship in 2012 and got to travel to Barbados to compete. He says the experience changed his life and the way he sees things around him. Presently he is the Junior National Champion of Trinidad & Tobago.

Erkan Yilmaz, who’s name translates to “Dolphin”, is a thirteen-year-old surfer from Turkey who loves surfing and the ocean. Erkan desires to buy his own surfboard and wetsuit with the ISA Scholarship so that he can surf on his own and not rely on the equipment of his older surfing friends. With his own gear Erkan will be able to log significantly more time in the water and develop his surfing abilities.

Tanner Ford, a fourteen-year-old honor student and up-and-coming surfer from San Diego, CA, has been surfing since he was eight years old. Along with competing in many surf contests, he is also actively involved in the community. He is a member of the Windansea Surf Club and has been involved with multiple other organizations that help kids who are fighting cancer. With the 2014 ISA Scholarship, Tanner plans to achieve a life long dream of traveling to Hawaii to surf and volunteer at the Mauli Ola Foundation where he will help kids with cancer experience the joy of surfing.

Following in her the footsteps of her older brother Francisco, Delfina Morosini has developed a love of surfing and a desire to travel and compete in the sport. As a fourteen-year-old, Delfina won the Women’s Under 18 division on the Uruguayan National Tour but she was unable to compete in the 2014 ISA World Junior Surfing Championships due to lack of funding. Delfina surfs everyday after school with her family and friends and loves to be in the water. She will use the ISA Scholarship to continue competing and further her English studies.

Leandro Arteaga, a sixteen-year-old surfer from Venezuela who is passionate about both his studies and his surfing. Coming from a family with no father, little income, and a sister with Down Syndrome, the only finance Leandro has is the limited amount that he receives from his grandmother. The 2014 ISA Scholarship will help him travel and compete as well as pay for school materials. Leandro is a top junior surfer and has aspirations to compete on the Latin American Alas Circuit.

Motivated in and out of the water, fifteen-year-old Oswald Moreno is determined to change negative stereotypes of surfing by displaying the positive attributes of the sport. He pursues both his studies and his surfing wholeheartedly and believes that the 2014 ISA Scholarship will help him in this pursuit. With the money from the ISA, he intends not only to buy a new surfboard and accessories, but also to financially support his parents by funding his studies.

Abril Solis is a fourteen-year-old surfer from Argentina who found her passion for surfing at an early age. According to her National Surfing Federation, Abril has an unparalleled sense of dedication and discipline in both her surfing and education. When she is not studying or in the water, Abril enjoys spending time with her close friends and reading. With the help of the 2016 ISA Scholarship she will be improving her training and funding her education.

Raul Bormann is a passionate eighteen-year-old from Brazil who shows extreme dedication to excelling in his studies and surfing ability. With the help of the 2016 ISA Scholarship, Raul plans to attend University and pay his school tuition, a financial burden that his family could not afford and will no longer have to bear. He also plans to purchase surfing equipment that will further his surfing career.

Matilda Molina, fifteen-year old surfer from Chile, is passionate about her surfing and determined to improve her skills. With the help of the 2016 ISA Scholarship, Matilda will have the opportunity to compete on the Chilean Circuit among a wider group of competitors that will help her take her competition to the next level. Matilda dreams of going to college, ideally close to the ocean, to study architecture and follow after her father who is a builder. She says that this 2016 ISA Scholarship will alleviate the financial stress on her family and give her the motivation to keep surfing and continue her education.

Kenneth Granados has a fire within him to increase his studies because he knows that a higher education will lead to increased opportunities in his future. In addition to the 2016 ISA Scholarship helping to alleviate his educational finances, it will also give him financial assistance to compete on the Costa Rican National Circuit that is held in seven different locations throughout Costa Rica. He lives with his family of four in Jacó, Costa Rica and his favorite place to surf is Playa Hermosa.

For fifteen-year-old Cedric, surfing has given him confidence to chase after his dreams and stay disciplined in all areas of his life. During his recess breaks at school, Cedric works on his homework so that he can come straight home from school and get in the water. Along with his focus on school and motivation to surf, Cedric has a sense of humor and enjoys writing rap songs under the alias “Queso Crema.” Cedric’s future goal is to have a career that is connected with surfing, his biggest passion. When he turns 18, Cedric plans to take the ISA Coaching and Judging Courses and obtain his ISA Certifications. Cedric would use the 2016 ISA Scholarship to help pay for school and competition fees on the Costa Rican National Circuit.

Abril Sofia Viquez is a fifteen-year-old female bodyboarder from Costa Rica who has a passion and love for the sport. Bodyboarding allows her to spend a great deal of time at the beach and has also introduced her to some of her best friends. Her goal is to represent Costa Rica at the ISA World Bodyboarding Championship and win the Gold Medal. The 2016 ISA Scholarship will help Abril pay for competitions on the National Circuit, new equipment, and allow her to take an English course so she can better communicate with people from other cultures.

Eleven-year-old Odin Rodriguez Shaffner has been surfing since before he could walk. With the help of a few of the local surfers in Guanacaste, Odin stood up on his first wave when he was only four years old. Surfing has not only been Odin’s biggest passion but it has also been a positive influence on his life and it provides a sense of community for him. Odin lives with his single mother who works tirelessly to support his surfing and education. The 2016 ISA Scholarship will allow Odin compete in the Costa Rican National Circuit where he can develop his surfing and also assist in paying his school fees.

Thirteen-year-old John Vasea from Fiji has been surfing for two years. Currently, John’s guardian Godfrey Eaton is paying for his schooling and surfing career. John hopes that the 2016 ISA Scholarship will allow him to pay for his own contest fees and ease some of the financial burden of Mr. Eaton. John is a good student and his love for surfing is unmatched. He recently traveled to Australia to participate in a program that educates Fijian youth about surfing and surf safety. John desires to train to become a professional surfer like Kelly Slater.

Kiesha Wakeham, ten-year-old surfer from Fiji, is energetic, competitive, confident, and dreams of becoming Fiji’s top female surfer. Kiesha learned to surf from her mother and believes that it allows her to be a better person to her family, to Fiji, and to the world. Kiesha has a smile that lights up the room and desires to be a leader for other Fijian girls by showcasing the positive values of the sport of Surfing. One day she hopes to study Mechanical Engineering and design cars.

Eleven year-old Bernard Bannor learned to surf in Kokrobite Beach, Ghana. He claims that Kokrobite Beach is his favorite surf spot, but it is also the only spot that he has ever surfed. Bernard hopes the 2016 ISA Scholarship will expand his surfing horizons by giving him the opportunity to travel to the Ivory Coast to compete and also by allowing him to purchase his own surfboard. Bernard loves surfing with his friends and also playing the drums. He dreams of achieving a degree and becoming either a pilot or a surf instructor so he can provide for his family.

Frank Ayaa, sixteen-year-old surfer from Ghana, has a positive outlook on life and is always willing to try new things. Just over a year ago, Frank learned to surf and loves the exercise and how it gives him a sense of freedom. Frank recently competed for the first time in a contest organized on International Surfing Day and he placed fourth in the Junior division, beating others who have been surfing for much longer than he has. Frank dreams of completing college and getting a job as a tailor making clothes.

Joshua Bannor is from Kokrobite Beach, Ghana where there is an expanding tourism industry. When Joshua completes high school, he hopes to attend University where he can further his language skills in English and French and better communicate with the tourists in his community. Joshua desires to be an instructor for surfing, drumming, and dancing – three of his biggest passions. He lives with 11 others and the current household income limits his available resources, especially in education. The 2016 ISA Scholarship will assist him in furthering his education by paying for his school fees and books and allowing him to buy new surf equipment. Joshua says that surfing makes him feel free and he desires to share this freedom and passion with others as a surf instructor.

Sixteen year-old Haitian surfer, Samuel Jules, is an active member of Surf Haiti. Samuel participates regularly in activities by cleaning the beaches, mentoring new members, and teaching swimming and surfing. He is the eldest of his three siblings, all of which surf. The family’s income is not able to support all children’s’ education which is where the 2016 ISA Scholarship will come into play. The 2016 ISA Scholarship will open doors for Samuel by providing financial assistance to continue his schooling and buy new surf equipment. Samuel dreams of one day combining his passion with his career by having a job in the surf industry.

Surfing has inspired sixteen-year-old Ronald Lafond to have good behavior, stay focused in school, and follow his passions. Ronald works hard to succeed in school with the hopes that he can one day attend University and become an engineer. The 2016 ISA Scholarship will help to pay for Ronald’s schooling and put him on track to achieve his dream. From beach cleanups to mentoring new members in their surfing ability, Ronald actively participates in all activities organized by Surf Haiti.

Eighteen-year-old Frantzy Andris has been a huge contribution to the success and growth of Surf Haiti. Frantzy tackles every challenge with a smile and is an inspiration to other surfers his age by demonstrating that you can enjoy surfing no matter what kind of board you ride. Due to financial hardships, Frantzy has not been able to get the quality education that he desires. However, now with the aid of the ISA Scholarship, Frantzy will be able to improve his educational opportunities with the hope of one day becoming an architect.

At the young age of eighteen, Guy Alex Jean is the Vice President of Surf Haiti and is an exemplary role model to other surfers in his community of Kabik (near Jacmel, Haiti). In order to better his future and the financial situation of his family, Guy works an assortment of jobs including being a server at a restaurant/bar, a surf tour guide, English translator, and many more. With the financial help of the 2016 ISA Scholarship, Guy can focus more of his time on his studies so that he can one day fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor.

Raju Silvadasan is from a small fishing village near Kovalam in India. Most boys Raju’s age neglect their studies in order to work and financially help their family. Six years ago, a social worker from Sebastian Indian Social Projects (SISP) visited Raju’s town and instilled in him the importance of a continued education. Through SISP and the Kovalam Surfclub, Raju is provided with surfboards to use at his leisure as long as he remains in school. Education is his motivation to continue his passion for surfing. Raju is currently preparing to take his 10th standard state exam so that he can enroll in the Engineering University of Kerala. The Indian government is currently planning on constructing an industrial harbor in the town of Kovalam that will expand the job opportunities in the area, especially for engineers. The standard state exam is a very expensive exam and one that Raju is unable to afford without the help of the 2016 ISA Scholarship. We wish Raju the best of luck on this exam and his journey to become an engineer!

Clinton Fredy is a seventeen-year-old who loves to learn. Like most of his peers, Fredy dropped out of school at an early age and until several years ago, lacked a role model or any motivation to re-enroll in school. Then, a teacher from Sebastian Indian Social Projects (SISP) approached Clinton and convinced him to join their school. Through SISP, Clinton learned about the Kovalam Surfclub and began surfing. He was inspired by several of his surfing peers to attend an ISA Coaching Course and will be using the 2016 ISA Scholarship funds to enroll in this course. According to Clinton, surfing is the best way to wash away her stress and worries and bring back joy into your life.

Until 2012, Sinchana D Gowda’s only contact with surfing had been through video clips on TV. Then in 2012, Sinchana’s swimming coach, Mr. Partha Varanashi, taught her how to surf on the beaches of Mangalore. Sinchana is now the top ranking surfer in India in the 14 & under division. The sport is very expensive in India and her mother is unable to support her financially. She plans to use the 2016 ISA scholarship money to buy her very own surfboard. With her little experience as a surfer, she has already proved herself as a talented surfer by winning three gold medals in surf competitions in India. She has a bright future ahead!

Selah McPhail of Kingston, Jamaica is an active member of the Jamaica Surfing Association. Selah has been surfing for several years and has competed in all of the Amateur ‘Grom’ events run by the Jamnesia Surf Club. Although Selah has not been surfing as long as some of his peers, he makes his presence known through his determination to improve with every session. Selah has a strong family foundation, and his parents emphasize the importance of schooling, making good grades a prerequisite for surfing on the weekends. As such, Selah has excelled in both fields and continues to be a force to be reckoned with in both the line up and the classroom. Selah plans to use the ISA Scholarship to fund his education and further his surfing skills.

