“The most important lesson I've learned is that the way you view things matters, and your mindset matters. Academically, when I struggled with an assignment, I had two choices: I could be negative about it and give up, which sometimes felt like the easier choice, or I could think about it differently and work through it. I learned to view these situations as a learning opportunity and looked for positives. This gradual change in my mindset shaped me into a leader I never thought I could be. The Covid season was the year that really changed me. We had a smaller team that year and were not allowed to have mandatory practices until the spring. If we wanted to succeed, we needed someone to step up and rally the team. Instead of sulking about the current situation, I chose to approach it from a different angle. I looked for opportunity.”
van Rossum was named the female recipient of the Jack Bonham Award, Hawai’i’s highest student-athlete honor after accumulating a 3.93 GPA and earning her undergraduate degree in computer sciences and phycology. She collected more academic awards at Hawai’i including the Top Scholar-Athlete, Wahine Water Polo, UH Manoa Straight A Luncheon Honoree, Manoa Student-Athlete Annual Honor Roll, Gold Honors, UH Manoa Scholar-Athlete and placed on the UH Manoa Athletic Director’s Honor Roll list in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023.
Van Rossum was also appointed the Rainbow Wahine team leader and captain where Van Rossum spent time collaborating with Title IX Wahine on the Rise: Field Day, Title IX Wahine on the Rise: The Celebration as an ambassador for water polo. More of her volunteering experiences include time with Access Surf and Junior Bows (2018, 2019).
In the pool of play, van Rossum earned All-Big West second-team distinctions twice (2021, 2023) and claimed Big West Championship MVP in 2021 during the team’s conference triumph. Hawai’i advanced to the Big West Championship title match all four years she was on the squad. She was also an AWPCA honorable mention All-American. Before her final season, van Rossum was named to the Cutino Award watchlist, presented to the nation's top player, and one of 20 national players placed on USA Water Polo, The Olympic Club, and the Assocation of Collegiate Water Polo (ACWPC).
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