Senior wins scholarship from San Jose Sharks

Sharkie, the mascot of the San Jose Sharks, came to give senior Kayla Steele her scholarship on March 1.

Senior Kayla Steele was recognized as one of the six Bay Area All-Star Scholarship Team (BAASST) Program winners for 2023 for her involvement in leadership opportunities around campus whether through class officer roles or ASB. 

BAASST is an initiative that recognizes and rewards exceptional high school students in the San Francisco Bay Area. The program selects students based on their academic achievements, leadership skills and community involvement. Selected students receive a scholarship to support their college education and the opportunity to participate in a mentoring and networking program that connects them with industry professionals and leaders.

In partnership with the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors, the San Jose Sharks and San Jose Earthquakes, BAASST allows these sports teams to select outstanding students to award scholarships worth up to $5,000. As a part of BAASST representing the San Jose Sharks, Steele attends every Sharks home game. 

“After I received the $5,000, it was matched by a company,” Steele said. “So now it’s $10,000 I can use toward college tuition.”

Steele first found out about this award after College and Career counselor Brad Ward sent her a link and recommended she apply due to her leadership skills in the classroom.

“I was really surprised when I won the scholarship,” Steele said. “It’s a great program and receiving the scholarship was really cool.”