You begin to get a hint of just how remarkable Kasandra Vegas is when you consider that teammates and coaches on the Northern Arizona University track and field team nicknamed her "Fast Kas" and she isn’t a sprinter or distance runner.
She is, in track parlance, a "thrower," and her events — the shot put, hammer, weight throw and discus — are about strength and power, not speed.
The nickname, folks around the NAU athletic department will tell you, has little to do with her stopwatch times and is more of a testament to her all-out hustle, whirlwind schedule and dynamism.
It is the kind of personality and drive that has allowed the Kamehameha Schools graduate to contribute to the track team, graduate with honors in exercise science, put in 90 hours of community service her senior season and, now, the school says, be a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
The award, according to the NCAA, annually honors graduating female athletes who "distinguished themselves throughout their college careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership."
Earlier, she won school and Big Sky Conference student-athlete honors and was a national semifinalist for the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, honoring character, leadership and contributions to sport and society.
"Kas is the epitome of (all) that; she’s what you look for in a student-athlete," said Pam Lowie, NAU assistant athletic director for academics.
Vegas got big points in conference meets; spoke at Flagstaff, Ariz., schools; served as a mentor for area elementary school students; worked at community food banks; headed up the school’s student athletic council; zealously advocated for athletes’ needs with the administration and built a culture of inclusion among athletes on campus.
When a close friend on the tennis team died, Vegas worked through her own tears to organize a fundraiser for the foundation set up in her friend’s name.
And when Vegas came home during breaks, she worked in a service group at Kawaiahao Church.
"She is an example, an inspiration to our youth," said Kahu Curt Kekuna.
Mostly, Vegas has found ways to bring people from disparate backgrounds and interests together. "She’s the type of person who inspires people around her with her positive attitude and strong work ethic," said Oscar Duncan, assistant track coach. "She was omnipresent and an incredible ambassador for our team and our school. I don’t think there is an athlete on our campus that doesn’t know her and wasn’t happy to see her."
"I’m very honored to be nominated and grateful for the lessons that my parents have taught me and what the culture (of) Hawaii has taught me," Vegas said.
She will attend the University of Sydney (Australia) as a graduate student in international public health.
Whatever Vegas ends up doing, Lowie said she has little doubt "Kas is going to be somebody who is going to change a lot of people’s lives for the better."
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.
