Claire Hughes '22 Recruiting Profile

I’m going to be a senior in high school on the Big Island of Hawaii. I have swum since I was 8 competitively and will continue to do so this upcoming year. I started water polo my freshman year of high school. During my swimming career, I have traveled to the state championships almost every year as well as attending zones and regionals. One of the big components of water polo is swimming. Because I have swum for as long as I can remember this is not a problem at all. In fact, I am the first pick for the sprinter on both my high school water polo team, regional team, and junior Olympic team. 

I go to Hawaii Preparatory academy a boarding school in Waimea, Hawaii. At this school, you can choose to attend as a day student or a five-day or seven-day boarder. I have the privilege to board as a five-day student. Unlike many high school students my age, I was able to learn at a young age how to live independently. By boarding, since freshman year I learned how to balance my school life with my personal life at a young age. Especially making sacrifices in order to succeed at both. 

Currently, I am interested in the science or business field. Towards the beginning of summer, I started volunteering at the USDA Forest Service in Hilo, Hawaii working with Rapid Ohia Death. Which is a deadly disease plaguing our native Ohia tree. During the week I work closely with scientists sorting soil samples and more. Through my volunteer work with the scientists, I feel I am able to help not only them but my community.