Kaishu Yamamoto is a thirteen-year-old surfer from Japan. Kaishu is currently in junior high where he is having to purchase new school uniforms, bags, books, and other educational fees that are very expensive for his family. The 2016 ISA Scholarship will help Kaishu’s family cover these educational costs and will also help alleviate some of his contest fees. According to Kaishu’s surf coach, Kaishu is a role model for his peers who is very hungry to win and improve his skills.

Eighteen-year-old Baecker Badrouddine Adrianirina hails from the island nation of Madagascar. Currently, the sport of Surfing is in the very early development stages in Madagascar so access to equipment and resources is extremely limited. Baecker dreams of putting Madagascar on the global surfing stage and uplifting the sport in his country. He plans on attending college and then working to spread the sport of Surfing across the coastline of Madagascar.

Aboubakr Bouaouda (aka Boubker) is a seventeen-year-old surfer from the North African country of Morocco. He has been the reigning Moroccan Surf Champion since 2012 and is considered the best Moroccan surfer of his generation. He has overcome a lot of adversity in his life as a young orphan that was raised by his brother. His adversities instill a drive in him to become a better student and surfer. According to Boubker, “surfing is like drinking water, you need to drink water to stay alive.” Morocco does not currently have the training structure that would be necessary to take Boubker’s surfing to the next level. With the 2016 ISA Scholarship, Boubker will be able to train and compete in Europe where he can further advance his skills. He also wishes to transfer schools where he can achieve a higher level of schooling that can prepare him for University.

The Kintscher triplets, Lars, Nils, and Sören, are Namibia’s next generation of surfing talent. All three boys are active in sports and can be found surfing whenever they get the opportunity. With Nils winning the ISA Scholarship in 2013 and Sören winning in 2014, Lars is the third of the triplets to be awarded the ISA Scholarship to better his surfing and educational future. Lars plans to purchase a new surfboard and wetsuit so that he can keep up with his brothers and continue his passion for surfing. Pursuing an active lifestyle, Lars also enjoys swimming, playing squash and riding his bicycle. His favorite surf spot is Pebbles in Swakopmund.

Erick Cruz is a sixteen-year-old surfer from Nicaragua. He has grown up in very tough financial circumstances and works at a surf camp in order to buy food to support his family of 5. According to Sean Pearson, owner of the Playgrounds Surf Camp and fellow ISA Competitor, Erick is a very hard working individual with a passion and natural talent for surfing. The ISA Scholarship will aid him in his travels to contests in Nicaragua and future ISA World Championships.

At fourteen years of age, Daniella Rosas Vega is a very motivated human being with goals of becoming World Champion. According to Daniella, “Surfing for me is everything, it is my life, my time to relax, my time to spend with friends. I dream of the surfing at night and it consumes my thoughts during the day. Surfing improves my life in many ways, respecting others, being kind when you win a championship, and helping others improve their surfing”. The 2016 ISA Scholarship will help Daniella attain her educational goals as well as help her progress her level of surfing.

Samukelisiswe Cele grew up surfing in Durban, South Africa with a fierce determination to be the best surfer she could. Sam Cele is a part of a small group of Zulu girls that surf and she desires to be a role model in her community by encouraging other Zulu girls to pursue surfing. At age sixteen, Sam has persevered as a surfer and has always remained positive and optimistic even when faced with the most difficult challenges. Her dream is to represent Surfing South Africa at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship like her friend and fellow ISA Scholarship winner, Ntando Msibi did in 2014 and 2015. The 2016 ISA Scholarship will allow her to compete and train more to help her achieve this dream.

Paul Sampson Chudleigh moved to the beach in Cape Town, South Africa when he was nine years old. He went through a season living on the streets and one day borrowed a board from a stranger and experienced surfing for the first time. Paul said this made him feel free and from that moment, he knew that he wanted to surf as much as possible. When Paul was eleven years old, his mother passed away resulting in Paul being adopted. His new family was full of avid surfers that provided him with all the necessary gear to further his passion. He has been home-schooled by his adopted family and hopes to make a living off surfing when he is older. The 2016 ISA Scholarship Award will help him purchase books, surf equipment, and travel fees.

Fifteen-year-old Angelo Faulkner lives in the wave-rich city of Jeffrey’s Bay with his mother, grandmother, and brother. When he is not in school, Angelo can most likely be found surfing at Kitchen Windows or one of the other waves in Jeffrey’s Bay. Angelo desires to finish high school and go to college to study business management. He says that he is thankful that Surfing has taken him to different places in the country and has kept him on a good path away from temptations. Angelo plans on using the ISA scholarship to facilitate his education, pay for contest entry fees, and buy a new wetsuit.

For Colbert Villanueva Stanley, surfing has changed his life and is continuing to have an influence on his future. Colbert, now eighteen, loves to surf but discovered that he also has a passion for teaching the sport to others, especially to children. Colbert plans to go to University to become an Image and Sound Engineer or an IT Technician. In order to support himself during that time, Colbert plans to work as a Surf Coach and the 2016 ISA Scholarship will grant him the ISA Level 1 Surf Coaching Course. This certification will allow him to become certified at the international standard of safety, quality, and efficacy and seek employment as a surf coach. Colbert desires to share his passion and help others improve their surfing abilities.

Elton John lives in humble circumstances in the rural seaside community of Balandra, Trinidad and Tobago. Elton and his brother Jyiell, both two-time ISA Scholarship Winners, live in a household with 12 other individuals and are faced with financial insecurity and challenging domestic situations. Despite these challenges, Elton continues to work hard and be dedicated to his surfing and studies.

Jyiell Lewis is a two-time ISA Scholarship Recipient from Trinidad and Tobago. Surfing has kept Jyiell off the streets in a community where there are high levels of primary school delinquency, drugs, and domestic violence. In 2015, Jyiell finished first in the Junior Division and fourth in the Open Men’s at the Trinidad and Tobago Nationals. He continues to overcome challenging situations to develop his surfing ability and keep up his grades at school.

Leon Arman Kapcik is from Turkey and learned to surf on borrowed equipment when he was nine years old with the guidance of some more experienced surfers in Turkey. Last year, Leon entered a surf competition in Turkey and won the youngest surfer award. Leon’s dream is to become a professional surfer and surf waves in Hawaii and Fiji. He has been using his brother’s surfboard and wetsuit but is eager to have his own gear. The ISA scholarship will help him buy his own surfboard and surf equipment and continue to improve his surfing in order to reach his goal.

Sixteen-year-old surfer Agustin Zanotta lives with his dad and brother in Uruguay. Agustin’s mother passed away when he was ten years old and this heartbreaking moment forced Agustin to grow up quickly. Agustin has overcome this tragic time and has grown into a strong individual who is determined to succeed in surfing and in life. In 2015 Agustin qualified for the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships but was unable to attend due to attend due to financial hardship. His 2016 ISA Scholarship will help him to travel to the upcoming ISA World Championships.

Daniel Piña hails from a small fishing village in Venezuela and is currently the top ranked surfer in his age group on the Venezuelan National Circuit. Family is very important to Daniel and he lives by the motto: “Families who surfs together stays together”. Last year Daniel qualified to represent Venezuela in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship but was unable to attend due to the inability to afford the travel costs. With the assistance of the 2016 ISA Scholarship Award, Daniel hopes to be able to represent his country in future ISA World Championships.

Eighteen-year-old Kalum Bruhwiler Temple is a surfer from Tofino, Canada who has been surfing for 12 years now. His goal is to reach the 2020 Olympics and his level of training and dedication to reach this goal is unparalleled. While many would assume that such dedication in the water may detract from dedication in the classroom, Bruhwiler rose to the occasion and showed an increase in his school performance as well. He plans on applying to Quest University after completing high school but his most immediate goal is to represent Canada in the 2017 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Hyuga, Japan. The ISA is awarding his scholarship in the form of a registration entry fee for the 2017 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Hyuga, Japan where he has been selected to represent his National Team. Kalum has a bright career both athletically and academically and we wish him the best of luck in September!

Dilan Bernales is a 15-year-old adaptive surfer from Arica, Chile. Bernales began surfing three years ago and has since won the Chilean National Championship for the AS-1 Division and represented his country as a member of Team Chile in the 2016 Stance ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship. Bernales has a strong sense of resilience, learning to surf and becoming a champion despite living with severe scoliosis. He is a role model for many other children in his community and motivates them with his charismatic attitude. He hopes to use his ISA Scholarship for training to continue to progress his surfing skills and one day become an ISA World Adaptive Surfing Champion.

Freddy Marimon is a 12-year-old adaptive surfer from Colombia. Surfing has transformed Marimon's life in a special way. On land, he is restricted to a wheelchair. However in the water he feels as though he has no limits and is able to move the board like any other surfer. He loves to be on the beach and dropping into big waves. In 2016 Marimon competed in the Stance ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championships in La Jolla, California and placed fifth. Marimon plans to return this year and hopes to someday become an ISA World Adaptive Surfing Champion. Marimon is entering high school and wants to receive the education to one day become a veterinarian. He also wants to develop his English-speaking skills so that he can communicate with the other Adaptive Surfers during the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship.

For 16-year-old Leimer Morales, SUP surfing has opened his eyes to new possibilities. When Morales first started training with his coach, Pedro Salazar, he was not enrolled in school. Salazar instilled the importance of education and required Morales to re-enroll in school if he wanted to receive lessons. Morales believes that surfing has changed his life because he now understands the importance of maintaining an education while pursing a dream. Morales plans to use his ISA Scholarship to purchase a new SUP in hopes of competing in the Colombian SUP Nationals.

When Camila Summers was 13 years old, the National Circuit came to her hometown of Puerto Viejo and she decided to try her luck at competing. She is now 17 years old and has been competing ever since. Summers trains 3 hours a day in and out of the water to continue to progress her skills. She hopes of one day qualifying for Team Costa Rica to represent her country in the ISA World Surfing Games. As a recipient of the ISA Scholarship, Summers hopes to be a role model to other girls in Costa Rica and inspire them to start surfing.

Kalani Abrahao is an 11-year-old surfer that moved from Brazil to Costa Rica at the age of 2. There, he competes on the National Circuit where he has been able to stack up a respectful list of results including his most recent achievement as National Champion in the Under-12 division. Abrahao also avidly practices the sport of Jiu Jitsu and has a high level of discipline that directly translates into his surfing performance. Growing up between Brazil, the U.S., and Costa Rica, Abrahao has become fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. He aspires to continue competing in the Costa Rican Nationals as well as to travel and compete on an international scale where he can further develop both his language and surfing skills.

Eleven-year-old, Rachel Aguero, is currently competing in the "Mini Grom' and 'Junior" categories in the Costa Rican National Circuit with the goal of becoming a professional surfer in the future. Not only is she talented in the water, Aguero is as equally committed to her studies as she is to her surfing. Aguero lives 1.5 hours away from the nearest beach yet this obstacle does not prevent her from missing any training or from succeeding in school. This level of dedication is not only timely, but also expensive as it requires her parents support to drive her to/from the beach on a daily basis. In only a short time of competing in tournaments on the National Surfing Circuit of Costa Rica, Aguero is already ranked among the top positions in her categories. The ISA Scholarship will help fund her gas and travel fees to keep up with her training regime and contest entry fees.

To 16-year-old English surfer, Barnaby Cox, surfing is more than just a hobby. Surfing is also a release where he can clear his mind and feel refreshed and connected to something bigger than himself. When Cox faced some unexpected family health hardships, he began dreaming of a future where he could financially support his family through doing something that he loved: surfing. This dream has launched Cox into success where he recently achieved several impressive results including at the British Nationals. Cox hopes that with the support of sponsors, family, and the ISA Scholarship he will be able to create a future in surfing and one day support his family.

