ISA Scholarships Awarded to 28 Young Surfers from 12 Countries, Grassroots surfers from underserved communities to receive USD $20,000, Application process now open for the 2023 ISA Scholarship program

January 10, 2023: The International Surfing Association (ISA) is excited to announce the newest group of recipients to be awarded special ISA Scholarships, an incredible group of 28 young surfers from 12 countries, who will share USD $20,000.

The 16 young men and 12 young women hail from nations including Iran, Venezuela, Senegal, Costa Rica, India, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Chile and Uruguay.

The geographical spread and the diversity of the surfers highlights the ISA’s mission to expand the sport to new regions and welcome new participants and fans. Scholarship recipients are selected based on their financial need as well as dedication to both education and surfing.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre established the ISA Scholarship Program in 2007, which has awarded more than USD $388,500 in grants to benefit the lives and surfing careers of nearly 400 surfers.

Several recipients of ISA Scholarships have developed into elite, competitive surfers and have gone on to claim medals at senior ISA events. They include Daniela Rosas (PER), Carlos Muñoz (CRC), and Chelsea Tuach (BAR). Rosas qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games by winning the gold medal in the Women’s Shortboard at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“One of my favorite times of the year is when the ISA gives out our annual scholarships. We have been providing opportunities to surfers from all across the world for 15 years now and nothing brings me greater joy than seeing the incredible achievements of these young men and women as they grow in their surfing careers. “After so many years we are so excited to continue to inspire the youth and encourage them forward in their journey of education and their love of the amazing sport of surfing. “I wish every success to each of these wonderful recipients. I am so proud of all of the surfers from almost every part of the world who have previously gone through the program. There’s no doubt that ISA Scholarships have had a huge impact on so many from underserved and disadvantaged communities.

“I can’t wait to see many more scholarship ambassadors achieve their dreams. No matter what struggles and hardship they might face at home, our dream is to see them succeed in life and in their surfing and I fully expect to see many of the names below representing their country at the highest level, the Olympic or even Paralympic Games, one day in the near future.”

Meet the winners, To view profiles on all 28 ISA Scholarship ambassadors for 2022, click here.

Brazil – Kemily Sampaio

Brazil – Alma Corgiolu

Brazil – Fabricio Conceição de Jesus

Brazil – João Rafael Cardoso Mendes

Chile – Isidora Fernández Lara

Chile – Matilda Ignacia Fernández Lara

Colombia – Juan Jose Velez Vargas

Costa Rica – Landy Jimena Ruíz Rojas

Costa Rica – Kian Jirón Merkx

Dominican Republic – Brianna Rodriguez Morel

India – Akash Pujar

India – Hanamanta Pujar

Iran – Adnan Fouladi

Iran – Mehrnesa Sasoli

Iran – Abdollah Balouchi

Jamaica – Nathaniel Bailey

Senegal – Thioune Absa

Senegal – Adama Sambe

Senegal – Issa Ndoye

Senegal – Muhammed Diawara

Trinidad and Tobago – Jesus Maharaj

Trinidad and Tobago – Kerry-Ann Maharaj

Trinidad and Tobago – Cheyenne Patino-Ubeda

Trinidad and Tobago – Riano Louis

Uruguay – Felipe Machado

Uruguay – Ashelen Cruz Barrios

Venezuela – Jhonaiker Rodriguez

Venezuela – Valeria Alejadra Benítez Til. —- ISA