The U.S. Olympic Committee has selected Trenson Akana, a 5' 10" guard on the BYU-Hawaii men's basketball team, as one of 30 minority students from across the country for its FLAME program — Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere .
Akana, an Exercise and Sports Science major who is originally from Kaunakakai, Molokai, and is part-Hawaiian and Samoan, will attend the FLAME program at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from August 2-5. Now in its 14th year, the program is designed to demonstrate minority youth can attain any goal through commitment and perseverance. While in the training camp, FLAME participants "live like an Olympic hopeful (without the rigorous physical training)," according to Olympic Education USA. They will also listen to well-known motivational speakers, and take part in interactive sports demonstrations and field trips.
Akana, who will be a junior this coming school year, served a Latter-day Saint mission in Hiroshima, Japan, before enrolling at BYU-Hawaii. Two of his six brothers — Jarinn and Brandyn — also played basketball here, and Brandyn is currently an assistant coach for the team.
Akana plans to be a coach and teacher after he graduates. For more information on him...
