PUHI — Two girls with different dreams recently received a little help from the Navy League Council. Rachel Wright and Caralyn Broyles, both graduating seniors from Waimea High School, were awarded scholarships at the Navy League’s luncheon at the Fine
PUHI — Two girls with different dreams recently received a little help from the Navy League Council.
Rachel Wright and Caralyn Broyles, both graduating seniors from Waimea High School, were awarded scholarships at the Navy League’s luncheon at the Fine Dining program at Kaua‘i Community College last week.
Wright and Broyles are the runner-up and first place winner of an essay contest sponsored by the Navy League Council. Wright earned a $1,000 scholarship while Broyles pocketed a $1,500 scholarship for their efforts.
“These girls, along with many other students, entered the Navy League of the United States Kaua‘i Council’s annual Scholarship Essay contest and they were judged to be the winners,” said Gini Stoddard, the Navy League’s Scholarship chair, in presenting the awards.
Wright says she is the fifth child in a family of seven. Growing up in Kekaha, Wright has always had her sights set on attending Brigham Young University where four of her siblings are currently enrolled.
“She carries a 4.053 cumulative grade point average while actively participating in the Leo Club, National Honor Society, the Adopt-a-Highway organization, the Spanish Club, Science Explorations Club, the Waimea High School Marching Band and the Waimea High School Jr. ROTC,” Stoddard said. “She has held offices in most of these organizations, rising to be the Drum Major of the band and is currently the Battalion Staff S-2 Security Officer.”
Wright takes the experience of having taught fourth grade students through a program called Bettering Relations Among Today’s Students when she gets to BYU where she plans to major in Elementary Education.
But she won’t stop at just receiving her Bachelors degree, Stoddard said. She plans to get her Master’s Degree in elementary education and return to Kaua‘i where she hopes to teach at the school she grew up in — Kekaha School.
“Broyles’ athletic achievements read like a ‘Who’s Who’ in sports,” Stoddard said, describing the Waimea senior who currently has a cumulative grade point average of 4.028.
The graduating senior has been a participant in track and field where Waimea coach Dave Walker said she plans to participate in the steeplechase at the Naval Academy, cross country where she excelled, usually placing first, the Waimea High School swim team where she swam as a team member as well as an individual. Broyles is also the Junior Lifeguards Kaua‘i island champion in the individual 1,000 meter run and the Individual Beach Flags where she edged out Kaua‘i High School’s Carly Matsumoto in an exciting final run.
Broyles also holds a purple/blue belt in Kenpo Karate and a host of other Waimea High School Jr. ROTC achievements including being part of the Rifle Drill Team, the Saber Drill Team, Honor Guard and Color Guard. In the 2007-08 year, Broyles placed first in the Cadet Challenge-Female for Waimea High School.
During her tenure at Waimea High School, Broyles has been listed on the Principal’s List from 2005-2008 and has had perfect attendance during this time period.
Awards she pulled in while in high school include the JROTC Superior Junior Cadet, JROTC Special Forces Associates Award of Excellence, the JROTC DAR Award. In 2007, Broyles was the first place winner of the History Day Award and the Naval Academy Summer Seminar Iron Michelle Award and the Air Force Academy’s Summer Seminar Most Physically Fit Female Award.
Outside of this Broyles has been listed in the National Honor Society from 2006-09 and the Spanish Honor Society where she has worked with children in the Boys & Girls Club, Waimea Clubhouse, learn Spanish.
Additionally, she joins Wright as an active member of the Adopt-a-Highway and the Leo Club as well as the Bible Club.
She has volunteered in numerous community organizations and her winning essay was all about the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland where she has been nominated to by one of Hawai‘i’s Congressional delegation.
The soft-spoken senior whose petite figure belies her athletic prowess, said it was a visit to see the Blue Angels with her father that firmed up her drive to attend the Naval Academy — the final glue being when she got to sit in the cockpit of a plane.
“There is no greater honor than to be a naval officer,” Broyles said, noting that she plans on a career with the United States Navy following her tour at the Naval Academy where her friend Kelly Joyce, another Waimea High School graduate, is currently enrolled.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
