Four Big Island seniors win Wayne “Big Dog” Joseph scholarships

Four Hawaii Island seniors left the BIIF Track and Field Championships with more than medals and marks. Shane Tominaga and Nova Strickley of Waiākea, Tiffany Ravaglia of Hawaii Preparatory Academy and Isabel Camp of Parker School each won $2,000 through the Wayne “Big Dog” Joseph Scholarship, lifting the total award to $8,000 and underscoring how the island’s track scene also serves as a pipeline to college and community leadership.

Camp’s win marked a new milestone for Parker School, where she became the first student to earn the scholarship. The recognition is meant for graduating seniors who have run cross country or track in high school, kept at least a 2.5 GPA, plan to attend college and have shown volunteer service and financial need. It is designed to reward student-athletes who have delivered in the classroom and in their communities, not just on the oval.

The scholarship is in its 20th year. It was established in 2006 in memory of Wayne Joseph, a former Waiākea High Hawaiian history teacher, track and field and cross-country coach and sportswriter. Joseph died in 2013 from brain cancer, but the award that bears his nickname has continued to grow into one of the Big Island’s most recognizable tributes to student-athletes.

The numbers show that growth clearly. In 2024 and 2025, four recipients each received $1,500, along with a $500 Most Inspirational award. By 2026, the main scholarship had risen to $2,000 per student. Earlier totals put the program at more than $88,000 in awards by May 2025, while 2026 application materials listed more than $106,000 distributed overall, reflecting a long-running increase in support for Hawaii Island runners.

Jaime Labasan of Waiākea received the $500 Most Inspirational award in 2026, with Sunrise Athletics donating the prize. The honor recognized character, perseverance and leadership beyond raw results, a fitting complement to a scholarship that has always tied athletic effort to service, academic discipline and a reason to stay connected to the island after graduation.