by By Dan Ninham, contributing writer
Amayah Kirkman is from the Pueblo of Acoma in New Mexico, and she is from the Big Sun Clan. She is a student-athlete at Azusa Pacific University (APU) in Azusa, California. Kirkman is a Kinesiology major with a concentration in exercise science and is on the NCAA DII women’s basketball team.
Kirkman was named to the PacWest All Academic Team every year since freshman year at APU. She is currently a 2023-2024 co-team captain this season. Her team have been PacWest Champions every year since her freshman year. The team also had an NCAA DII Elite Eight appearance her freshman year at APU.
She scored a career high 27 points this season and made a game winning three pointer vs. college rival Biola University.
Kirkman also shines academically by being involved as a board member of the Kinesiology Honors Society at APU, where above a 3.5 GPA is required.
Indigenous core values define who aspiring student athletes are and where they’re going. Kirkman said, “I have learned and experienced so much from my family, culture, and traditions, I find a big part of my identity in being Acoma. My heritage has a great impact on my core values in life because our ways are very deeply rooted in family and community. I have a really big family who has provided such a solid support system throughout my life. I am very close to all of my family which brings so many memories, meaning, and deep connections to life.”
“Visiting everyone back home in New Mexico is something I absolutely love doing. It gets busy being a collegiate student athlete but no matter how long I am away from home, everyone makes it feel like I never left. Throughout my life, I’ve been able to experience, learn from, and be a part of the numerous annual cultural ceremonies and gatherings held at Acoma,” added Kirkman.
“Acoma Sky City is actually the oldest continually inhabited community in North America and we still uphold our traditions to this day,” said Kirkman. “That is something that I believe is truly beautiful, to continually preserve our tradition that is so deeply rooted in the land and its people. It shows the unity and resilience of the people of Acoma.”
“To come from such a rich and beautiful culture is truly a blessing. Both culture and family have taught me valuable lessons and shown me qualities I know cannot be found anywhere else. Whether it is the optimistic and easy-going spirits of my cousins, the toughness and compassion in my aunties and uncles, the determination and hard work of my three brothers, the deep love and understanding from my parents, or the wisdom and strength of grandparents, my family’s attributes and traditions are what I hold true in my heart,” added Kirkman.
“I am so proud of where I come from, who I am, and being able to share that with others,” said Kirkman. “Moving forward, I hope to be able to give back to my community as much as they have given me. I want to be a part of that continuous journey of preserving our culture. And I hope I’ve embodied the resilience of the Acoma people and am making my family proud.”
Challenges and overcoming obstacles is a part of an empowered journey of college student athletes. Kirkman talked about playing at the college level. She said, “One of the biggest challenges I overcame to be where I’m at today is going through the process of trying to play Division II basketball. Ever since seventh grade, it was my goal to play Division II basketball and earn a scholarship to cover the costs of school. I worked relentlessly everyday throughout high school with that end goal in mind, trying to become the best basketball player and student I could be. It was a long journey but it became possible with the support of my family, coaches, teammates, friends, and many others.”
“Now, with it being my fourth year in college and having one more year of eligibility, I am still working to become the best basketball player, student, and person I can be,” said Kirkman. “But one challenge I do face is really missing home and my family. Living in California, away from everything I’ve known has definitely taught me a lot about what it takes to be on my own. It gets lonely at times but that makes me even more grateful for the times I do get with family.”
TJ Hardeman is the head women’s basketball coach at Azusa Pacific University. Hardeman recruited Amayah to APU. He said, “I went to watch Amayah play in a high school tournament in Phoenix. She was impressive with her play but one thing that really surprised me was the second day of the tournament, her and her mom had baked all these treats and sent me home loaded with goodies. I knew then that Amayah was the perfect person to keep the family atmosphere alive and growing at APU. Her and her family have continued to embrace the entire program and foster that family feeling.”
“That is one of my biggest motivators to stay strong and consistently work hard. I know I have a lot of people counting on me and supporting me. I want to make them proud and be able to come back home to tell everyone about the amazing experiences of being a collegiate student athlete,” added Kirkman.
Mentors guide student athletes on their empowered journey through their academic and athletic experiences. “A key mentor I had throughout high school and someone I look up to even now is Mikayla Pivec,” said Kirkman. “Mikayla Pivec played basketball for Oregon State University and is now playing professional basketball overseas. Throughout high school, she would give me advice about what it was like playing collegiate basketball and how to keep life and basketball balanced.”
“We kept in touch, and even got in a basketball workout together. I caught a few of her games in her time at OSU and now stay up to date with her professional basketball career through social media. She definitely showed me what it takes to compete at a high level and continues to inspire me,” added Amayah.
“I went to high school with Amayah’s older brothers Mikao and Mikey and played basketball at the same high school Amayah attended,” said Mikayla Pivec. “At my time at Lynnwood High School, our team had a lot of success winning a state championship in 2015 and taking third place in 2014 and 2016.”
“I got the opportunity play basketball at Oregon State, was drafted 25th overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft, and currently play professional basketball overseas in Spain,” added Pivec.
Pivec continued to talk about her mentor relationship with Kirkman. She said, “I have had the privilege to learn from some amazing mentors and happy I could be that for Amayah. As Amayah has progressed through middle school to high school and now on to college, we have been in contact from afar via phone and text. Periodically we will check in with each other to see how life is going and she how basketball is feeling.”
“It’s been awesome seeing her get better and better and remain consistent through obstacles in her basketball journey. She is a warrior and I am proud of the person she has become. Yes, she is a great athlete, but she inspires me in the way she treats others and approaches life,” added Pivec.
Check out Amaya Kirkman’s team bio here: https://athletics.apu.edu/sports/womens-basketball/roster/amayah-kirkman/16399
Photo Credit: Kenneth Spainhour