Sixteen-year-old Kalani Wakeham has two aspirations in life: to be a professional surfer and an avionics engineer. His determination and work ethic come from his parents' examples because they work extremely hard to support he and his sister. The ISA Scholarship will help alleviate the financial strain on Wakeham's parents and help provide for a continued education where he plans to obtain a degree in engineering. In addition to Wakeham's educational goals, he also strives to be a professional surfer and one day represent Fiji at an ISA World Championships.

Ulaiasi Tukana is a 14-year-old surfer from Vunaniu Village, Fiji. He hopes to use the ISA Scholarship to finish school and go to a university. Tukana plans to study tourism so that one day he can work at a surf resort. When he’s not in school Tukana spends time with the local surf guides learning about the surf breaks and learn how to speak to the tourists. Tukana dreams of representing Fiji and this year, hopes to compete in Under 16 division at the 2017 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Hyuga, Japan.

Leticia Kwofie is a 16-year-old surfer from Ghana that began surfing last year. The ISA Scholarship will, first and foremost, be used to fund her educational expenses at Senior High School. It will also give her the ability to purchase her own surfboard as this is not an expense her mother is able to cover and her only access to surfing has been through borrowing boards. She hopes that with her own surfboard, she will improve her skills enough to enter the local surf competitions in Ghana and encourage more girls to surf.

Salamatu Quantson is 13 years old and a passionate student and surfer. The ISA Scholarship funds will be used to support her education by paying for her outstanding school fees, enrolling her into exams for next year, and giving her the ability to purchase the necessary new school uniform, school bag, and books. It is not typically possible for children in low-income families in Ghana to buy their own surfing equipment so the extra money will allow her to own her first surfboard where she can continue improving her skills.

Fourteen-year-old Michael Jules embodies the spirit of surfing with the dedication and passion he exhibits both in and out of the water. He is an enthusiastic surfer and active member of Surf Haiti. As the next generation of the sport, he uses his positivity and hopefulness to set examples for surfers around him other surfers. Even though Jules and his family may deal with financial challenges, he continues to find a way to overcome and advance further with his education and surfing.

Nelson Jeudy is a 16-year-old from Haiti who is dedicated to both his surfing and education. Despite the struggles he and his family may face, Jeudy does not let it get in the way of his goals and dreams. As a member of Surf Haiti he will be the next generation representing his country, and his enthusiasm for the sport is sure to help him succeed.

Sameson Jules is a 17-year-old surfer who is a role-model student and active member of Surf Haiti. He is passionate about both his education and the sport of Surfing. Jules is a role model both in and out of the water for fellow students and surfers in his community. Although Jules and his family face financial challenges, he continues to exhibit hope and positivity. With his dedication and strong work ethic, Jules hopes to use his education and surfing to better his family’s financial situation and achieve his goals and dreams.

Darian Haynes is a 17-year-old adaptive surfer from Hawaii. She has been surfing for seven years and has racked up noteworthy results including a 4th Place as the only female in the Assist division at the 2015 ISA World Adaptive Championships. The ISA Scholarship will go towards a custom adaptive surfboard that will take her surfing to the next level because her current board is too heavy for her to turn quickly. She believes this will help her unleash her inner Carissa Moore as she continues to transition into the AS1 Stand division.

Fifteen-year-old, Chandrappa Jamo, has been learning to surf the past year on borrowed boards. Despite the short amount of time surfing has been in his life, Jamo is hooked and believes it will be a life-long hobby. The ISA Scholarship will allow Jamo to purchase his first surfboard so that he can progress much faster and keep his passion alive. Jamo will also be able to pay for his school uniform and tuition fees. He will also be able to pay the traveling expenses to enter the Chennai Competition in India.

Tanvi Jagadish is one of the promising young female athletes in Surfing and SUP in India. At 17 years old she is the current National Champion of SUP Surfing and the SUP Distance Race in India and represented her country in the 2016 ISA World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC) in Fiji. With the ISA Scholarship she plans to get equipment to focus on an advanced training regime to compete in more international world championships including the 2017 ISA WSUPPC. The ISA Scholarship will also assist her educational goals where she hopes to learn skills to allow her to work in Social Services and help people all around India.

Lars Kintscher is a 14-year-old triplet from Namibia. Lars' current surfboard is badly damaged and the ISA Scholarship will assist him in purchasing a new surfboard to get back in the water. He and his brothers hope that one day soon a surf coach will come to Namibia and host a surf camp. Until then, they dream of traveling to their neighbor country of South Africa to receive lessons to advance their skills. Lars placed 3rd in a local 2016 contest in the U14 division.

Nils Kintscher began surfing 5 years ago at the age of 9. Now at 14 years old, he has grown out of his wetsuit and is unprepared for the upcoming cold winter in Namibia. Nils placed 1st in a local 2016 contest in the U14 division and is always working on improving his skills for the next one.

Soren Kintscher is a 14-year-old surfer from Namibia. Over the past five years since Soren and his triplet brother began surfing, he has participated in a number of events and surf classes. With the ISA Scholarship, Soren will be purchasing a new wetsuit to get him through the cold winter months in Namibia. He and his brothers would like to go to South Africa to receive coaching at a surf camp. Soren placed 2nd in a local 2016 contest in the U14 division and is always working on improving his skills.

Fourteen-year-old Amaru Rodriguez from Peru believes surfing prepares him to face any problems that are presented in life. While Rodriguez often finds school very demanding, surfing brings him release from the tension of his studies and exams. He is quite the competitor for his age, winning multiple titles in the Under 14 division. He also competed in the King of the Groms competition in Playa San Bartolo and placed third.

Gael Alvarez is a six-year-old surfer from Puerto Rico who was born with Down Syndrome. Gael loves being in the water; however, due to the economic situation of his family he is unable to take classes to learn how to surf and swim. With the ISA Scholarship, Alvarez will be able to develop these skills and get a surfboard to fit his specific needs. Alvarez hopes to compete in the future.

Alassane Sambe is a 17-year-old Senegalese surfer that has a style all his own. His village of Ngor was where the 1966 movie "The Endless Summer" was filmed. He grew up watching the movie and looking up to the older generations of surfers that charged big waves. Sambe's cousin is Cherif Fall, one of the best surfers in West Africa who just represented Senegal at the 2017 ISA World Surfing Games. Sambe hopes to follow in his footsteps and Fall is generous to let Sambe use his old boards to develop his skills. Sambe also aspired to achieve a high level education like his older brother that attends University. This level of education is not common in Ngor and the ISA Scholarship will help assist with these school fees and further his dreams.

Mamadou Samba is a 16-year-old surfer from Senegal that dreams of continuing his education and also becoming a surf champion. Samba highly values his studies and is not allowed to surf unless he maintains his school work. The ISA Scholarship will help him pay for these school fees and keep him on track to achieve his goals. Samba also hopes to use the ISA Scholarship to receive surf coaching where he can further develop his skills and compete at the highest possible level.

Six-year-old Mbodji Nicole Sambe is one of the only female surfers in Senegal. In her country, Surfing is considered a boy's sport but Sambe wishes to break this stereotype and be proof that girls can love the ocean and be just as talented as the boys. The ISA Scholarship will allow her to purchase her own surfboard so that she can practice on Virage Beach where she spends most of her time.

Thirteen-year-old Mohamed Koroma is a member of the Bureh Beach Club in Sierra Leone. Koroma is passionate about participating in all club activities and is committed to the club's Junior Surfers Program. Koroma values the importance of his studies and makes sure to maintain a balance of both his education and surfing. In his spare time, he helps out at the Bureh Beach Club Surf Bar to earn a little extra cash to help support his passions and his family. The ISA Scholarship will help relieve the financial burden of his school fees and help support his dream of becoming a better surfer.

Nine-year-old Osman Kamara is one of the youngest surfing talents in Sierra Leone. He is an active member of the Bureh Beach Surf Club and spends most of his time with the Junior Surfers Program. His motivation and talent is contagious to all surfers around him. Outside of the water, Kamara aspires to further his academic studies and with the help of the ISA Scholarship he has the opportunity to continue his education.

Samuel Johnson is a 15-year-old surfer from Sierra Leone. Johnson has incredible dedication to the sport and to the development of Junior Surfing in Sierra Leone. His main focus is helping others and looks after his fellow surfers as if they were family. His social skills and motivation to help the community will attribute to his ability to better the sport of Surfing in Sierra Leone. The ISA Scholarship will give him the means to continue his education and further develop Junior Surfing.

For sixteen-year-old Dillen Hendricks, surfing has opened up a world of possibilities. Not only does he have a better understanding of who he is as an individual, he has met amazing friends in the water. Hendricks is very optimistic and hopes that his connections and networking will create job opportunities for him once done with school. Although Hendricks comes from humble backgrounds with challenging financial situations, he is one of the most determined athletes in his age group to succeed and has recently been selected to represent Team South Africa at the 2017 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Hyuga, Japan.

S’nenhlanhla Makhubu is a 14-year-old surfer from South Africa. Her natural talent for surfing has propelled her to the top of the rankings and she desires to join the South African Junior Training Squad from which the selections for the 2017 VISSLA ISA WJSC will be held. While Makhubu is able to maintain her grades while balancing her competition schedule, it is a financial burden to keep up with the cost of both her education and fees. Due to financial hardships, she is also unable to purchase the equipment needed to continue developing her skills. The ISA Scholarship will help alleviate this burden by offering support to continue pursuing her dreams both in and out of the water.

Rohan Salceda is a 12-year-old surfer from Spain. In just two short years since he started surfing, Salceda has already won a competition in the Under 12 division along with a variety of other podium finishes. His love for surfing is matched with an overwhelming sense of dedication to training which explains his quick progression in the sport. While his parents support Salceda's passion, their resources are strained to continue driving the long distances to the training facility where Salceda can progress his skills to the next level. The ISA Scholarship will help alleviate this financial burden, and with Salceda’s strong work ethic and great sense of optimism his surfing will have to chance to grow exponentially.

Elton John, an 18-year-old surfer from Trinidad and Tobago, believes surfing changed his life. John lives in a household with 12 other individuals and faces daily financial insecurity and challenging domestic situations. Unlike his peers, John has avoided the negative influences in his community by choosing to surf instead. He believes that if it wasn't for surfing, he could be in jail. Surfing clears his head and keeps his intentions pure. He hopes to one day be a lifeguard so he can spend all of his time on the beach or in the ocean. John has also had success surfing in his country’s National Trials, placing 1st in the Juniors division and also winning an Open Men’s division.

Thirteen-year-old Oba Lewis has been surfing for a year in his home in Trinidad and Tobago. Lewis lives in the same household as Elton John, fellow ISA Scholarship Winner, and has followed in John's footsteps by using surfing as an outlet to overcome negative influences. Many children in his community turn to drugs or violence to cope with financial and domestic difficulties; however, Lewis sees the power in surfing. With the ISA Scholarship, Lewis hopes to buy a new surfboard to replace his broken equipment. He also wants to use the funds to afford a trip to the Independence Pro in Barbados. This would be his first trip out of the country and looks forward to the opportunity to learn what the experience has to offer.

Luis Zambrano is a seventeen-year-old bodyboarder from Venezuela. His level of dedication to his bodyboarding is mirrored to his education. Being in the ocean is more than just a hobby for Zambrano, it is also a way for him to get to know people with common interest and build his network throughout the global community. Zambrano feels the sport makes him a more complete person by educating him at a professional level and with a sense of awareness for other cultures. After completing high school, he plans to study at a university level although he currently lacks the funding to do so. The ISA Scholarship would help support his education and also make more competitions possible. He hopes to continue representing his country in major international competitions including future ISA World Bodyboard Championships.

