Entering their first year at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, 24 new student-athletes engaged in the community on- and off-campus this summer through the Summer Bridge Program.
The program, provided by Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS), includes targeted lessons and group activities related to transitioning to college life, utilizing university resources and gaining exposure to Hawaiʻi’s unique culture.
“For freshman it was good to be introduced to the campus gradually,” said football player Jeremiah Wright.
This year’s summer bridge program ran for 6 weeks with Rainbow Warriors and Wahine from 4 sports (football, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s soccer). The goal for this year’s program was to incorporate more opportunities to support the Native Hawaiian community by getting students involved in on-campus community service at the UH Mānoa loʻi and off-campus service at the Paepae o Heʻeia Fishpond and Papahana Kuaola.
In the community
At the fishpond, the students and support staff were able to learn about water agriculture, fishing techniques, and resource gathering unique to Native Hawaiians. At this site, students helped with transporting natural supplies (e.g. rocks), cutting invasive weeds, and taking care of the land.
At Papahana Kuaola, the students helped with clearing weeds, working in a loʻi patch, and learning more about preservation of native Hawaiian lands. The kumu (teachers/leaders) at both sites were insightful and provided our students with hands-on learning outside of the class. It was a great opportunity for students and staff to engage in native spaces and to partake in something they may not seek out on their own.
”Being able to meet people and build friendships was crucial,” said football player Lau’Taimi Manuma.
In the classroom
All the students were enrolled in the SAAS unique 1-credit course UNIV 131: Academic/Personal Exploration, which introduces goal setting skills, academic planning, financial literacy, UH and athletics resources and more.
Students were also able to enroll in either HAW 100: Language in Hawaiʻi: Global Issues and/or ENG 100: Composition I to help them prepare for the rigor of college and to get a headstart on classes typically taken by first year students.
