Alumni Success Story Sharing - Luka Damjanac

Today we display the success story of our VIS Alumni Luka Damjanac, a proud graduate of VIS Class of 2023, and his journey from playing sports during lunchtime with his friends to excelling in collegiate basketball, an example of  dedication and hard work, built on a solid foundation during Luka’s time at VIS. 

After graduating from VIS, Luka moved to the United States to pursue his main passions: basketball and academics. After spending a post-graduate year in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, Luka is currently  living his dream as a student-athlete at the University of Massachusetts (UMASS), where he competes in NCAA Division 1 basketball. Luka attributes a lot of his success to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. “VIS helped me set up a foundation on which I could fit into the American educational system well,” Luka stated, when speaking about the challenges that sometimes foreign students are facing when applying for the U.S. Universities. His strong sport credentials, such as being part of the Bosnia & Herzegovina U18 National Team, competing at the FIBA U18 European Championships or winning a gold medal at the U16 Austrian Championships, spoke for him and ensured his acceptance into UMASS.

“Luka Damjanac is a 6 '10" physical big man who grew up with the game and has been well-coached in his home country to understand how to play basketball inside and out," stated head coach Frank Martin while welcoming  Luka as part of his 2023 recruiting class at UMASS. “I plan to help our team win a lot of games, as many games as possible and to hopefully compete for a championship,” Luka replied confidently, while continuing “I just want to give it all out there and play my hardest.” Luka Damjanac made his U.S. debut playing a memorable first game against Northfield Mount Hermon in November 2023.

Having spent eight years at VIS, from Grade 5 through Grade 12, Luka looks back fondly on his time at school. “My favorite memory is spending lunchtimes playing football with all of my friends”. “VIS also  helped me build a future and the opportunity to have options of different professions, whether it is professional sports or a career in finance or management,” Luka continued, while acknowledging that the school played an important role in shaping his future career, while supporting both his academic pursuits and in sports.

As Luka continues to excel on the basketball court, he offers this advice to current VIS students: “Enjoy your time at VIS. Even though there might be tough times at the school, it is truly special to be part of such a community and just to be in high school in general. You never know how good you have it until it’s over.”

Luka’s journey from VIS to the NCAA is an inspiring success story that underscores the importance of seizing opportunities and making the most of the support systems around you. His story will undoubtedly inspire current and future VIS students to pursue their passions with the same dedication and enthusiasm.