Nanea Fujiyama will be much more than an accidental student when she attends Occidental College in California this fall.

Just two months ago, Fujiyama was not sure if her family could afford the tuition of a Mainland college, let alone a prestigious private one like Occidental.

Thanks to a scholarship from the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, Fujiyama intends to play water polo while studying diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental.

"This means so much to me — it's an amazing opportunity, " said Fujiyama, a 2009 graduate of Kamehameha Schools. "Without this scholarship, I couldn't afford to go there."

Fujiyama was awarded the Duke Kahanamoku Ambassador of Aloha Scholarship at a luncheon yesterday. It is worth $10,000 per year, and is renewable annually for up to five years.

"The whole idea is to find a college-bound student who is not only competitive in sports, but also reflects the spirit of aloha that Duke had," ODKF board member Patrick Dugan said. "We feel like Nanea is a stellar candidate to represent what this scholarship is about."

Fujiyama was an all-star water polo player and swimmer at Kamehameha, and was ready to commit to the University of Hawai'i in November.

"I really wanted to go to Occidental, but it's a (NCAA) Division III school, so they don't have (athletic) scholarships," she said. "That's why it was such a big thing for me to get this."

One year of tuition at Occidental is around $52,000.

Fujiyama said she would like to work as a diplomat in the United Nations.

"Duke Kahanamoku spread aloha around the world as a diplomat through sports," she said. "I want to have that same opportunity, just in a different setting."

Fujiyama's scholarship was the top award handed out at the ODKF luncheon yesterday. A grand total of $191,000 in scholarships and grants was awarded. Each recipient had to show an affinity for at least one of the "Duke Sports" — various ocean sports and volleyball.

ODKF COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES

Hi'ilani Aiona (Hana), Portland State; Kristy Alama (Kamehameha), Stanford; Theresa Austin (Punahou), Allegheny College; Eva Avery (Hilo), Hawai'i-Manoa; Benjie Allan Baclig (Waimea), Pennsylvania; Lanaya Bertilacci (Pahoa), Chaminade; Beaumont Brians (Kaiser), Hamilton College; Aaron Bright (Moanalua), USC; Allison Brown (Kealakehe), San Diego State; Jordan Brown (Kaiser), California Baptist; Jordan Butay (Damien), Hawai'i Pacific; Tyson Chihara (Kaua'i), Pomona College; Kathryn Choo (Kamehameha), Santa Clara; Kelsey Christopher (Kealakehe), Savannah College; James Chung (Kapa'a), Hawai'i Pacific; Carlene De Coite (King Kekaulike), Chapman; Marissa Eveland (Christian Education Institute), Point Loma Nazarene; Nanea Fujiyama (Kamehameha), Occidental College; Rayfe Gaspar-Asaoka ('Iolani), USC; Hailey Gill (Lahainaluna), USC;

Nicole Hagi (Kapolei), Siena College; Kimberly Hall (Punahou), Stanford; Chelbie-Lyn Hanohano (St. Joseph), Quincy; Jessica Hoag (Kahuku), Brigham Young; Kainoa Kai'aokamalie (Kamehameha-Maui), Oregon; Lauren Kaina (Mililani), Oregon State; Skyler Kamaka (Kamehameha), Concordia; Nahokuheleiakeahu'olu Keala (Kamehameha), Hawai'i-Manoa; Anthony Kingery (Damien), Pacific; Anna Koethe (St. Francis), Hawai'i-Manoa; Kimberly Kopra (Hawai'i Preparatory Academy), Hawai'i-Hilo; Kealoha Kramer (Kamehameha-Hawai'i), Hawai'i-Manoa; Christopher Lawrence (Kamehameha-Maui), Oregon State; Sarah Lockwood (Punahou), Tufts; Alexander McGuire (Kea'au), Hawai'i-Hilo; David Kalani Duke Mench (Punahou), Chapman; Claire Montgomery (Hilo), Humboldt; Cody Morse (Hawai'i Preparatory Academy), Cal Poly; Chelsie-Ann Mow (Hawai'i Baptist), Willamette; Kelsey Naruse (Seabury Hall), Colby College;

Karie Nickle (Kamehameha), Occidental College; Malia Paresa (Kamehameha), USC; Beau Pickering (Kamehameha), Princeton; John "Jack" Pope (Lahainaluna), Pacific; Tanya Rames (Kapa'a), Hawai'i-Manoa; Kaiponohea Rocha (Seabury Hall), Whitworth; Hannah Ross (Mid-Pacific), Westmont; Tajana Santiago (Kahuku), Sheridan College; Ashley Shaffer (Kamehameha-Maui), Oregon; Aubree Shipman (Kalaheo), San Francisco; Christel Simms (Punahou), USC; Hannah Smith ('Iolani), Oregon State; Kaimana Teba (Hawai'i Preparatory Academy), USC; Nile Te'o (Kahuku), UNLV; Moanalani Tuipulotu (Lahainaluna), Redlands; Johnathan Viernes (Pahoa), Hawai'i-Hilo; Wailana Waite (Kula), Hawai'i-Manoa; Tialei Wesley (Kahuku), BYU-Hawai'i; Minnie Whitford (Kahuku), Brigham Young; Kent Yamada (Mililani), Columbia.

ATHLETIC GRANT INDIVIDUAL AWARDEES

Caitlin Andrade (volleyball); Cedric Caires (surfing); Geodee Clark (surfing); Ryan Kawika Dolan (kayaking); Kanesa Duncan (paddleboarding); Crystal Dzigas (surfing); Kalaikoa Elderts (volleyball), Rachel Fujita (kayaking); Shawn "Kalei" Kahookele (kayaking); Haunani Kane (surfing); Chelsey Keoho (volleyball); Kimiko Patcho (volleyball); Benjamin Tosh Peila (surfing); Ashley Quintal (surfing); Jetson Yee (volleyball).

ATHLETIC GRANT TEAM/GROUP AWARDEES

Banzai Productions; Boys & Girls Club of Hawai'i; Hawai'i Canoe & Kayak Team; Hawai'i National Guard Youth Challenge Academy; Hawaiian Islands Water Polo; Ka Ulukoa (volleyball); Kailua Volleyball Club; Kama'aina Care, Inc.; Marimed Foundation; Na Opio Canoe Racing Association; Na Wahine O Ke Kai/Moloka'i Hoe; Outrigger Canoe Club; Rainbow Aquatics Swim Team; Swim With Mike; Team Hawai'i/Aloha Surf.