By Amanda Scurlock for Los Angeles Sentinel
Originally published June 10, 2026
San Pedro junior Makayla Oke has made strong contributions as a student, leader and athlete. She is a member of the National Honor Society with a 4.53 GPA.
Oke competes with the Pirates track and field team, primarily in sprints, hurdles, relays, and the long jump. In 2025, Oke became the Marine League Champion in the 300m hurdles. She ran a 56.06-second time in the final.
Oke was determined to master hurdling, although she initially struggled with learning the technique.
“I started staying after school every single day for practice,” she said. “I worked on my technique every single week. Every meet that we had, I would try to get my entries into where I can practice doing the hurdles and I kind of fell in love with that event.”
Last season, Oke competed in the sprint medley relay 800m. She helped her squad place second in the West Coast High School Track and Field Invitational.
Along with being a member of the dance team, Oke started the Stomp N’ Shake spirit squad at San Pedro. She noted how the school did not have a dance squad that catered to African American culture.
“Me and a couple of my other friends on dance, we’d always see stomp and shake cheer at other schools around the area,” Oke said. “We wanted to introduce that to our school.”
Although she is in the 11th grade, Oke is set to graduate this year while taking community college courses.
Oke is the president of the Black Student Union at San Pedro and is a member of the ASB. With the BSU, Oke hosted a Kente Cloth graduation ceremony and events during Black History Month.
“I think what my peers saw in me, probably my creativity and my leadership because even when I was in my first few years of coming to San Pedro, I was already helping out,” Oke said. “We do an annual talent show. We make sign-ups for everyone … we buy gifts and prizes for our winners.”
Outside of her obligations to San Pedro, Oke works for STEM From Dance. She teaches youth choreography and engineering. She also volunteers to tutor math at the Boys and Girls’ Club.
Oke earned a $10,000 scholarship from the Rotary Club of Los Angeles. She also earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of California, Irvine. Oke plans to major in business administration.
“I hope to do something that involves business, maybe math or finance,” Oke said. “I hope to start my own organization because with nonprofits, it’s been a great experience for me.”
