Kevin ‘Pato’ Norville is the latest member of Morne Stars Athletics Club to head to the United States on a sports scholarship.

Pato will be following in the footsteps of fellow Morne Stars including Asha Louis, Windy Augustin, Mandela Clifford, Leander Ernest, Jeremiah James, Burke Leonce and Fabian Felix, all of whom have completed their university degrees at universities and colleges in the United States.

The 20-year-old long jumper and triple jumper will be taking up studies at Minnesota State University Moorhead for the fall semester. An alumnus of St Mary’s College, he will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training, and will join the Dragons men’s track and field team.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” said Pato, a resident of Gros Islet. “I just want to say thanks to my coach Dane Magloire who invested a great deal of time and effort in me, and to Morne Stars Athletics Club which has been my club since i first started track and field.”

Initially, Pato will be om a partial scholarship, which he is hoping to parlay into a full ride by his sophomore year. In the coming months, Morne Stars is hoping to get several more bright and talented youngsters into schools in the United States.

Minnesota State University Moorhead is an opportunity-rich learning community, offering 76 majors and more than 170 emphases, along with 125+ student organisations, laying the foundation for a robust intellectual community and an active student life.

The school’s sports teams compete in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA Division II), in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The experienced Darren Schneider is heading into his third year as Dragons’ head coach.

The school’s main track and field facility is the Ron Masanz Track.