Five Big Island high school seniors were among 47 students statewide who shared more than $250,000 in scholarship awards from the Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation. ADVERTISING Five Big Island high school seniors were among 47 students statewide who shared more
Five Big Island high school seniors were among 47 students statewide who shared more than $250,000 in scholarship awards from the Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation.
There were 47 $5,000 scholarships and two $10,000 awards. All five Rotary clubs on the east side of Hawaii Island received a $5,000 scholarship for selected students.
The Big Island awardees, their schools and sponsoring clubs are:
• Yukio Ishii, Kamehameha School-Hawaii, Rotary Club of Volcano.
• Jasmine Smeraglia, Hilo High School, Rotary Club of South Hilo.
• Jyselle Arruda, Hilo High School, Rotary Club of Hilo Bay.
• Mary Noble, Pahoa High School, Rotary, Club of Pahoa Sunset.
• Amber Nagata, Waiakea High School, Rotary Club of Hilo.
Scholarship funds are derived from gifts and investment income from Hawaii Rotarians and the Harry &Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting college scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors in Hawaii. These students will be attending a four-year university or college in Hawaii or on the mainland.
Each local Rotary club reviewed applications and interviewed students from their area to be recommended for the $5,000 scholarship.
“Our committee was honored to have so many worthy applicants,” said East Hawaii area chairwoman Helen Shirota-Benevides. “They were all outstanding students and they were excellent representatives of youth from our area.”
