2012 Scholarship Finalists
The following finalists were selected from an outstanding pool of applicants:
* 2012 recipient
Arianne Lozano: 2012 recipient
Ari first started playing Ultimate in 7th grade at Asa Mercer Middle School in Beacon Hill and quickly developed into a skilled player and leader. In fact, her middle school team was invited to perform in a showcase game in Vancouver, BC at the 2008 World Ultimate and Guts Championships. Since attending high school, she has been selected for two DiscNW teams, winning back-to-back national titles at the Youth Club Championships (YCC) in Blaine, MN. She has also been a part of the competitive Fryz club team, challenging high school and adult club teams alike. Additionally, Ari has helped coach the teams at her former middle school for the past four years. Her community involvement earned her notice on the Disney Channel’s youth sport series, “Get’cha Head in the Game.” Off the field, Ari is an accomplished student in the IB program at Ingraham High School. She is a multi-sport varsity athlete who has served in student government all four years.
“Arianne played a crucial role in building this culture [of sportsmanship at Asa Mercer MS]: as a 7th grader, she started high-fiving the other team between every point, not just after the game. She led by example. When people saw her playing her hardest but also congratulating her opponents, they caught on.” – Sam Terry, Asa Mercer coach
Kaitlyn Anderson
While Kaitlyn has thrown a disc for as long as she can remember, it wasn’t until a new team was started a few years ago in Mukilteo that she first played Ultimate. During the past two years of playing with the Carpe Discus Ultimate team, she quickly translated skills she had learned from playing soccer and was inspired by the camaraderie and Spirit of the Game she discovered in Ultimate. As one of the few returners on the mixed squad this year, she has been a key recruiter for her team, bringing new players into the fold and helping to teach them the sport she loves. She looks forward to playing with the Claremont Colleges’ women’s team once she gets to college. Academically, Kaitlyn is a star student at Kamiak High School, challenging herself with a schedule full of AP classes. She will be attending Harvey Mudd this fall as she trains for a future in engineering.
“We stress the Spirit of Ultimate in everything we do, and the attitude of inclusiveness is our culture. Kaitlyn is a great ambassador of this Spirit to both the players on our team and to others in the school. She embraces our culture [and] helps to build it in our team.” – Don Saul, Kamiak HS coach
Kersten Barton
Kirstie has been playing Ultimate for over 7 years. In addition to playing with the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences (SAAS) teams in middle school and high school, she has found ways to live and breath Ultimate year-round. She is a long-standing Fryz player and co-captained the YCC team in 2011 to defend the national title she helped earn the year before. She recently received the honor of being selected for Team USA; she will compete at the World Junior Ultimate Championships (WJUC) in Ireland this summer. Constantly seeking out playing opportunities, Kirstie has attended the National Ultimate Training Camp (NUTC) in Amherst, MA in addition to many years of Seattle Riot’s annual women’s clinic. She was also a part of AGE UP’s first year, expanding on her coaching skills established from co-coaching Bertschi School elementary summer camps and SAAS middle school teams. She heads off to Carleton College this fall to further explore her interests in science and business.
“Kirstie’s most remarkable quality is her intense desire to improve herself and her amazing ability to do just that. She has a keen ear for feedback and solicits it often. She makes lists of goals and checks them off as she methodically accomplishes even seemingly intangible things like ‘be a better leader’ and ‘be a supportive older sister.’“ – Miranda Roth, SAAS coach
Lani Nguyen
Lani is another player who got her start in Ultimate in the Asa Mercer Middle School Ultimate program. She then went on to play on the varsity girls’ team at the Northwest School (NWS) for all four years of high school, co-captaining the team as a senior. During that time, NWS won multiple Washington State and HS Western Championships titles. Lani also was on the DiscNW YCC championship teams in 2010 and 2011. In addition to her playing accomplishments, Lani has been a volunteer coach at DiscNW Summer Camps and has been a dedicated participant and leader for the life of the innovative All Girl Everything Ultimate Program (AGE UP). She heads to Cambodia this summer with the Youth Ultimate Project that aims to empower underprivileged youth to be leaders in their community. As a top student, Lani has also found success off the field, notably as part of a nationally competitive Robotics team. Dedicated to helping others, Lani intends to pursue a career in health care.
