The Eliza Grover Leadership Award

In addition to the scholarships given to deserving Menlo-Atherton graduates, each year the Eliza Grover Leadership Award is given to a student athlete in the Menlo-Atherton volleyball program who embodies Eliza’s values of hard work, positive leadership on and off the court, commitment to the team, and true love of the sport. Awardees are honored on a plaque in M-A’s Pride Hall, and receive a Kepler’s Gift Card to share in Eliza’s love of reading. The first winner was Samantha Lin, Class of 2024, who is studying and playing volleyball at Brandeis University (see Scholarships posting on 6/5/24).

This year’s awardee is Meki Maile, M-A Class of 2025. A 4-year setter on the varsity team, Meki distinguished herself through what Coach Denny Falls described as “her unwavering positivity and exemplary leadership.” Meki will continue her academic and athletic careers at the University of Portland.

[Small world side note: turns out that Meki’s cousin, Cassie Fong, was a beloved club volleyball teammate of Eliza’s when they were 14!]

Learn more about the award in this video, compiled by M-A teammates Kirby Knapp and Casey Olsen.