2-sport Quaker Valley standout honored for work in classroom too

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, April 27, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The WPIAL recently recognized the recipients of the 34th annual WPIAL James Collins Scholar-Athlete Award with 20 candidates selected from a group of 158 nominees.

The girls recipients were Laurel’s Tori Atkins, Thomas Jefferson’s Alison Chalovich, Greensburg Central Catholic’s Alexandra Hoffman, Knoch’s Giona Lavorini, Montour’s Joelle Ludwick, Quaker Valley’s Joyce “Jay” Olawaiye, Springdale’s Briana Ross, Serra Catholic’s Cassidy Trahan, Uniontown’s Grace Trimmer and Canon-McMillan’s Abby Tucker.

“I am so honored, proud and thrilled to have received the WPIAL Scholar-Athlete Award,” said Olawaiye, who has a 4.50 GPA. “I’ve worked very hard for my academic and athletic achievements, and I am so thankful to the WPIAL for awarding me this accolade.”

Earning the 10 boys awards were Beaver’s Tyler Biss, Fox Chapel’s Milo Chiu, Fort Cherry’s Shane Cornali, Central Catholic’s Bradley Gompers, Pine-Richland’s Bradan Lenz, Peters Township’s Colton Lusk, South Fayette’s Luke Miller, Mt. Pleasant’s David Mutter, Bethel Park’s Ryan Petras and Bishop Canevin’s Braiden Sudor.

A WPIAL committee chose the winners from among 158 nominees. Each winner is awarded a college scholarship of $1,000. More than $759,000 has been awarded to winners since 1992.

Olawaiye’s credentials as a QV student-athlete are prodigious.

She has earned eight varsity letters — four each in tennis and track and field. She is a captain on the track team and was a tennis captain twice.

The QV senior won gold as a junior and silver as a sophomore in the triple jump and bronze as a junior in the 400-meter relay at the WPIAL track championships. She also placed second in the triple jump as a sophomore at the PIAA meet and helped the QV girls to three consecutive WPIAL team titles.

Olawaiye has qualified for the New Balance Nationals in indoor and outdoor competition and owns the school record for the triple jump, setting it as a sophomore.

She earned the Western Pennsylvania Girls Tennis Sportsmanship Award in 2023 and was part of two section championships and a WPIAL runner-up team effort in tennis.

At Quaker Valley, Olawaiye is or has been a member of the National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, Math League, Pennsylvania Personal Finance Challenge, Black Student Union, Culture Alliance, Robotics Club, Mock Trial, orchestra, choir and student council. She serves as president of the student council.

She also is on the executive board of the Black Student Union and volunteers for the Victory Family Church Children’s Ministry and Pittsburgh Area Friday Professionals Organization.

Olawaiye received the SMART Certification from the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy. She plans to study science at Brown and compete on the women’s track field team.

Tags: Quaker Valley