HAMK’s new sponsored athletes are multi-talented individuals – karate, freestyle skiing, basketball, floorball, golf and athletics
Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) has signed sponsorship agreements with seven students who pursue their sports careers with great ambition. The chosen athletes are highly skilled in their respective fields. In addition, HAMK granted scholarships to 11 other sporty students.
HAMK supports its students who are committed to sports, helping them combine sporting careers with progressing higher education studies. The selected students receive a €1,000 one-year agreement, either directly or via their club.
This time, there were so many strong applicants that seven HAMK athletes were chosen for sponsorship. This is the fifth time sponsored athletes have been selected.
You can follow their lives as student-athletes not only on their own social media channels but also on HAMK’s social media. There will also be podcast episodes where the students talk about their sporting careers.
Selected students, their sporting backgrounds and fields of study:
Helena Leveelahti, athletics, agrology
Helena Leveelahti is an athlete specialising in discus throw. She has won several Finnish Championship medals both indoors and outdoors. Helena has represented Finland twice at the adult European Championships and last season competed in the European team event. Her main goal is the summer European Championships in Birmingham, with reaching the final being her brightest ambition.
Joona Kangas, freestyle skiing, International Business
Joona represented Finland’s national team in ski slopestyle from 2012 to 2019. He became junior world champion in 2014. Joona has taken part in numerous adult World Championships and the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018. He finished fourth at the X Games in the USA in 2023 and won the first Jib League tour. Nowadays, Joona participates in many invitational events and produces skiing videos. For example, in March he was part of the Jib League competition, which has quickly become one of Europe’s most prominent alternative freestyle events.
Joona Tuomala, basketball, Information and Communications Technology
Joona plays professional basketball for KTP-Basket. This season is his sixth in the Finnish Korisliiga, and in autumn Joona started ICT studies at HAMK. His sporting goal is to develop into the best possible athlete, and each year his career has progressed positively.
Lotta Purhonen, floorball, Business Administration
Lotta is a 22-year-old floorball player for Classic. She started playing floorball nine years ago, and her immediate aim is to win her second Finnish Championship in a row. Lotta’s long-term goal is to play in the women’s national team home tournament in 2027.
Mikko Mäkipää, athletics, Computer Applications
Mikko is a sprinter representing Ikaalisten Urheilijat. He has competed in numerous youth Finnish Championships, consistently racing against the country’s fastest peers and ranking around the top ten. He has also experienced the finals in Finnish Championship relays. Mikko is approaching his prime as a sprinter, sees himself continuing to develop, and aims to reach the top in Finland.
Niko Mantere, karate, Information and Communications Technology
Niko, from Hämeenlinna, is a dedicated karateka. He is part of Finland’s national team A-group and aims for the world elite. Niko has represented Finland in several major competitions (World, European, and Nordic Championships). In his category, Niko has ranked as high as 31st in the world. He also competes at the highest series level in the Premier League. Niko has won several Finnish Championships.
Veera Gynther, golf, Business Administration
Veera is a golfer who started playing at age nine and began competing at ten. The 2025 season was her best so far: Veera won the Finnish match play championship for under-21s and a Finnish Junior Tour event. She also ranked T5 in women’s match play and T9 in the Finnish Amateur Championship, finishing fourth in the national girls’ junior ranking. This season, Veera aims to continue developing as a competitive golfer, both in terms of play and competition. Her sights are set on the Finnish Championship, victories in Finnish Junior Tour events, and breaking into the top three among Finnish junior girls.
Other scholarships
Additionally, we awarded €200 scholarships to as many as 11 student-athletes:
- Keea Sarkkinen, cheerleading,Mechanical Engineering
- Venla Mäki, ratsastus, Nursing
- Sofia Lappalainen, salibandy, Nursing
- Matti Honkanen, wakeboard, Sustainable Forest Management
- Eena Rintamäki, pesäpallo, Smart and Sustainable Design
- Lauri Kesti, jalkapallo, International Business
- Erika Välkkynen, pikajuoksu, Business Administration
- Eino Kahilaluoma, salibandy, Traffic and Transportation Management
- Hanna Reinola, motocross, Business Administration
- Eini Nieminen, wellness fitness, Business Administration
- Eemeli Toivonen, autourheilu,Traffic and Transportation Management
HAMK is part of Urheiluakatemia Tavastia, which provides tailored support for ambitious student-athletes to help them balance studies and sport.
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