2018 USABA Scholarships Awarded

Thanks to the generosity of the I C You Foundation and Arthur & Helen Copeland, each year, USABA offers scholarships to members who exhibit exceptional drive in athletic achievement and educational endeavors.

We are proud to present the I C You Foundation Valor Achievement Award and Arthur E. & Helen Copeland scholarships to four USABA athletes who demonstrate a passion for bettering themselves through sport and education.

Congratulations to the following students for being awarded USABA scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year!

I C You Foundation Valor Achievement Award Winners: Marybai Huking (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Eliana Mason (Beaverton, Ore.)

Marybai Huking is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology and human development & family studies from the University of Utah. Huking was introduced to goalball in 2010 and has since been voted Youth National MVP, flag bearer for the USA Youth Goalball World Championship team, competed for Team USA in multiple international tournaments and most recently, helped the U.S. Women’s Goalball Team earn bronze at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Huking is interested in eventually earning a Ph.D. in developmental psychology to conduct research in the fields of psychology and human development and family studies.

“The lessons I’ve learned from goalball and representing Team USA have extended past the court. Learning the roles of leadership and being a teammate have translated to success in the workplace, setting goals and working for constant improvement show in my academic achievement, and understanding the true depth of each of our abilities pushes me toward personal growth every day.”

Eliana Mason earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in community health from Portland State University and is now pursuing a master’s degree from Antioch University in clinical and mental health counseling. Mason is a resident athlete at the Goalball Center of Excellence and helped the U.S. Women’s Team earn bronze at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Along with teammates, Mason conducts goalball clinics and demonstrations in her community and across the country to develop players and increase awareness of the sport.

“I have learned confidence, independence, teamwork, hard work, frustration, failure, success, defeat, discipline, joy and many other important life lessons through my involvement with sports. There have been some difficult times as an elite athlete however I wouldn’t change any of them because I have learned so much through these experiences and they have shaped me into the individual I am today.”

Arthur E. & Helen Copeland Scholarship Winners: Ian Kloehn (Kansas City, Mo.) and Stephanie Zundel (Nashville, Tenn.)

Ian Kloehn earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from Marquette University and is now attending medical school at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience. While studying at Marquette, Kloehn picked up marathon distance running. He also started a camp for children with visual impairments through the Vision Forward Association. It was the children Kloehn met at the camp who inspired him to finish his first marathon in October 2016. He’s since completed three additional marathons including the 2017 USABA Marathon National Championships where he finished third.

“I am now in my second year in Kansas City and I am hoping to continue with my education to eventually become a Neonatologist. My unique experiences have given me a platform to be an advocate for those who do not have a voice. As I continue chasing my goals, I hope to grow a stronger voice to give my patients and blind and visually impaired children the chance to live a happy, healthy life.”

Stephanie Zundel earned a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in child psychology with a minor in special education and sociology and is now pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling from Vanderbilt. Zundel has participated in sports most of her life and enjoys running, cycling and boxing sports. Zundel earned a second-place finish in the B1 female category at the 2017 USABA Marathon National Championships and attended her first USABA Cycling Development Camp in May. She aspires to one day compete in the Paralympics.

“Sports have provided me the opportunity to push myself and learn true self-determination and perseverance. This is why I am applying to get my master’s degree in school counseling. It’s my turn to give back. I want to be the one to pass on that knowledge that was given to me during my childhood. My goal in life is to work with children who are struggling for one reason or another and to help them realize their purpose.”

The I C You Foundation Valor Achievement Award is made possible through the generosity of Markeith Price’s I C You Foundation and the Arthur E. and Helen Copeland scholarships are made possible by founders of USABA, Arthur and Helen Copeland. Scholarships are awarded to students who are legally blind, enrolled in a two or four-year college, university or technical school and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. Click here to learn more about USABA’s scholarship program.

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