Seventeen-year-old Moises Mendez is a dedicated surfer and student. Mendez schedules his classes in the evening so that every morning, he has the opportunity to wake up and train. This busy schedules keeps Mendez driven and out of trouble. This will be his third year as a national team member, but due to lack of resources he has not been able to attend any international competitions for a chance to prove his skills and represent his country. He hopes with the ISA Scholarship he will finally get to fulfill his dream of representing Venezuela.

Eleven-year-old Constanza Alayón dreams of surfing every day and competing on a National level where she can gain momentum in her competitive success and one day represent Venezuela as an international athlete. Alayón is also an avid animal-lover and also aspires to become a veterinarian and work to protect animals.

Cesar Piña has only been surfing for three years but is already a force to be reckoned with in the adaptive surf scene. He attended the 2017 ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championships and hopes to compete again for Team Chile in 2018. Cesar fell in love with surfing the first time in the water and still feels the rush he felt that day. The fact that Pichilemu, the closest beach to his hometown of Rengo, is over ninety miles away, hasn’t stopped Cesar. With the support of his family, he has been able to continue his surfing career while pursuing his education. He plans to study psychology and someday link that back to what he loves to do most, surf. This ISA Scholarship will help Cesar get a brand-new board and wetsuit.

At twelve years old, Freddy already has two ISA World Adaptive Championships on his resume. He and his coach are always looking for new strategies to help him get the best result in each events he participates in. Not only is he a world class surfer, but he also enjoys to swim and skateboard. In last year's competition, he earned the Bronze medal and the ISA Scholarship will help Freddy attend the 2018 ISA World Adaptive Championships where he dreams of capturing the Gold.

Marcelo is a member of the Wiwa indigenous community in the northern mountains of Colombia. Originally introduced to the sport by his brother, a former ISA Scholarship recipient, Marcelo has now been surfing for five years. He hopes to one day become a pro surfer and he is well on his way to accomplishing that goal. His time and dedication spent surfing in Los Naranjos has paid off. He is now ranked first in the u16 category of Colombia and will be competing at the 2018 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. Marcelo wants to learn English, and his ISA Scholarship will help him achieve that goal. It will also help him with school supplies and a new surfboard.

At fourteen years old, Johan Diaz is already making a name for himself in his local surfing community of Brasilito. He hopes to be a positive role model for the neighborhood kids, specifically his little brother, by imparting on them the importance of school and an active lifestyle, all things surfing has taught him. For these reasons, he credits surfing for making him a better person. His ISA Scholarship will not only help him fulfill his dream of competing on the national circuit but also help him with education-related expenses. After finishing college, he hopes to open a surf school in his hometown so he can continue to give back to his community.

Jesus was born to surf. At just fourteen years old he has already been surfing for half of his life. Introduced to the sport by his uncles, Jesus is a promising young surfer whose dream is to one day represent Costa Rica. Even though he trains five days a week at his local beach, Playa Hermosa, his school grades haven’t suffered as he has found the balance between school and sport. Another one of his goals in life is to continue his education and study botany. His ISA Scholarship will help him with travel-related expenses so he can attend surfing competitions. It will also help him purchase a new computer for his continuing education.

Cristofer started surfing two years ago and has never looked back. This young surfer has big skills and even bigger dreams. He is working hard towards becoming the best surfer in the Dominican Republic and his coach praises him as having “excellent physical abilities”. He hasn’t forgotten the importance of education, as he dreams of attending college and studying architecture. With his ISA Scholarship he will be able to travel outside of Playa Bonita, so he can compete with surfers from all over the world and improve his skills.

If there is something Romeo loves, it’s to surf. One of the many things he loves about the sport is that it brings him closer to nature. He and his friends surf together in Santa Elena, and in his own words, he is “relaxed” when he is on the beach. He wants to keep growing as a surfer and wishes to attend competitions, so he can improve his skills. His ISA Scholarship will aid him to do just that, helping him with expenses related to traveling and coaching.

Fifteen-year-old Lineta Bokadi, better known as Lini, is a talented young surfer from Fiji's Coral Coast. Her hard work and skill are evident in and out of the water. She is eager to learn more about surfing in the coming years so one day she can share the stage with the world champs. She also hopes to become a marine biologist someday. She is working hard to balance her academic and sporting careers so that in the future she can achieve all her goals. Her ISA Scholarship will help her continue her education. It will also help her get a new board.

Samu Navosu Bokadi really loves to surf. He loves the ocean so much he hopes to be a boat captain one day, so he can keep his connection to the sea. He was brought into surfing by his sister, and fellow ISA Scholarship recipient, Lini. They both enjoy spending time together practicing in Fiji's Coral Coast. He wants to learn more about the sport he loves so he can continue to improve his skills. His ISA Scholarship will help him continue to pursue his love of surfing and his dream of a higher education.

Gardy Clervil is a passionate young surfer from Haiti. His tremendous dedication to the sport has placed him as a future leader of Surf Haiti. Despite some financial hardships, he is incredibly enthusiastic both in and out of the water. His hard work and dedication have set a positive example for his peers, with whom he enjoys surfing in Kabic Beach.

Seventeen-year-old Lafond Adolphito has been surfing for four years and is already seen as the future of Surf Haiti. His contagious energy is well known around the community, both in and outside of the water. Despite some financial difficulties, his spirit has not wavered, as he faces these challenges with hope and positivity. His ISA Scholarship will help with those hardships, so he can continue to spread his surfing spirit.

Marc-Luther Jean is an active member of his community and a promising young surfer. He is always willing to give time to his peers both on and off the beach with his fantastic energy. That energy is translated into the waves and he is a future leader of Surf Haiti with his undeniable skill. His ISA Scholarship will help him pursue his surfing dreams while also helping him with his education.

At eighteen years old, Ovel Duclere is ready to take on the surfing world. He has been surfing for 3 years and is part of the next generation of surfers from Surf Haiti. He is always encouraging his peers both in and out of the water. A well-respected member of his community, he has become a role model for the youngest members of his neighborhood. His ISA Scholarship will help him continue his role in the community by aiding him with education and travel-related expenses.

For Abdolrahman Faroghi Tabli, discovering that he could surf close to home in Qeshm Island, Iran was a dream come true. He has always aspired to surf Australia’s “Surfers Paradise” and now that he has started practicing the sport, that dream is closer to reality. He also aspires to represent Iran in future Olympic Games. Abdolrahman also has a strong passion for his community and wants to become a surfing instructor in his village so he can have a positive impact. He loves to study and hopes to attend a university to become a doctor. His ISA Scholarship will help him to develop his surfing talent by helping him get a new board.

At the young age of fifteen, Farima Nouri is already a big influencer in Iran’s surf scene. She hopes to inspire many other young women to try the sport that has changed her life in such a positive way. Surfing boosted her happiness and confidence in herself, and that is something that she wants to share with other members of her community. She hopes to attend university directly after high school so that she can become a doctor. Her ISA Scholarship will aid her with her continuing education and her surfing career.

Farough Balouch is one of the best athletes in Ramin Village. It comes as no surprise that he turned out to be a fantastic surfer. He is a dedicated student and a passionate surfer, who has two big dreams: to attend university and to surf in the Olympic Games. Both of his dreams will help with his ultimate goal of giving back to his community, helping other people achieve their dreams as well. His ISA Scholarship will support his education and surfing-related expenses, so he can accomplish those dreams.

At the young age of eight years old, surfing has been with Homayoun Fouladi for almost his entire life. His father is a surf coach in Ramin Village and one of his greatest inspirations. He has always felt at home in the water and is an exceptional swimmer. He wants to continue training and working hard on his surfing skills so he can one day attend the ISA World Surfing Games. He plans to use his ISA Scholarship to buy a new surfboard that is the perfect size for him.

Seraj Balouch has a natural talent for surfing. He is the youngest surfer in his village that can catch a "green" face wave, despite the lack of a proper board. When he started surfing, he was able to stand up on the board on his first try. He is not only a talented athlete, but he is also a dedicated student. He wants to continue his education and attend university. He intends to train hard in hopes of one day representing Iran at the ISA World Surfing Games. Seraj will use his ISA Scholarship to get a new shortboard so he can continue to improve upon his natural talent.

Ezechiel Taho lives in a very small fishing village named Grand Drewin, a place where surfing is hard to come by. That was no obstacle for Ezechiel, who started surfing with wood planks from fishermen boats. His talent was visible even then. His love for surfing has been contagious, resulting in all the other kids in the village joining him out in the waves. He has no plans of slowing down and aspires to be a professional surfer. His ISA Scholarship will help him get some brand new surfing equipment so he can continue to improve his surfing skills.

Daniel Mattis has talent to spare. At his young age, he has displayed fantastic skills in the water and impressive ambition at school. Despite his financial struggles, Daniel has already emerged as a strong force in the Jamaican junior surf scene. He surfs every day and pushes himself to improve his surfing while always having a blast and enjoying himself. He hopes to give back to his community in Copa Beach and to be a positive impact for future generations. Daniel will use his ISA Scholarship to continue his education and get some new surfing equipment.

For Kai Chang, surfing is an activity she enjoys doing with her entire family. They all started surfing three years ago and it has brought them closer together. She says that surfing brings her peace and health and for that reason, she wants to continue to practice in Bull Bay, Jamaica to one day become the best surfer in her nation. She is working hard at school as well and dreams of attending college. She also hopes to open a bakery so that she can share sweet treats with the world. Kai will use her ISA Scholarship on a new surfboard and school supplies.

For Candelaria Resano’s family, surfing is a household activity. She is a talented young surfer that is already ranked in the Nicaraguan Surf Circuit. Surfing has helped her overcome her fears while having fun doing so. She trains frequently so that she can continue to improve her skills and attend the 2018 VISSLA ISA World Juniors Surfing Championship. Despite her focus on training, she is also a devoted student that excels in the academic front as well. Her ISA Scholarship will help her with traveling expenses so that she can continue to attend surfing competitions world-wide.

Oscar Gusman is a community leader at just sixteen years old. He frequently participates in beach cleanups and has learned CPR. He started surfing three years ago and quickly discovered that surfing was his passion. One of Oscar's favorite beaches to practice the sport is Playa Santana in Nicaragua. As a community leader, he hasn’t forgotten about school. It is very important to him to better his English so he can have a better job in the future. His ISA Scholarship will help him alleviate the financial burden of his education and equipment fees.

Valentina is veteran competitor in ISA World Championships and works very hard to train for each national and international competition. Valentina is also focused on her studies, she dreams of attending college one day. She is not sure yet what she wants to study because she loves too many things in the academic world. Her ISA Scholarship will help her with traveling expenses, so she can travel to surfing competitions, including the 2018 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.

Yxernyl, better known as Mccoy, is leading the way for young surfers in his community of San Felipe, Zambales. He has introduced several of his classmates to the sport, going as far as lending them his equipment and coaching them. He doesn’t let his busy surf schedule interfere with his grades, as he makes it a point that all class work be submitted on time regardless of whether he is traveling or not. His ISA Scholarship Award will help him get a brand new custom board to replace the board he broke in his last competition. This award will also aid him in his continuing education.

Puleiata Martin is only fourteen years old, yet he has already been surfing for ten years. His family owns a surf shop in Aganoa Beach, one of his favorite surfing spots. Surf runs in his blood, but he is also very focused on school. He aspires to attend university and study tourism, so he can help his family business. He is very excited to be representing Team Samoa at the upcoming 2018 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Huntington Beach. He will use his ISA Scholarship to get a new board and help with his education.

