Amber Kolpakas

Amber Kolpakas has led the Golden Eagles on the volleyball court since she was in eighth grade. “I had always been interested in volleyball,” Kolpakas said. “I joined my school’s team in sixth grade and was asked to play JV the next year. By the end of seventh grade, I was pulled up to varsity for sectionals.”

The following year, even though she was still in eighth grade, Kolpakas led Galway to a state championship appearance while averaging 15 kills in her postseason matches. It was just the beginning of a stellar career on the court. Kolpakas went on to be a three-time First Team All-State selection in volleyball with two league MVPs and Offensive MVPs. She selected to the Section 2 First Team four times and was selected to the Albany Times Union Section 2 All-Star team, the only player selected from a small school. Kolpakas ended her career with two All-State First Team selections along with a Second Team selection and three appearances on the New York State All-Tournament Team. She set the Galway record with 1,578 career kills and added 1,028 career digs.

“In all my years, I have known other students with talents equivalent to Amber’s. However, most of them lacked her good nature and humility, and even fewer demonstrated the genuine intellectual curiosity that Amber has exhibited over and over,” said Galway Athletic Director and Volleyball coach Michael Glenn. “It’s a curiosity that is often accompanied by her excitement or enthusiasm for an idea, an experiment or the lead role in a challenging operatic performance.”

It was curiosity that would lead Kolpakas to take up basketball during her junior year. She says she always wanted to play, and finally was able do when she got her driver’s license and was able to drive herself to practice.

“It was hard,” Kolpakas said of her early basketball career. “I wasn’t particularly good at first. But I kept working to get better every day.”  Her hard work paid off and by the end of her first season, she was part of the starting five. She began her senior year being chosen as the team captain and went on to lead the Golden Eagles in rebounds and blocks. As team captain, Kolpakas encouraged the team on and off the court including organizing a gift basket for a teammate who missed a few weeks due to an illness.

 “Amber’s height and athletic ability led her to be a good rebounder,” said Galway Basketball Coach Phillip Meashaw. “Amber had the courage and motivation to attempt a new sport. Her attitude was always positive and she knew she had a lot to learn and a short period of time to do it.”

That positivity was also evident on the diamond. Kolpakas represented Galway as a three-time section 2 all-star and was named the league MVP. But her positivity went beyond the spring seasons. Kolpakas has been a part of a local softball camp helping young players in her area to hone their skills.

“I’ve played softball since I was eight years old,” Kolpakas said. “A lot of these girls have dreams of being good and playing here in the future. They look up to me and it’s rewarding to help them.”

In addition to being a three-sport standout at Galway, Kolpakas also exceled in the classroom as she ranked ninth in the class of 2024. She also spent her spare time making personal hygiene packages for a backpack program and making blankets for a dog shelter. She also assisted a teacher by organizing musical performances for a service project.

“I feel she is a wonderful role model for other young women”, Meashaw said. “I am proud to have coached her.”

“Receiving this award is such an amazing honor for me and I am so grateful for the recognition,” Kolpakas said. “I feel like it helps bring attention to our small school and show that there are so many amazing athletes out there. I definitely couldn’t have done it without the support from my parents or coaches, but I am so grateful for them believing in me and giving me that support.”