Applications for 2024 Wayne “Big Dog” Joseph Scholarship — which will award four Big Island student athletes $1,500 each — are now open online.
To be eligible, students must be a graduating senior attending a two or four year college, have a GPA of at least 2.5 and have been a runner on a cross country or track team during high school. Volunteer activities and community service are also important factors, as well as financial need.
Applicants must complete an online application and submit it by the deadline of April 7.
To be selected means that the student athlete has demonstrated not only a willingness to make the sacrifices necessary to excel in his or her running activities, but they also strive toward excellence in all aspects of school and community endeavors.
The scholarship fund is exclusively for Big Island residents, to assist students with college expenses and to help pursue their goals of a higher education.
This is the 19th year that this scholarship has been in existence. Since its inception, it has given over $100,00.00 in awards.
Scholarship applications are now available at rarkin24@hotmail.com.
Wayne “Big Dog” Joseph was a teacher, cross country and track coach, mentor and runner for more than twenty years. He passed away in 2013 but his legacy lives on. His wish was to help high school runners in their pursuit of a college degree.
Wayne always said, “Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to see young people enjoying life through sports participation.”
He was happy to watch the progression of athletes entering into cross country and track and field programs at the school level.
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ALL AWARDEES
2006: Stefano Barbis (Hilo HS), Malia Williams (Hilo HS)
2007: Eamon Harrity (Konawaena HS), Sarah Chitwood (Hilo HS ), Keoni Ucker (Christian Liberty)
2008: Nick Hagemann (Keaau HS), Jamilia Epping (Keaau HS), Nick Ucker (Christian Liberty)
2009: Bryce Harada (Waiakea HS), Amy Eriksson (Keaau HS), Kaitlyn Yamamoto (KS-Hawai‘i)
2010: Sai Weiss (Hilo HS), Kaitlyn Chock (Waiakea HS)
2011: Rogelio Barroga (Keaau HS), Hana Scully (HPA)
2012: Chasye Moniz (Honoka‘a HS), Deann Nishimura-Thornton (Keaau HS), Kelsey Kobayashi (Waiakea HS)
2013: Talon Ota (Keaau HS), Kaylee Rapoza (Hilo HS)
2014: Anthony Connors (Honokaa HS), Clara Sheffield (Christian Liberty), Charlie Belmes (Keaau HS), Carmen Gason-Shumway (Hilo HS)
2015: Conrad Salboro (KS-Hawai‘i), Crystal Baysa (KS-Hawai‘i), Mark Pacris (Waiakea HS), Haylay Barcia (Waiakea HS)
2016: Tre Evans-Dumaran (KS-Hawai‘i), Amelia Warnock (Hilo HS), Kai Garson-Shumay (Hilo HS), Brooke Calderon (Waiakea HS)
2017: Rylie Cablace (Waiakea HS), Jodi Go (Waiakea HS), Slater Inouye (Waiakea HS), Narizza Saladino (Keaau HS), Shawn Kojima (Waiakea HS), Chayna Yoshida (Keaau HS)
2018: Calib Rogers (Hilo HS), Madison Pratt (Keaau HS), Ilan Naibryf (HPA), Mykelah Ojano-Daly (Waiakea HS)
2019: Eric Cabais-Fernandez (Waiakea HS), Sam Merrick (Hilo HS), Josiah Rodrigues (Honokaa HS), Madison Directo (Keaau HS)
2020: Ella Johnson (Waiakea HS), Catherine Chow (Keaau HS), Lilah Shapiro (Waiakea HS), Leilani Stone (Keaau HS)
2021: Carlos Masuko (KS-Hawai‘i), Gary Aquino (Keaau HS), Alec Ankrum (Kealakehe HS), Cassidy Denault (Waiakea HS)
2022: Kederang Ueda (Waiakea HS), Matthew Labasan (Waiakea HS), Teryn Tominaga (Waiakea HS), Jordan Perry (HPA)
2023: Gianna Chinen (KS-Hawai‘i), Torrance Satta-Ellis (Konawaena HS), Landon Yanagisawa (Waiakea HS), Cameron Cornforth (Kealakehe HS), Catherine Nishida (Keaau HS)