OUR CLASS OF 2025 STUDENT-ATHLETES SELECTIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY, JAN 24, 2025
Student-Athletes
Handshake America Student-Athletes are a diverse group of high school students; who come
from different schools, different families, and different backgrounds, but they all share
three common traits. The students in the Handshake America Program want to continue their
education after high school, they're coachable, and they have grit.
Handshake America believes that with these qualities, students have what it takes to be successful in life. The Handshake America Program provides student-athletes with an opportunity to get out of their hometown “bubbles” and connect with their peers as well as adults who have had success in their lives. The students learn that these common traits will help drive them to success.
Western North Carolina Alumni & Current Student-Athletes share their program experience.
Apply to be a Handshake America Student-Athlete
student-athlete applications (FOR 2026) are due November 19, 2025
Prior to applying, please click on and read the Program Information below:
2025 Student-Athlete selections will be announced on January 24, 2025
As part of your application, you will be asked to submit an essay (typically 200+ words) describing a life experience or aspect about yourself that demonstrates you have the mindset and desire to be a part of this program and the aspiration to join a national community of leaders who unite and inspire others.
Click link below to apply. From the Login Screen select “Create Account” to begin your application.
2022 Metro Atlanta Student-Athletes
Emily Baldauff - Roswell
Thomas Cook - Wesleyan
Mina Ezikpe - Discovery
Davon Freeman - Booker T. Washington
Caroline Jewell - Lakeside
Asher Lin - Lakeside
Christina McCoy - Wesleyan
Joelle Miller - Blessed Trinity
Samuel Roby - Roswell
Avanti Satoskar - Pope
Michael Setchell - Blessed Trinity
Sosuke Watanabe - Pope
Credit: Steve Dinberg
steve@dinbergphotography.com
2022 Central Ohio Student-Athletes
Jordan Alloway - Westerville Central Connor Asbury - Worthington Kilbourne Abdoul Bah - Independence Gwendolyn Blasco - Watkins Memorial Carson Bopp - Westerville North Lillian Burns - Pickerington Central Isaac Carter - Grove City Caleigh Cheatham - Bishop Ready Daniel Conant - Franklin Heights
Preston Davis - Eastmoor Academy James Hayek - Upper Arlington Vaanika Jindal - Columbus Academy Lydia Letzelter - St. Francis DeSales Makenna Mitchell - Hilliard Darby Safi Munywoki - Centennial Charles Valachovic - Saint Charles Preparatory Zachary Williams - Bishop Hartley Kara Wilmoth - New Albany
Kyndall Harrison - Rosman Cora McCall - Brevard Lillian Smith - Brevard Langston Whitmire - Rosman
Brooks Berry - Brevard Reagan Chapman - Rosman Keith Fuller - Rosman Trey Galloway - Brevard
