Melani Francis Kirk
Women's Basketball Player
Inducted in 2003

Melani Francis Kirk was an outstanding basketball player for the Wolverines from 1990 to 1992. A powerful 6-1 center, she averaged 15.5 points per game during her two years at UVSC, and finished second on the College's all-time scoring list. She was also a strong rebounder, averaging 9.0 boards per game. She is seventh on UVSC's all-time rebounding list.

Melani earned All-Conference honors in 1991 and again in 1992. She also garnered NJCAA and Kodak All-America honors in 1992. The Wolverines won 55 games and lost only six during her two years, going 29-3 in 1990-91 and 26-3 in 1991-92. Both teams won SWAC titles. The 1990-91 team also won the Region title and made the final eight at nationals.

Before coming to UVSC, Melani was a local prep star at Mountain View High. She lettered in track, volleyball,and basketball. She was All-Region and All-State in track and basketball, and was the Region MVP in basketball.

After leaving UVSC, Melani went to Arizona State University, where she played for two more years. She scored 41 points in one game, and was named the PAC-10 Player of the Week. She earned a bachelor's degree from ASU in secondary education, with an emphasis in physical education. She also completed her K-6 Classroom Certification, and went on to complete a master's degree in educational leadership.

Melani has taught school in the elementary setting for the past several years, and currently teaches sixth grade at Franklin Northeast in Mesa, Arizona. She and her husband, Wayne Kirk, live in Mesa. They have two children (Kiley and Kaden), with another baby boy on the way. Wayne is a school teacher at Power Middle School in Mesa. He has a bachelor's degree in physical education from Western Oregon University.