Birame Gueye is leading by example in Dakar, Senegal. He is an avid surfer and a committed student. He wants to show the other young members in his community the positive impact an active lifestyle and continuing education can have. He loves to surf but sadly doesn’t own a wetsuit which prevents him from surfing during the colder months in Senegal. His ISA Scholarship will help him get his own equipment so he can surf year-round. The award will also help him with academic expenses so he can continue to be a positive influence both in school and in the water.

Fifteen-year-old Ismaila Samb lives eight hours away from his hometown of Dakar, Senegal. He moved away so can get the best education possible, but sadly there is not a beach anywhere near his school. That hasn’t stopped him from developing into a fantastic young surfer. Whenever he is back home, he spends all his days out in the water. He is showing the kids in his community how it is possible to balance a good education while developing your athletic talents. He will use his ISA Scholarship to further his education and get himself a new surfboard.

Maguette Ndoye, better known as 'Kumpere', is at his happiest when he is riding a wave. He might be a bit shy on land, but his joyous personality is on full display when he is on a surfboard. Especially if it is his favorite wave of Ngor, Dakar, Senegal. When he is out surfing, there is nothing he enjoys more than the speed of it. He wants to continue the successful balance of education and surfing, so he can show the young members of his family that both can be done. His ISA Scholarship will help him achieve just that, the ability to pursue both education and surfing so he can continue to be a positive role model for those around him.

Thirteen-year-old Mouhamed Sambe is a caring brother, a dedicated student, and a fantastic surfer. Together with his siblings, he takes turns sharing his sister's surfboard at Virage Beach. He prioritizes his education and travels forty minutes every day to attend school. Mouhamed hopes to compete in national competitions so he can continue to learn from his peers. He will use his ISA Scholarship to get a new surfboard, so both he and his sister can be out on the waves at the same time.

In Senegal there a very few female surfers. However, that fact didn’t stop seven-year-old Sokhna Ndiaye. She started surfing a little over a year ago with her dad and has enjoyed every second of it. Her unmistakable joyfulness translates to her surfing at Ngor Beach. She just started the first grade and is working on her French. She wishes she could surf year-round, but sadly the cold-water temperatures don’t allow it in the winter months. She will use her ISA Scholarship to get a wetsuit, so she can continue to surf and improve her skills in colder conditions.

Ibrahim Kamara has a knack for surfing. His skill on the waves and the joy the sport brings him are noticeable from a distance. His success in the academic and athletic fields is inspiring other kids in his community, many of them his fellow surfers. He and his friends love to surf in Bureh Beach, Sierra Leone. He stays committed to his education despite his financial limitations. He will use his ISA Scholarship to help finance his studies and his surfing endeavors.

Junior Konneh has been surfing in Bureh Beach, Sierra Leone for five years. Over time his skills have improved considerably, making him one of the most promising young surfers in his country. His optimism has undoubtedly impacted his fellow surfers, as he has become a role model in his community. He loves his family, he loves school, and he loves to surf. He will use his ISA Scholarship to fund his education, so he can continue to work towards a bright future.

Thomas Mansaray is a skilled and motivated surfer from Bureh Beach, Sierra Leone. He is always there and ready to help when his local surf club needs a few extra hands. Although surfing is his passion, his education remains a top priority. He will use his ISA Scholarship to help with education-related expenses so he can focus on his future without worrying about finances.

William Samba lives and breathes the ocean. Whenever he can surf, you will definitely find him on the waves of Bureh Beach, Sierra Leone. When he is not surfing, you will find him in school working hard towards his diploma. As a fantastic student with a passion for learning new things, it comes as no surprise that he has emerged as a role model for the kids in his community. He wants to continue the good work and will use his ISA Scholarship to further his education and his surfing skills.

Zia Hendriks' positive outlook on life is truly contagious. She is always pushing herself to be the best she can be, whether it is in the academic field or the athletic one. She loves to surf because it keeps her out of the streets and out of trouble. Her favorite places to surf are along the J Bay Coastline, such as Kitchen or Point Beach. She loves her school and her teachers because they have helped her improve her grades and achieve all of her academic goals. Her ISA Scholarship will help her continue her education, so she can reach her ultimate goal of one day becoming a teacher.

Sahan Madusanka dreams of representing Sri Lanka as a surfer one day. Therefore he spends as much time as he can out on the waves of Arugam Bay, so he can achieve this dream. He loves to surf because, not only is he having fun with his friends, but he is also strengthening his body and making him healthier. He hopes to study tourism, so he can help increase the surfing tourism in Sri Lanka. He will be using his ISA Scholarship to get a new surfboard and to continue his education.

For fifteen-year-old Oba Lewis, his 2017 ISA Scholarship gave him the chance to continue his education and compete in several surfing events. Not only that, but he won the award for the most improved surfer in 2017. Since then, he has continued his training in Balandra Village, his favorite place to surf. He continues the hard work, both academically and athletically. His love for surfing has only grown and he credits surfing for keeping him off the streets and out of trouble. His 2018 ISA Scholarship will help him continue the good work and aid him with travel expenses and competition entrance fees.

Nicole Leiva is the two-time national champion in the u16 category of Uruguay. Her biggest dream is to represent Uruguay in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. She qualified for the competition in 2017 but sadly due to lack of funds, was not able to attend. She hopes to continue her education and help to continue the growth of surfing in Uruguay. Her favorite place to surf is her local beach of La Paloma, Rocha. This is where she trains every day to further her skills and stay at the top of the surfing world. She will use her ISA Scholarship to aid her with travel-related expenses, so she can fulfill her dream of representing Uruguay at the 2018 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.

Luna Marcano was born to be an athlete. She trains every single day of the week, doing physical training during the weekdays and surfing on the weekend. She loves the ocean and loves surfing because she feels like she is in touch with nature when she is out in the water. She would love to study marine biology, so she can continue to be in touch with the ocean for the rest of her life. She hopes to represent Venezuela as a pro surfer one day in international competitions. Her ISA Scholarship will help her get a new surfboard, continue her education, and represent Venezuela at the 2018 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.

Sixteen year old Gelson Adolfo began surfing nine years ago. At the time, he could barely swim, but he had the will to learn the sport after watching many foreigners at the famous Cabo Ledo beach. Gelson’s dream is to continue surfing and one day become a surf instructor so that he can expose others to the sport that gives him so much joy. He hopes to make a positive impact in his community by getting people involved in surfing. This ISA Scholarship will help Gelson continue his studies in school, pay for new surf equipment and lessons to fine-tune his skills, as well as cover competition costs so that he can keep working towards being the best surfer he can be.

Relatively new to surfing, fifteen year old Juan Carlos is quickly diving into his local surf community. Since starting surfing only a year ago, he quickly fell in love with the sport and how it makes him feel. Earlier this year he worked incredibly hard and came in 4th at a competition in Niqui, Colombia. His biggest dream is to compete internationally and proudly represent Colombia when he surfs. This scholarship will help Juan Carlos get a new fiber board and will cover the annual fee of his surf club, where he is constantly able to improve his surfing. It will also help him get through 11th grade and hopefully go on to study at a university.

Three years ago, Luis’ brother lent him a surfboard and ever since, he has had one goal: to train as hard as he can and rise in the ranks both in Colombia and internationally. He has put all of his time and energy into the sport. Now, at only twelve years old, he has progressed into a strong representative of Colombian surfing. He started training with the Cordoba Surf League and with them was able to travel to two national competitions, where he placed on the podium for both occasions. Luis works hard in and out of the water and has dreams of going to university to become a veterinarian. This scholarship will pay for Luis’ school supplies, a surfboard of his own to increase his workouts and training, and cover the cost of traveling to and from competitions, registration fees, and related costs. Because he has improved his surfing in such a short time frame, he hopes to compete in all the Colombian national competitions in 2020.

At only eleven years old, Miranda Bierd of Puerto Plata has placed in the top five of three competitions in the Dominican Republic within the last two years. She is incredibly passionate about competing for her country and wants to continue learning all she can while watching others in future competitions. Miranda is an extremely giving surfer and wants to donate her old surf equipment to the community so that local boys and girls will have the support and resources to start learning to surf. She will use her ISA scholarship to get new surf equipment like a board, wax, and leashes, along with school supplies and money for gas so that she can travel to local and national competitions and explore new beaches during the week after school to continue her training.

Caleb Cobbinah discovered surfing about a year ago and fell in love. He immediately joined a club, the Ali Royal Surf and Soccer Foundation, where he was able to meet other young surfers and develop the confidence to compete. Now eleven, Caleb, along with two teammates, dedicates himself to the sport and environment by running beach cleanups and taking time after lessons to clean surfboards. Caleb wants to study hard while continuing to perfect his skills so he can one day be one of the best surfers in the nation. When he’s not surfing he’s working hard in school and loves to read, play soccer, and listen to music. This scholarship will help pay for school related materials like books, supplies, school fees and a chance to get a surf team uniform so that he can continue to compete at more advanced levels.

Eleven year old Hannah Ama Addoh wants the best for herself and her community. She loves surfing because she knows that her hard work and dedication are important for a better future for herself. She is a member of the Ali Royal Surf and Soccer Foundation, where she picks up leadership roles to organize beach cleanups and the washing of surfboards. She is grateful to her surf club because it has taught her the unique skill of surfing and how to socialize with other surfers her age. She will use her scholarship to pay for her education and surf uniforms so that she can continue doing what she loves.

Angela is an eleven year old surfer from Ghana who has gotten very involved in the community. Along with two other members of the Ali Royal Surf and Soccer Federation, she organizes beach cleanups and washes surfboards, showing her dedication to the ocean and the sport. She knows that if she studies hard and continues with her passion and love of surfing she can become a top surfer in Ghana. Her scholarship will get her a new surfboard so that she can train and improve her skills in the water along with school registration and transport fees and a new surf team uniform.

Sixteen year old Irie has grown up on the island of Guam and is an avid surfer. For the last five years she has been making a mark for herself in the surf community as she continues to perfect her skills. She’s said that surfing has taught her a lot about confidence, respect, and taking advice from others. Because there aren’t many surf organizations in Guam, she’d love to one day open up a camp for young female surfers. She also has big aspirations for her education and future career. She plans to finish high school early so she can start college to learn more about computer graphic design and starting a business. She’d love to attend college in Hawaii or Australia so she can fit some waves in while getting a great education. With her degree she’d love to design surf clothing to create a mix of the things she loves. With her ISA scholarship, the ISA will cover her entry cost into a future ISA World Championship where she will represent her country of Guam. She knows her potential and recognizes that this scholarship will help her in competitions and will bring her to the next level in her surfing career.

Faith is a twelve year old adaptive surfer from Maui. She has been competing since 2016 and has already surfed for Team Hawaii at the ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championships in 2018. She quickly became the first female surfer of the Stoke for Life Junior Adaptive Surf Team, setting a trend for other female adaptive surfers. Surfing means so much to Faith and she hopes to someday join the WSL women's world tour and get the chance to be a Paralympic surfer if the sport goes to the Paralympics. Coming from a family of six, Faith’s scholarship will cover her competition costs at an ISA World Championship so she can continue improving her skills.

Chirali grew up in Mulki, India and has been surfing for the past three years. The speed and thrill of catching a wave instantly hooked her. She recently competed in the Mantra Grom Search and won first place in the Women's Category at only twelve years old. Chirali trains every weekend and wants to participate in upcoming competitions in India and hopefully abroad in the coming future. She feels incredibly lucky to be part of the female surfing community in India, as it is quite rare and unique. The ISA scholarship will help Chirali’s family to pay her school fees so that she can continue to get a great education while pursuing the sport that she loves most. She’ll also get her very own board so that she can surf more frequently.

