Class act: Bicoy trades basketball court for science lab

The Molokai Times
Tuesday, April 8, 2008

By Marketa Stastna

In between shooting hoops and running track, Ayla Bicoy switched a jersey for a lab coat and came up with a possible answer for the suffering reef of Kauankakai Harbor. This project has earned her several awards at the Hawaii State and Engineering Fair held last week in Honolulu.

The Senate has recognized the senior student for her accomplishments.

"I thought that her work was outstanding and worthy of a recognition by the senate. You know she's É starting off in her life and her career É I'm hoping that this will encourage her to continue to do outstanding work in college and after college," said Sen. Kalani English.

Ayla has received a plethora of other awards, complimenting her on her scientific ingenuity.

The healthy combination of athletic and academic achievements seems to run in the family.

"My grandpa was really successful in his day too É I'm proud of him. I look up to him; he knows a lot, so he always has good advice on any subject you can think of," she said enthusiastically, immediately rushing in to give credit where credit is due to her younger siblings.

"All of us are our own individual person. Like Donna É she's involved in tennis and rodeo. She's really good in rodeo É And Christina É she's pretty academic too. And Decker; he's just Decker. You gotta meet him," she said laughing, of her 9-year-old brother and a little league baseball player.

"Sports is my biggest challenge I think, because I'm not one of the better players and I really have to work hard and concentrate on building my skill," she said humbly.

Still, she finished 68th at the state cross country meet, and was one of the basketball players who went to the MIL championships last month.

Thirsty to learn, Ayla has already been accepted to University of Notre Dame in Indiana to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

"The cold days will be a hurdle but I think I can get over it," she joked.

Her dream to become a mechanical engineer, however, is just one of a few goals she has in mind.

"I want to learn to speak another language, and I want to learn more about cars, and helicopters and jets," she mused of her future goals. "I want to learn about how they work and I want to learn more about how we can live in harmony with our environment, especially on Molokai, and how technology can help us in that aspect," she continued.

In tandem with her hope of becoming a polyglot, she also has plans to visit other countries. This summer she will join her youth group for an excursion to Australia for World Youth Day.

Despite Ayla's successes she remains modest and grateful for the opportunities she's been presented with. When asked if she would trade places with anybody, her response was clear.

"I have great family, I live in a beautiful place and my life is pretty much perfect. I mean everybody has problems, so you can't trade and expect all your problems to go away. But I like where I'm at right now."

Original article URL: http://www.molokaitimes.com/articles/847201923.asp

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