PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - While the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is no stranger to international bowlers, they achieved a new feat recently with the signing of Hawaiian star Danielle August to a National Letter of Intent. August will be the first Hawaiian bowler to suit up for the Hawks and continues head coach Kayla Bandy's vision of pulling state champions into the program. August, attended Millani High School, named after her hometown. Last season she attended Leeward Community College, but did not compete athletically, giving her four years of eligibility at UMES.

"I first met Danielle in the Texas at the International Training and Research Center (ITRC)'s Bowling Combine last summer," said head coach Kayla Bandy. "As she began to show an interest in our program, I couldn't help but take notice of her fundamentally sound physical game and how she carried herself at the event. Now that she has had a year to focus on the development of her game and on school while attending community college in Hawaii, I am excited to add her to our lineup. I know she is even more prepared to succeed on the lanes and in the classroom. I am confident that she will bring a 'spark' to our team and get the job done for us."

August dominated prep bowling in the state, winning the Oahu Interscholastic Association tournament three straight years. August came from 16th place overall and more than 200 pins down in her senior year to win her third straight title. "I was really discouraged after the first set," she told The Trojan Times in 2013. "As the second round came, that's when I got my edge back and figured out what I need to do."

She credits this impressive feat as a defining moment in her bowling career. "Winning that three years in a row showed me that I was able to be a competitive bowler and that I could take my game to the next level."

She was named her high school's Most Outstanding Player in 2010 and 2012. The latter year she guided her team to the runner-up title for the state championship after finishing third the previous year. She carries a high game of a 279 and a high series of a 740 in high school.

She also traveled with Schofield Junior Bowling league and the Oahu Junior Travel Masters and sported the league's highest girl's average in 2014 and 2015. In league she had a series average of a 230 and a 260 high game.

"She is definitely dedicated to bowling," said her prep coach Corey Zukeran.

All of that and she didn't even focus on the game until she was in 10th grade. "I started bowling when I was five-it was the one sport I have always been interested in, but I didn't take it seriously until my sophomore of junior year of high school. It didn't click for me until then," August said in a newspaper article in her home state, the Central Oahu Islander.

Bowling both scholastically and in leagues has developed August's understanding of the individual aspects needed to be successful in team play. "I want to become the best bowler I can possibly be and help the team win another National Championship," August said. "I want to work every day on improving my game and gaining knowledge and experience to help the program for all four years. Bowling is a big team sport and it helps when you stay positive."

"I have to say that I love competingÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬¦and when you winÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬¦it's just a really good accomplishment," August also told The Trojan Times.

Like her new teammates, August is involved in the community, volunteering to restore the environment and natural areas around her schools in an organization called Aloha aina. She also holds dear an experience in a restorative effort locally, Kaho'olawe.

The daughter of Dennis and Marlene August plans on majoring in Exercise Science with the ultimate goal if going into athletic training in the National Football League (NFL). She has a sister, Nicole and two brothers, Keoni and Eric. Her father served as her coach and helped introduce her to the sport. "[My mom and dad] got me into bowling. That's how they met. They never forced me to do itÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬¦they were going to support me in any way. That was huge for me," August said in the same newspaper interview.

Look for August joining the Hawk family in October of 2015 playing a large role for the team, probably wearing miss-matched socks. "My socks can never match when I bowl" she said; "that and I always carry my lucky charm, a photo of myself and my grandpa."