At ten years old, Subramani was introduced to surfing at the Indica Surf School. He used to sell peanuts on the beach to tourists at a nearby beach, which is where he started to see the beauty of surfing. He has spent the last four years practicing and disciplining himself so that he can compete at more advanced levels. He has won several grom surfing competitions across India and hopes to compete internationally some day. His dream with this scholarship is to have his parents see the value of surfing while maintaining a good education. He wants to study science in college and knows that the hard work he’s put into surfing will get him there. This scholarship money will help pay for competitions as well as school supplies.

Davoud has been surfing for over two years at Ramin and Konarak surf spots in Iran. This year he achieved 3rd place in the under 18 category of the Iran National Junior Championships. He is the only sixteen year old surfer in his area that makes sure to surf every single day no matter the weather. He hopes to continue surfing, competing in national competitions, and wants to teach and encourage others to surf. This scholarship will help Davoud pay for books for his school as well as English lessons to improve his international future. It will also grant him his very own shortboard so that he can commit to more training.

Venous is a young and ambitious surfer from Iran. At only eight years old, she has won first place in two championships in Iran for the under 10 girls division. Surfing gave Venous power and joy. She now wants to become a pro surfer. Besides surfing, she also loves to skate, scooter, and bike. She wants to go to university so that she can become a doctor and help others. Her scholarship will help her with the cost of English lessons as well as a coach so that she can learn new techniques on her shortboard.

Viyana, of Tehran, Iran ranks surfing as the most important thing in her life. She began surfing at seven and now competes at age eight. She tries to travel to competitions when she can and is the only non-local in the under 18 division at national competitions. She’s an inspiration for young surfers from families in all provinces across Iran. Her talent is apparent from her quick progress and she is always looking for ways to improve. This scholarship will help her to keep competing in local and national competitions, the cost of her education, and a shortboard.

Jahzara, or Jazzy, is a Jamaican surfer whose personality shines in and out of the water. She’s currently a junior member of the Jamaica Surfing Association and has placed well in competitions against boys as well as girls. She looks up to her parents, who also surf and has big dreams for her own surfing future. Surfing has helped her become physically stronger as well as more determined to reach her goals. Through the JSA, she volunteers for beach cleanups and other annual events. Jahzara wants to become a veterinarian someday to help animals. This scholarship will help get her there by assisting with her school fees and a new uniform. She also will use it to get a new board and wetsuit.

Eight year old Cory Valentine is an up and coming surfer from Jamaica who loves tearing it up at Bull Bay. He is dedicated to both his academics as well as his surfing. He loves his classes at school and is also a member of the track team. When he gets older, Cory would love to become a pilot, and continuing school will help him get there. He will use his scholarship for school registration fees, extra classes, books, and a school uniform. He also will use it towards a surfboard of his own so that he can continue to progress in his surfing career.

Andry Ny Aina is from a small island off the northern coast of Madagascar. He hopes his island of Sainte Marie will one day become a bigger part of Madagascar’s surf scene and people will embrace the nice surf culture. While he’s only been surfing for two years, this fifteen year old knows that he can change the outlook of those around him through surfing. He competed recently in the Mahambo Surfing Tournament where he placed 7th. He wants to uplift his community and his friends at school by showing them what an amazing sport surfing is and how it can make you feel. Andry’s scholarship will help him finish high school, pay for new surf gear, as well as provide training for him to improve his skills.

Luis is an eighteen year old surfer from Puerto Escondido, in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. He has been surfing since the age of ten and has come a long way thanks to his hard work and dedication to the sport. He thanks his parents for being so supportive of his passion for surfing and credits his dad for taking him into the water for the first time. Over the years he has competed in several competitions. In each one Luis always looks to gain experience surfing alongside high-level surfers to see what he needs to improve on. Luis wants to show you can be an incredibly educated man while also pursuing your dream of surfing. This scholarship will help Luis pay for the costs of a university he was recently admitted to, new equipment, and training.

Mirco Putzler lives on the Namibian coast and has been surfing for two years. Surfing makes him feel incredibly proud and accomplished, especially when he conquers big waves. Through surfing he has made great friendships with other surfers from his school and has met a wonderful coach who pushes him. In his free time, Mirco loves watching surf movies like Blue Crush and Chasing Mavericks. He is very enthusiastic about surfing and is always looking for a chance to improve. Mirco’s scholarship will go towards the purchase of a longboard and extra lessons so that he can spend more time and energy training.

Fernando is a thirteen year old surfer from Nicaragua. He has been surfing for three years and you can find tearing it up at his favorite surf spots at Playa Jiquillto, Playa Asterillo, and Playa Popoyo. Recently he’s placed first and second in competitions within Nicaragua. When he’s not surfing, Fernando is biking or fishing with friends. This scholarship would help him get a new board because he loves riding powerful waves and his current board is on the verge of a break. It will also help him buy school supplies and cover fees to compete in next year’s competition circuit.

Jose Lopez loves surfing in Cambutal, Panama with his friends. He sets high standards for himself both in the water and out. Jose knows that to be the best, he has to learn a lot and train as much as he can. Always with a smile on his face, he works hard, and surfs even harder. One day he wants to study tourism and English at university so that he can open a surf school with his mother to spread the joy of surfing with travelers and locals alike. Jose’s scholarship will help him pay for English lessons, surf fins, and competition costs as he strives towards becoming a top surfer in Panama.

Aita Diop of Senegal has made significant progress in the year she has been surfing. She placed fourth in The Senegal Cup in Dakar this year and is motivated to compete in more local and national competitions. She’s very excited to compete in 2020 and knows it will bring more experience she can use to improve her skills. This scholarship will not only help her move to the next level, it will help her pay her surf federation membership fee, new surf equipment, and school supplies as well as fees.

Moussa is a determined and hardworking individual with hopes of getting his high school degree, while doing what he loves most: surfing. One day, he hopes to pursue his education abroad. When he was invited to surf with a friend from school a few years back, he was immediately drawn to the freedom of barreling a wave. Moussa’s scholarship will help fund surfing equipment such as a new board, fins, and a wetsuit in order to learn more about the sport, as well as various school supplies so he can continue to balance school and surfing.

At the young age of four years old, Rokhaya has become a complete waterbug. Taught by one of the best surfers in Senegal, her father Thierno Sambe, has shown her the ropes from day one. Since surfing has been male-dominated for quite some time, Rokhaya and her family are determined to change that. Her love for the ocean is strong and she hopes to continue practicing and developing more skills as she grows up. She will use her scholarship for new surfing equipment to spend her free time out on the water, along with school tuition fees to get the best education possible.

Ten year old Demba has already been surfing for half of his life, and his passion only continues to grow. He enjoys playing with friends and cousin Sita in his community, watching his elders surf, and fishing. Demba loves to take on challenges in the ocean and is not afraid of big waves. With his scholarship, he will be able to excel in school while practicing surfing with a new wetsuit for the cold winter seasons, a new board, and leash.

Djibril, also known as Sita, developed a love for surfing at the age of four when he saw his uncle riding the waves. His motivation to improve his skills in the water is like no other, as he would spend all day in non-optimal conditions perfecting his backflip and 360. Sita and his family all have a passion for surfing. He will use his scholarship to pursue an education and continue his advancement in surfing with a new board and wetsuit.

Isaac Davies has shown exemplary talent during the twelve years he has been surfing. He has not only participated in the Sierra Leone Nationals at such a young age, but plans to attend competitions such as the ISAJWG Senegal in 2022. In his free time, he also enjoys playing soccer and studying for school. Isaac’s scholarship will help cover the cost of transportation along with various other school fees, while he trains to one day become a professional competitive surfer.

John Koroma of Bureh Town, Sierra Leone, strives for greatness with his surfing. He has an eagerness about him when it comes to surfing and his desire to learn new things in school. At only fifteen years old, he already has the skills and motivation to become a world-class surfer. John’s scholarship will fund his school expenses, covering the long commute and cost of lunch, plus school supplies which ensures he will be able to complete school and obtain a degree.

Nimata, also known as Kona, is a thirteen year old surfer who loves the waves of Bureh Town. Her coaches are excited to see such a talent at such a young age and are prepping her to compete in a national competition held in Senegal in 2022. She’s a young woman breaking social and cultural barriers in order to pursue surfing. Nimata’s scholarship will allow her to continue her education in Sierra Leone, ensuring that she gets the education she needs to balance her surfing with a bright future. It will fund her books, a new uniform, school lunch, and school supplies.

Fourteen year old Santigie has international dreams of professionally surfing alongside the greats. He is driven and motivated to succeed in the water and in school. His coaches are impressed with his willingness to learn and how he always pushes himself. Because he recognizes that schooling is an integral part of propelling his surfing dreams, Santigie’s scholarship will go primarily to his studies. He’ll be able to fund school registration, supplies, lunch, and transport costs. All of these will help him continue to balance school with the sport he’s most passionate about.

Elrico is all about giving back to the surfing community. He has been competitively surfing for about 3 years, competed in the National Junior Championships, and is involved with multiple surfing organizations. He is currently training to be a coach and is always willing to help out others on the beach when needed. Elrico also has an interest in board-shaping and designing. His dreams of becoming a professional surfer will be made possible through this scholarship for education, new equipment, and training purposes.

Thirteen year old Mang Korn loves a challenge when it comes to surfing. He is phenomenal when it comes to competitions and is great under pressure. After just one year of competing, he is ranked #12 in the Phuket Surf Series children's ranking. Mang Korn not only loves to surf, but he also enjoys studying in school, where his favorite subject is physical education. He will use his scholarship to provide for his family, as well as get a new board to use for competitions throughout the years.

Yutthana “Nott” Navarak is a quick learner when it comes to surfing. During his first week of surfing, he had already learned how to cutback. Nott is currently ranked sixth in the Phuket Surf Series children's ranking after his first year competing, and his natural abilities will drive him far. When he is older, he would like to become a professional surfer, and will hopefully be able to enter more competitions with the help of his scholarship. Nott values his family and education greatly, and will also use the scholarship to support his family by paying for school funds.

Prasroeth, also known as “Sitt”, has been surfing for two years now and has grown immensely with his skills. He is quick to learn new techniques and is currently ranked #8 in the Phuket Surf Series children's ranking after his first year of competition. Sitt’s favorite part about surfing is being so close to the beach and watching the waves. He is always looking for ways to improve, and getting a new board to practice and compete with is essential. He will also use his scholarship to continue his education and support his giving family by contributing to his school costs.

Thirteen year old Phichet puts his fisherman capabilities to work as he has talent to perfectly read waves and always know where the right spot to surf is. His optimism and joyful attitude is contagious, and is already ranked fourth in the Phuket Surf Series children's ranking. Phichet’s wave knowledge and natural abilities are unmatched for his age, and he plans to use his scholarship to get a new surfboard and enter more competitions to increase his skill levels.

Keona Dennis is a twelve year old sensation after getting on a surfboard for the first time just a few years ago. She has placed in multiple Junior National competitions and would like to someday compete in the Olympic Games. Aside from surfing, Keona is extremely dedicated to learning about marine ecosystems and how to protect them, so that waves can still be created for her and others to surf. She tackles one wave at a time, and becomes stronger in the process. Keona’s scholarship will be used for a laptop for schooling, new surfing equipment, and training in order to become an ambassador for her country and inspire many other girls of Trinidad and Tobago.

Ten year old Kellyani has been surfing for three years, and intends to make a difference within her Venezuelan community. She believes that an education is the best investment in order to grow and make an impact in the world. Since it is difficult to acquire proper surfing equipment, Kellyani will use her scholarship towards a new wetsuit, increased training, and most importantly continuing her education. Surfing is Kellyani’s true passion and would do anything to increase her skills and have a positive impact on her country.

At only fourteen years old, Wiugen Rodriguez is a force to be reckoned with. He has been surfing for four years and has placed first at three competitions across Venezuela, including the Volcom Totally Crustaceous Tour in 2016. He’s determined to work hard in school while growing his surfing career alongside his supportive friends, family, and coaches. His scholarship will be used to fund school materials, international travel for competitions, and surf equipment like a new board, wetsuit, sunscreen and extra training with a coach.

