For the sixth year, Keaukaha General Store and Hawaii Rise Foundation have provided scholarships to Big Island youth. This year they were able to give 17 scholarships for higher education or training.
The scholarships are all different, sponsored by a variety of residents and community members, each one asking a different question and inspired by something personal.
Congratulations to the following 2022 scholarship recipients.
— Jadelyn Faith Villegas, Ho‘opuakea Scholarship. Villegas will be attending University of Nevada, Las Vegas, majoring in biological sciences.
— Nevaeh Silva, Rachel Leilani Gangwes Scholarship. Silva will be attending Grand Canyon University with the goal of becoming a nurse.
— Sassie Agres, The Jan Gordon Fisher Scholarship. Agres is attending Hawaii Community College, pursuing a career in business.
— Matthew Labasan, Daelyn DeLuz and Alyssia Weisenbauer, Holomua Scholarships. Labasan will be attending University of Massachusetts Amherst, majoring in engineering. DeLuz will be attending Grand Canyon University , majoring in entrepreneurial studies. Weisenbauer will be attending Harvard University with the goal of being a professional artist or art historian.
— Raven Domingo, Analani Santos and Holli Jae Macanas, Aloha Will Save the World Scholarships. Domingo will be attending La Salle University and who would like to return home one day and advocate for mental health. Santos will be attending University of Hawaii at Hilo with goals of one day becoming an environmental lawyer to protect her native land. Macanas will be attending University of Hawaii at Manoa with the goal of becoming a social worker to assist in mental health.
— Tyler Tanaka and Ashley Lavarias, Onipa‘a Scholarships. Tyler will be attending Pacific Lutheran University, pursuing a degree in nursing with the goal of becoming a nurse to help his community. Ashley will be attending Utah Tech University with the goal of becoming an RN with a focus in the geriatric field.
— Miya Yanagisawa and Bruin Yomono, Na‘au Ho‘omaika‘i Scholarships. Yanagisawa will be attending San Diego State University with the goal of pursuing a marketing career and using marketing skills to promote kindness. Yomono will be attending the University of Washington with the goal of becoming a mechanical engineer.
— Nevaeh Silva, Brooklyn Cann, Poliahu Peleiholani-Blankenfeld and Isabella Aguinaldo, Kokua Keiki Sports Scholarships.
The Kokua Keiki scholarships help to pay for registration fees, sports equipment and uniforms and will be available throughout the year.