She may have once feared failure, but Michelle Ikoma never fears flying. That’s how she describes the feeling of swinging over and under the uneven bars. Being fearless on the bars has made Ikoma a key member of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s gymnastics team.
When her feet are on the ground, Ikoma excels academically. Nailing high grades as a business and exercise sports science double major, the UNC senior is a member of the honor society Phi Beta Kappa. Ikoma recently won an Atlantic Coast Conference postgraduate scholarship, given to only three athletes annually per ACC school, and UNC’s Wells Fargo postgraduate scholarship, which is awarded to an outstanding North Carolina senior studentathlete who plans to pursue an advanced degree after graduation.
“Michelle is a stellar example of a student-athlete,” says Bubba Cunningham, UNC’s athletic director, who interacts with her often in her role as president of the university’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. “The sky’s the limit for her. She’s a brilliant student. She could run a company with her incredible personal discipline.”
Intellectually and physically gifted, and a gracious, unselfish leader, Ikoma possesses all the attributes of an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar. Last year, the 23-year-old student was a finalist; this year, she is a winner.