Leonardy of Cuyagua, Estado Aragua, Venezuela has been surfing for three years and now trains with the Venezuelan Junior National Team. He placed first at a national competition this year in the under 16 category. His goal is to compete at the next ISA World Junior Surfing Championships, represent his country, and compete alongside top-level athletes. He’s an outstanding surfer and student as he shows discipline and focus in both areas. Leonardy will use his scholarship to get a new board, something that he says will change everything for him and allow him to compete more professionally. It will also fund a new school uniform, backpack, and other supplies so that he can have a positive impact in his community and lead by the example of finishing school.

Eleven year old Jesus Osorio of Venezuela loves the thrill of competitions. He finished in 4th place in the under 14 division of a national surf contest earlier this year and plans to compete in more in the future. With six years of surfing already under his belt, he stays motivated and always wants to improve his techniques. Jesus’ scholarship will allow him to get new running shoes for training on non-surf days, attend local and national competitions in 2020 and get necessary school supplies.

Twelve year old Victoria of Buenos Aires, Argentina has already accomplished a lot in the seven years she has been surfing. In 2020 alone she competed in 5 competitions around the country and received first place in all of them. She intends to train hard in the upcoming year so that she can travel abroad to competitions in the future. This ISA Scholarship will help Victoria continue her education, pay the registration fees for international and national competitions, buy new surf gear such as wetsuits, gloves, boots, and boards so that she can compete at the highest level possible. When Victoria isn’t surfing, she enjoys playing the guitar.

Surfing from the age of five, Perla Rojas of Quequen, Argentina has dreams of traveling around the world while pursuing her passion for surfing. She also loves skating and learning English. With the help of this ISA Scholarship, she will be able to go to Mar del Plata, which is 120 kilometers from her home. This is where the training centers are as well as the most important competitions are where she would love to compete someday. She’ll also be able to get a new improved equipment and continue her English education.

Barbados local Ocean has been surfing for eight years and was named surfer of the year by winning first place at a prominent competition in Southpoint, Barbados. His coaches and trainers say that Ocean’s dedication and passion to surfing is second to none. He puts a tremendous amount of time and effort into becoming one of the best junior athletes in all of Barbados. The ISA Scholarship will help him to purchase new equipment like new boards, which he says will be crucial in helping him compete alongside the best at future competitions. He also places importance on training both in and out of the water and will use some of his scholarship to pay for a gym membership to become physically strong for his competitions.

Fourteen year old Rayan has been surfing since he was a child and has had the support of his family from the beginning. His father is an artisanal board shaper and his mom taught him how to swim, so has been very interested in surfing from a young age. Rayan loves surfing, nature, sports, and learning languages and is determined to go to college and study biology or physical education so that he can one day teach others about these passions. This scholarship will help cover competition costs, new equipment, and help him to achieve better national rankings so that he can compete in international competitions in the near future.

Seventeen year old Cauã began surfing before he was even two years old. He entered his first competition at age five. Originally from Northeastern Brazil, he now lives in Rio de Janeiro, where he is able to spend a lot of time working on his surfing technique. Throughout his competitive career, he has ranked first in several national competitions. Now, his goal is to continue to perform at his best in competitions so that he can qualify for ISA World Championships and in the South American Pro Juniors event. Both of these have travel and registration costs that will be paid for with this ISA Scholarship. Cauã recognizes the importance of education and will continue to work incredibly hard to balance his intense training schedule with his school work so that he can continue to be a well-rounded athlete and student.

Maria Eduarda has been surfing for nine years and has an incredibly determined mindset when it comes to surfing. Her favorite surf spots are Engenhoca, Praia do Note, and Tiririca in her area. Surfing means the world to her and she has already come in first and second in regional surf competitions. She will use her ISA Scholarship to pay registration, lodging, and travel costs of her upcoming competitions, cover educational costs, and purchase a new surfboard with accessories. She is very dedicated to succeeding both in surfing and in school and has dreams of attending college so that she can pursue a career where she is able to help others.

Maria Clara is an eleven year old surfer from Brazil. She has only been surfing for two years but is already an incredibly caring and motivated athlete who wants to be the best she can be while meeting new friends, surfing waves all across the globe, helping the planet, and improving her technical skills. She places importance on learning English because she recognizes surfing as a global sport and wants to be able to communicate as much as possible with other athletes, coaches, and people she meets from around the world. This scholarship will allow her to take English lessons to meet this goal. She’ll also be able to buy new wetsuits which will let her train year round and pay the registration costs of upcoming competitions. When Maria Clara isn’t surfing, she likes to read, watch surf videos, and play outside.

Aaron Perez of the Puntarenas Province of Costa Rica has been surfing for 2 years. Aaron has a muscular condition, however that does not stop him from shredding the surf at his favorite surf break of Jacó. He originally was introduced to surfing through the Adaptive Surf Organization of Costa Rica. Through this organization, he started participating in their surf therapy exercises and is now very driven to become a top adaptive surfer and puts his maximum effort into it. This scholarship will allow Aaron to buy his very own longboard so that he can devote more of his time and energy into adaptive surfing. When Aaron isn’t surfing, he loves painting, going to the beach with his family, and swimming in the pool.

Costa Rican surfer Hannia Carmiol Matarrita is sixteen years old and is a competitive member of the Boca Barranca Surf Association. She feels a beautiful peace of mind while she is surfing and likes that it teaches her discipline and patience. Her goal is to attend more tournaments so that she can showcase her skills and compete with other top surfers. Hannia will use her scholarship to buy new surf equipment so she can improve her skills in the water on a regular basis. She plans to work hard on her surfing but also plans on getting a university education in either tourism or marine biology.

Eight year old Samoa has been surfing for four years and has already placed 3rd in two different Costa Rican competitions. She says that surfing is the love of her life and she wants to pursue it as a competitive athlete. Samoa has a lot of vibrant energy and loves spending hours in the water with her mother and coach, constantly improving her technique. Her mother is always supporting her dreams of surfing and they sold rice pudding together in order to buy Samoa some fins for her first surfboard. No matter the circumstance, she always finds time to get into the water. Through her love of surfing, she also discovered her love of animals, the ocean and her wish to protect it all. She even organized a beach clean up with her friends so that their local beach could stay in perfect condition for everyone. She would love to go to university to study marine biology. Her scholarship will help her in all areas. She’ll be able to study English, buy new equipment so she can dedicate even more resources towards surfing, and cover transport and registration costs of upcoming competitions.

Cayetano is a seventeen year old surfer from the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Initially afraid of the sea as a child, he now loves everything about surfing and lives by the motto “feel the fear and do it anyway”. He recognizes the importance of leadership in sustainability for the beautiful islands around him. He has been elected to his school’s student council and does very well in school. Cayetano is incredibly dedicated to his passion for surfing and raised money for his first board by selling chickens on his family’s farm. Those that know him will tell you he is the most compassionate, kind, and hard working student and athlete and is headed for a number one ranking in Ecuador. His scholarship will go solely towards training; covering travel and lodging costs for competitions, and investing in trips to the coast of Ecuador to surf more advanced waves with a coach. He one day hopes to start a non-profit that will promote a sustainable island culture and give locals more access to ocean education and the opportunity to learn to swim.

Fifteen year old Genesis of Engabao, Ecuador has been surfing for seven years. She ranked first in the 2019 national circuit and has dreams of competing in more tournaments in the coming year. When she’s not surfing, she loves soccer and biking. Genesis’ scholarship will go towards a computer with internet access for 12 months to allow her to attend her online classes due to the pandemic, which she is currently not able to attend easily. It will also buy her a new board, wetsuit, fins, and leash so that she can continue her journey towards being a national surfing champion. Lastly, it will help cover travel costs and the cost of a surf coach, whom she would love to learn from.

El Salvadoran surfer Willmer Emerson Escobar Lopez has been surfing for five years and is an all around athlete. When he’s not surfing he loves skating and playing basketball. His favorite surf break is at the beach of Punta Roca and he hopes this opportunity will allow him to compete at higher levels. He also has a twin brother who he enjoys surfing with. His scholarship will help pay for his educational costs such as enrollment, uniforms, and computer access as well as a new surfboard, leash, and wax so that he can compete with the professionals.

Willmer Edgardo Escobar Lopez of El Salvador is a fifteen year old surfer who loves tearing up waves at Punta Roca beach with his twin brother. He’s been surfing for five years and has goals to continue his progress in surfing and one day compete at a national competition. This ISA scholarship will help cover educational costs along with new equipment such as a new board and accessories which he’ll use in future training and competitions. He enjoys skating and playing basketball when he’s not in the water.

At only thirteen years old, Julissa of Playa Conchalio, El Salvador is headed for the top. She’s determined to study hard in order to get a professional career to help her family. She says that surfing is an escape for her and where she has the most fun. Through her eight years of surfing, she has met new friends, stayed healthy, and found surfing to be a stress reliever. She has competed in two local competitions but hopes to compete in more in the future to fine tune her skills. Her scholarship will cover her educational costs such as school supplies, a laptop, uniforms, books, and tuition. She places immense value on her education because if she studies hard, she will be more motivated to do well in surfing as well and can use her extra money to save towards new gear.

Jason is twelve years old and grew up in a coastal community in El Salvador. While only surfing for three years, he shows incredible dedication of the heart to surfing and hopes to become a national champion one day. His favorite surf spots are La Bocana El Tunco and El Sunzal. Jason’s scholarship will allow him to buy school supplies so that he can focus properly on his studies and also get a new board with a leash and pads so that he can compete with the best.

Jose has a bright future ahead of him as a proud and dedicated El Salvadoran surfer. He is eighteen years old and has been surfing since the age of ten. In 2018, he competed in the Latin Pro competition, where he dominated and placed first. He also placed well in the National Surf Circuit when he competed. When he isn’t surfing, Jose loves to play basketball with his friends. Jose’s scholarship will cover registration costs in upcoming competitions, new boards and equipment, and school related costs so that he can succeed academically as well.

Seventeen year old Praveen Kumar from the coastal city of Mangalore, India has placed second in two Grom Search competitions and has been surfing for four years. He became an ISA certified instructor and now teaches kids in his village how to surf. Praveen will use his scholarship to purchase a new short board so that he can practice more advanced maneuvers for upcoming competitions in 2021. Owning a new board is his dream and he hopes to win more competitive tournaments next year. He also enjoys staying active by kayaking, playing cricket, and playing volleyball.

Fourteen year old Naman comes from Mulki, India and proclaims that surfing isn’t just a sport to him, it’s his best medicine. He lost his parents within less than two years of each other and said that surfing is the only thing that got him through such a massive loss in his life. He has channeled all of his energy and time into surfing since then and is working very hard in school. He won first place in the U-14 division at two Mantra Grom Search competitions and is headed towards ranking highly at future competitions. This scholarship will help him pay for school costs so that he can one day become an automobile engineer. When he’s not surfing, Naman loves volleyball, cricket, and swimming.

Naveen is a young surfer from Mamallapuram, India. His passion for surfing, and his hard work has resulted in awards for three consecutive years at prominent surf point festivals. At only fourteen years old, he hopes to improve his English and surf skills alike so that he can one day complete the ISA certification course to teach surfing to others in his local community. Due to Covid-19, Naveen has not been able to attend school online without a smartphone at home. With this scholarship he will be able to pay school fees and purchase a brand new surfboard. The surfers of the area share boards but that makes it hard to practice new moves, for fear of breaking a board. This scholarship will significantly help Naveen train more and more so that he can compete in more advanced competitions around other parts of the country.