“Lani was part of the initial group of girls who began AGE UP, and continued this year as a facilitator and mentor for the new girls. Her leadership talents, communication skills and approachability are all key character elements that Lani demonstrates throughout her involvement with this program.” – Heidi-Marie Clemens, NWS coach
Max Zaslove: 2012 recipient
Max started playing Ultimate during the summer before his 8th grade year and has been improving ever since. At University Prep High School he has been the elected co-captain during his junior and senior years, where he lead the team to two 2nd place finishes at the Washington State Championships. Last summer he competed with the DiscNW mixed YCC team, which brought a bronze medal and the Spirit of the Game award back to Seattle. Max also traveled to Israel as a Counselor in Training with the Ultimate Peace program last summer, helping the program spread its core principles of mutual respect, friendship, non-violence, integrity, and fun. Building off of the relationships he forged on that trip, he has been invited to compete with the Israeli U-19 team at WJUC this summer in Ireland. A dedicated student, Max is prepared to face the challenges of balancing academics with his passion for Ultimate in college.
“Max is one of the first players I turn-to to lead elements of practice or to work with younger players. He’s an exemplary student of tactics and strategy and can be counted on to stay on-script, always, and he’s demonstrated many times an interest in helping everyone understand…. There is a particular quality that I find distinguishes Max from almost all other players, even those with the above strengths—a special ability to frequently find the sweet spot for the best emotion for the moment.” – Barney Ahouse, University Prep coach
Nina Finley
Nina was a 6th grader when her friends convinced her to try Ultimate, a twist of fate that allowed her to discover her inner athlete and develop a true passion. She was an early member of the Fryz club team and as a co-captain has lead the squad to be regarded as the #1 youth team in the country. Her list of ultimate accomplishments includes earning a Riot scholarship to attend NUTC, helping the DiscNW YCC team earn gold in 2011 and winning a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2010 WJUC. Nina has been selected for Team USA a second time, going to Worlds again this summer. She also participated in the inaugural year of the leadership group AGE UP, and plans on pursuing additional coaching opportunities in the future. Outside of Ultimate, Nina raises heritage meat rabbits for her 4H club, which she shows at statewide fairs. At SAAS, Nina is known as an exceptional student preparing herself for a career in veterinary sciences.
“[Nina] is a natural leader – a captain in name and action – who has guided her school and club teams to victories seemingly beyond their capabilities. What she can inspire in her teammates is nothing short of miraculous and she does so with kindness, hard work and true joie de vivre.” – Miranda Roth, SAAS coach
Philip Saul
Philip was first hooked by Ultimate while he lived in Minnesota, but upon moving to Mukilteo, WA he discovered his new school didn’t have a team. Undeterred, he started a team his sophomore year: Carpe Discus. He knew what a positive impact Ultimate could have on his new community and by his junior year, the team had recruited 25 players and had gained official club status at Kamiak High School. In its second year of existence, the mixed team was proud to have posted an undefeated record in the regular season. As the elected co-captain, Philip has been instrumental in establishing every aspect of the program that will live on after he graduates. Philip’s other interests include music performance and physics; he is considering double-majoring in these topics in college. He is also a highly active member of his church community and local youth group.
“[Philip] is a leader and example for the other players of what Ultimate is all about. He brings to the table a great attitude, combining both fun and focus, creating an environment that exemplifies Ultimate’s Spirit of the Game.” – Don Saul, Kamiak HS coach
Tarik Akyuz
Tarik first started playing Ultimate in 6th grade at Whitman Middle School. He continued to play soccer and tennis alongside his newfound Ultimate passion, establishing himself as a well-rounded athlete. At Ballard High School, Tarik was an integral part of the Ultimate team and its successes, which included winning the DiscNW mixed league last year and placing 2nd at the largest youth tournament in the world, Spring Reign. This year he is a senior co-captain on the squad, leading the way with the words “Turkish Wonder” on the back of his jersey. He also has participated in DiscNW adult leagues, holding his own among older players in winter and summer leagues. Tarik is an outstanding student in Ballard’s rigorous BioTech Academy, all while devoting himself to numerous other clubs such as DECA, FBLA, and Model UN. He also volunteers time with the Boys and Girls Club and Link Crew mentorship programs.
“[Tarik] has always been open to instruction, eager to work hard, and an exemplar of good spirit and sportsmanship. He plays within himself and keeps a cool head, and his strong work ethic has strengthened his natural athletic gifts as he has matured.” – Bill Penrose, Ballard HS coach