29
Apr, 2021
Thanks to incredible success on and off the field, Kianna Armstrong has become a strong role model at Internationals SC. Armstrong, who attends the Hawken School, is focused on making her community a better place.
“I'm super involved in my community and at my school,” Armstrong said. “Before COVID I volunteered at Zelma George family shelter downtown and was a student mentor at Citizens Leadership Academy. At my school, I am a House Leader (a system similar to the Harry Potter house system) where I plan events at my school to make the day less stressful and more enjoyable. I am a leader of the Black Student Union, in which I provide a space for affinity to Black students. I'm a leader of Outdoor Leadership where I teach students leadership and survival skill for our tri-annual backpacking or canoeing trips. I'm the leader and a co-creator of Hawken Hotshots where I interview Hawken Students on their accomplishments outside of school.”
Armstrong has already begun work on her passions.
“I'm very passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion and justice,” Armstrong said. “Last summer I combined my interest in DEIJ with journalism to complete an investigative journalism project on health inequities in Cleveland called Beyond the Bubble.”
She has been recognized for her efforts and is being actively pursued by a number of universities.
“I was recognized as an African American Recognition Scholar and an AP Scholar through the College Board,” Armstrong said. “The universities I am most interested in are Brown and Cornell. I'm also interested in University of Southern California, Washington University, University of Miami, and Temple University where I have earned full tuition scholarships. As well as Ohio State University where I have earned a full cost of attendance scholarship.”
Armstrong has a number of goals she’d like to accomplish in the long-term.
“In college, I will be studying architecture," Armstrong said. "After college I plan to get licensed for architecture and open my own firm that focuses on using architecture to create welcoming and equitable spaces.”
She gives Internationals SC credit for helping her develop some important life skills.
“One major skill that I've learned from ISC is knowing how to set goals and being successful at completing them,” Armstrong said. “At Internationals we practice setting goals with our individual development plans. This skill has helped me set academic goals and ultimately played a part in my academic success. The most important thing that I've learned through soccer is how to put something before myself. As a member of a team, I have to make sacrifices to do what's best for the team and my teammates. This can relate to decisions on the field and my choices off the field. I continue to put others before myself in my community through volunteering my time. In addition, I try to help my family in any way that I can and leave a positive impact on those around me.”
Armstrong was very appreciative of the influence of both Keri Sarver and Zdravko Popovic.
“Keri and Zdravko have had a huge impact on my life during my time at Internationals and teaching me the lessons that I mentioned before,” Armstrong said.
She has proven to be a dominating player.
“My favorite position in wing forward,” Armstrong said. “I always approach the game in a positive way and try to be a positive impact while in the game. My playing style focuses on combination play and using the support of my team.”
Armstrong also has big plans for her work on the field.
“My short-term goal for soccer is to become ECNL OVC champs with my team," Armstrong said. "My long-term goal is to walk on to a team in college or play club. I do have the opportunity to play at one of the schools I'm considering. However, I will be prioritizing where I go to school based on academics first, then looking for opportunities to play soccer.”
Kianna Armstrong has become an inspiring force at Internationals SC, someone who makes the club and her community a better place. She has a bright future and has become a point of great pride for the club.
“Kianna is a joy to coach,” ECNL and Club Director Keri Sarver said. “She is super creative, intelligent, and she has a quiet demeanor but when she has something say, people listen. She is thoughtful and compassionate and carries herself with a tremendous amount of confidence and poise. She is a strong athlete and an intelligent player. Off the field, her coaches and teammates so impressed with her academic accomplishments and how involved she is in her community. She is paving the way for others and positively impacting those around her. She has an incredible opportunity in front of her with so many choices to attend some of the top universities in the country. We are so proud of Kianna and know that her future is extremely bright!”