Yousef is a twelve year old surfer from Chabahar, Iran, just touching the Gulf of Oman. After surfing for only two years, he can already do maneuvers that older surfers in the village cannot do. After seeing that surfing is a great opportunity for him to also improve his education, he has studied very hard and this scholarship will help him continue in his path towards a college education by covering the costs of books and English lessons. This scholarship will also allow Yousef to buy his own board because at the moment he borrows boards from older surfers, which are too large for him, making it hard to improve his surfing. He is very hardworking and focused and hopes to become a national champion in Iran one day.

Amirhossein is a thirteen year old surfer who lives just outside of Tehran, Iran. He was inspired by a surfer visiting his town in 2018 and has spent all of his time surfing ever since. He is incredibly motivated and will use his scholarship to travel to the coast and train harder with the help of a coach. It will also get him his own surfboard and allow him to continue with his online learning and English lessons. His goals are to compete nationally, become a champion in Iran, and go to university in order to become a lawyer.

Tehran local Mahkameh has been surfing for two years and has goals of competing at the Olympics and other international surf competitions. She is incredibly active in all aspects of her life and can be found skateboarding, bicycling, painting, doing graphic design and SUP’ing. Her father is a huge supporter of hers, as he is a windsurf champion and coach in Japan, and always helps Mahkameh when he can. She aspires to be an architect one day after attending university. This scholarship will help Mahkameh continue her English lessons, buy a surfboard for herself, and pay for a surf coach to prepare for the next national championship in Iran and hopefully get selected for international competitions.

Ten year old Gabrielle Chung from St. Ann, Jamaica is a very competitive surfer, and has won numerous events in the National Junior Series “Gromnesia”. At such a young age, she is one of Jamaica’s most talented up and coming surfers as she has progressed over the past few years. Gabrielle is always very bright and disciplined, building amazing friendships throughout the surf community and is known to push her peers and younger brothers to be better in the waves. This scholarship will help Gabrielle save for college and do well in school, buy a new board to help her progress even further in surfing, and pay for training courses before upcoming competitions.

Zuri Gordon is a fifteen year old, highly motivated and multi talented surfer with big dreams and a bright future ahead of her. She is passionate about life and has a desire to travel the world through the sport. Due to Covid-19 the Jamaican competition season was postponed so Zuri has not had the chance to formally compete, although she’s confident she will get to participate this year. She has a true love of surfing after only nine months or practicing and is a true competitor. Zuri will use her scholarship to pay for school tutoring in her subjects along with a surfboard, leash, rash guard, water shoes, and a new bathing suit. She knows this equipment will improve her surfing and make it onto the Jamaican National surf team. In the future she’d love to become a filmmaker and a surfer.

Bull Bay surfer Aaliyah has been surfing since she was four years old. She has placed second in the Jamaican Surf Association Gromnesia contest. When she is older she has big dreams of surfing Pipeline in Hawaii. Aaliyah has a fun-loving attitude for everything involved with surfing and is a role model for other young surfers in her area. She wants to study hard and become a lawyer one day but will always be involved in surfing. This scholarship will pay for Aaliyah’s school supplies and allow her to get a new surfboard which will propel her to the next level of surfing.

Fourteen year old Zoe of Kingston, Jamaica is a confident and passionate athlete who is very new to the world of surfing. She is a trainee under the Surf Girls Jamaica and Black Girls Surf Training Programs. Even though she has only been surfing for a few months, she has received recognition as the “Surfer with the Most Spirit” around her community. Zoe is growing a strong love for the sport and is building great friendships throughout the surfing community. Once beaches open and tournaments resume, she is very much looking forward to competing in an official competition. Zoe will use this scholarship to participate in surf camps, surf more often with the help of a new board and equipment, and pay for training.

Jahzara, A.K.A. Jazzy, is a Jamaican surfer whose personality shines in and out of the water. She’s been surfing for six years and is constantly catching waves at Bob Marley beach, Copa, and Cable Hut. She has been accepted into the Surf Girls Jamaica and Black Girls Surf Jamaica 2020 training program, whose goal is to develop female surfing in Jamaica. Through the JSA, she volunteers for beach cleanups and other annual events. Due to Covid-19 the cost of distance learning has made it costly to attend school so this scholarship will help Jazzy with school fees as well as a new board. She currently does not have a board of her own so she will be able to train much more easily with a brand new one. She will also be able to travel more for competitions which will help her continue to improve her rankings.

Mohamed Zayan has been surfing for about a year in Malé, in his home country of the Maldives. He is fifteen years old and in such a short time surfing he has already accomplished third place in the Gadhoo Pro competition. He shows a natural talent for the sport and entered into surf competitions as one of the youngest athletes. He is part of a national program called Raalhu Edhuru, which is a movement that aims to teach children the basics of surfing all across the Maldives. With his scholarship, Mohamed will get proper surf equipment so that he can continue along his trajectory to become a top-level surfer in the country and abroad. Besides surfing, he also loves to draw.

Seven year old surfer Maria from Agadir, Morocco has been shredding waves since she was four years old. She feels strong and free when she surfs and dreams of becoming a champion surfer so that other female Moroccan surfers can see that anything is possible. Her father currently coaches and trains her but she will be able to pay for a surf camp in the south of Morocco with the help of this ISA scholarship. She will also be able to purchase a board that suits her height along with a winter wetsuit to help her surf in the colder months. When she grows up, Maria would love to become a police officer or detective so that she can make the world a more peaceful place. She also practices Tae Kwon Do and kickboxing so is ready to take on any challenge.

Dakar native Omar, or “Pap”, has been surfing from the age of twelve and is a positive role model to younger Senegalese surfers in his community. He excels in school and studies hard so that he can have a bright future in and out of the water. He has yet to compete but would love the opportunity to surf against others in the future. He loves to spearfish and free dive when he isn’t surfing because he has a love of the ocean. His scholarship will allow him to purchase a new board and wetsuit, pay his surf federation membership fee, and pay his school fees so he can be a well-rounded athlete.

At seventeen years old, Mamadou is relatively new to the sport of surfing, however has big dreams of competing at the Senegal Surfing Championship and to take part in a few competitions in West Africa one day. He started learning to surf at Malika Surf school about two years ago and has grown to love the waves at Yoff Beach. He is always looking after younger surfers and sharing waves with them. Mamadou will put his scholarship money towards paying for his education costs so that he can surf in his free time instead of working nightly to pay for school. He will also pay his membership fees to the surfing federation and be able to purchase a surfboard, wetsuit, leashes, and fins.

Cherif is a fourteen year old Senegalese surfer who wishes to one day compete at the Senegal Pro in February 2021. This scholarship will cover the fees of the competition. He has been surfing for five years and has competed in the 2019 Senegal Cup as well as the Senegal Championship where he placed very well. Surfing has given him motivation and allowed him to return to studying at school. This scholarship will help cover those school costs and also allow him to compete with the help of a new surfboard, wetsuit, and equipment. In his free time, Cherif enjoys playing football with his friends.

Bright young Aminata has only been surfing for one year but has already fallen in love with surfing. She quickly overcame a fear of the water and is full of energy and enthusiasm for surfing. Aminata is a proud female Senegalese surfer and is a role model to other girls in her surfing classes who all want to pursue the sport. She has full support for surfing from her family, who are all avid surfers. This scholarship will help Aminata pay for her school fees so that she can have a great career in the future, buy her own surf equipment and board, and pay the federation fee. She loves doing puzzles and yoga in her free time but loves surfing the most and can’t wait to compete one day.

Abdoulie Jarju of The Gambia, has been surfing for two years and is fourteen years old. He currently only does SUP but is extremely interested in learning to surf. He has a strong drive to excel in surfing and motivates the other athletes around him. This ISA scholarship will give Abdoulie the opportunity to get a new surfboard and focus on regular training, help cover his educational costs, and help him afford transport and fees associated with upcoming contests.

Ousman comes from Bakoteh Village in The Gambia and has recently discovered a passion for SUP and surfing. Currently, his surf community all share one stand up paddle board so Ousman’s scholarship will allow him to get his own surf equipment, get transport to competitions and trainings, and pay for his school costs such as books and stationary. He has yet to compete in a tournament but will hopefully be able to with the help of this scholarship. His other hobbies include exercising, reading, and going to the beach.

After only surfing for three years, Keona Dennis is a thirteen year old sensation. She has placed in multiple Junior National competitions and would like to someday compete in the Olympic Games. Her biggest asset is her desire and determination. This year’s scholarship will give her the chance to study and gain college credits and purchase any school materials she will need. It will also get her a new board which she is currently in need of and cover the costs of traveling to Jamaica so that she can compete internationally and meet other female surfers. Everyone who knows Keona says that she has the most positive attitude and it is evident how much joy surfing brings to her life.

Sixteen year old O’marion Butler has been surfing for two years and is already a very passionate surfer in his rural seaside community. He placed first at a recent Nationals competition in the under 18 division. He is currently training to become a mentor in a local NGO program that offers surfing as a mental health activity for youth in his area. He is a true leader. This scholarship will go towards a new laptop for O’marion. Because school is now online, he only is able to attend his lessons via a smartphone so a laptop will help him with school and completing his homework. It will also allow him to purchase a new surfboard so he can improve his skills on his own.

Shiniqua Haynes has been surfing for one year and has already placed second in a national competition in the girls U16 division. She is an incredible athlete, not only in surfing but also in track and field and netball. Shiniqua is training to be a mentor with a local program called Waves of Hope that offers surf therapy to the kids in the community. This scholarship will help Shiniqua buy a laptop for school, which is now online and allow her to buy her very first surfboard of her own with a leash and fins. This equipment will mean she can surf anytime she likes and practice much more because she is currently only able to surf once a week on a shared board.

Venezuelan surfer Carlos Molina is an outstanding surfer and student. He is fifteen years old and lives in Aragua. Carlos will use his scholarship towards a bodyboard and related equipment so that he can improve his maneuvers and compete internationally in the future. He will also purchase workout equipment to improve his physical training to become stronger for surfing. Carlos also loves music and surfing his favorite breaks at the local beaches.

Fifteen year old surfer Michelle is an intelligent, motivated, disciplined athlete and a good student. In addition to this, she is an inspiration for the community of girls in the local community of La Guaira. She is someone who is always training and learning a lot from surfing. Michelle is an athlete with a lot of leadership. She placed second in a recent Venezuelan competition and has goals of competing in larger contests in the future. When she’s not surfing she enjoys yoga and cooking. This ISA scholarship will pay for Michelle’s school supplies, transportation, uniforms, and other educational costs. She’ll also be able to get a board to fit her height so that she can perform better and learn new moves. Lastly, she’ll be able to afford the cost of upcoming competitions which she plans to rank highly in.

Mike Prada, an active junior surfer from La Guaira, Venezuela, is now living in Bocas del Toro, Panama. He has been surfing for nine years and is currently just eleven years old. He has placed highly at several competitions in Colombia and Panama and has dreams of one day joining the Venezuelan Olympic Surfing Team. Mike is always a great sport, through both wins and losses and performs with the demeanor of a top surfer. His scholarship will cover the costs of new surfboards and fins so that he can train as hard as possible and won’t have to worry about trying new techniques and risking his board. This will give him peace of mind and help him prepare for competitions.

Iriacna of Caracas is no stranger to surf competitions in Venezuela. She has been surfing for five years and has been devoted to the surf scene ever since. This seventeen year old is always looking for new ways to improve her form and become a better athlete. Iriacna devotes a lot of time to surfing and always attends the training activities that the local surf organizations put on. Her scholarship will cover the costs of her education, providing her the necessary tools to focus on her studies and obtain good grades. It will also grant her a new surfboard and leash so that she can continue training for competitions and one day compete internationally. When Iriacna isn’t at the beach, she loves practicing her English, skateboarding, exercising at home, and reading.