On Monday January 14 Paul Pokana became the fifth member of the National Track and Field Squad to take up studies in the USA when he joined Sapolai Yao at Northern Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) to commence a two year course of study. Cecilia Kumalalamene ,Sharon Kwarula and Wala Gime are currently half way through their second and final year at Iowa Central Community College under a scholarship programme initiated in 2011 by the Oceania Foundation.
Pokana will join Yao in Northern Iowa under a different arrangement. “Basically it is a privately funded arrangement”, said Athletics PNG President Tony Green which I am pleased that we have been able to put together with the assistance of coach Curtis Vais of NIACC. Athletics PNG is always looking out for opportunities for its athletes not only to develop in the sport but academically as well. Green added that the Junior College Programme presents a pathway to achieve this and he expressed gratitude to Dan O Connell of the Oceania Foundation for introducing it to PNG through its Scholarship Programme. “Obviously not everyone can get a scholarship as there are a limited number available so we have to see where we can help ourselves. It is a matter of dealing with each individual on a case by case basis and assisting where we can”.
Tony Green (Jan 15, 2013)
Last Modified on 02/02/2013 19:54