The National Letter of Intent ceremony takes place twice a school year at Oak Park High School: once in fall, and once in spring. On Nov. 16, the National Letter of Intent ceremony took place in the Oak Park High School gym. Those present included Athletic Director Tim Chevalier, various coaches, and the friends and families of senior Division I signees Lucy Heine-Van Fossen and Makayla Dimond. 

A National Letter of Intent is signed by a college-bound student-athlete who agrees to commit to an NCAA Division I or II institution, in exchange for the institution’s promise, in writing, to provide athletics financial aid for the entire academic year.

Heine-Van Fossen signed with Oregon State University for rowing. 

“A lot of people supported me through this whole thing,” Heine-Van Fossen said. “It was so sweet. The entire [girls] basketball team came here for me.”

Dimond signed with Boise State for beach volleyball.

“I’m beyond stoked to go to Boise State to further my academic and athletic career playing beach volleyball!” Dimond said. “I’m so thankful for my friends, family, and teachers who were there for me.”

By signing an NLI, the student-athlete effectively ends their recruiting process, as a recruiting ban goes into effect and the student may no longer be scouted by any other college.

“Heine-Van Fossen and Dimond are tremendous athletes and great role models,” Chevalier said. “They are excellent ambassadors of OPHS and our community. We are very, very proud of them.”