Corrected and updated Aug. 11, 2023
Class of 2023 Bromfield graduate Julia Kimball has been recognized for her excellence on and off the soccer field and in the classroom. Nominated by her coach, Hussein Issa, Kimball has been selected as one of four Massachusetts recipients of the 2022-23 High School Scholar All-America Award by the United States Soccer Coaches Association.
To qualify, a nominee must pass several rounds of evaluation by the United States Soccer Coaches board. Recipients are selected based on their achievements in school and on the soccer field during their high school careers. “In over 30 years of my high school coaching career, I have never seen a transcript like Julia’s,” Issa said in a phone conversation.
“I think she deserves this award because of the amount of effort that she puts in. On and off the soccer field she gives everything her all, and I think that is a very big character trait and it deserves to be recognized,” teammate and rising sophomore Sabine Moran said.
Graduating with a 4.26 GPA, Kimball accumulated many honors during her time at the Bromfield School. She was elected to four different National Honor Societies: National, Science, Spanish, and Tri-M. She also earned the Global Competency Certificate, Spanish Seal of Biliteracy, and she was a Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association student ambassador. Further achievements were the Citizen Scholar Book Award, Society of Women Engineers Certificate of Merit, and the Midland-Wachusett Academic Achievement Award.
Julia Kimball (#9) guards the goal in a game against Nashoba last fall. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Outside the classroom, Kimball further explored her interests through volunteering, playing three sports (soccer, basketball, and lacrosse), becoming an emergency medical responder, singing in Bromfield’s concert choir, and exploring her leadership skills in student council, as a yearbook editor, and a founder of the Monarch project, which donates mental awareness and advocacy books to selected locations.
Affectionately known as “Jungle Girl” by her teammates because of her volunteer efforts in Costa Rica during her senior summer, Kimball expanded her impressive reputation on the soccer field as well. Throughout her high school career she has been given multiple soccer honors such as Mid-Wach First Team All Star, CMASS All Star, All State, Academic Team Award, and an honorable mention in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette for Hometown Super Team.
A risk-taker and leader
“She is an incredible student-athlete on and off the field. I had the pleasure of coaching her for one season, but she left a big impression on me,” Issa said. “For her size, she plays big. She is not the biggest player, not the tallest, but she is quick and very, very smart. She was a risk-taker.”
As a leader on the field and co-captain her senior year, Kimball mentored the team’s underclassmen. Rising sophomore Joana Juliano said of her: “Julia has helped me as a player, being encouraging and helping me gain confidence throughout the game, especially as a starting freshman. When things in the game weren’t good, instead of pushing people down she would lift us all up and encourage us.”
Praised by her teammates, Kimball leaves a lasting impact on the team. “On the field, she will lead the team and lift everyone’s spirits,” said rising senior Kennedy Dylewicz. “She works hard until she has nothing left and then does more. She undoubtedly deserved this just because of who she is,” Dylewicz added.
Editor’s note: This article has been corrected and updated. Julia Kimball is a 2023 Bromfield graduate, not 2022.
