NAWILIWILI — Shay Orial of Kaua‘i High School, Carla Tuzon of Kapa‘a High School and Angelica Tran of Waimea High School were presented $2,000 scholarships each from the General Eric K. and Patricia Shinseki Scholarship Fund Thursday during a luncheon honoring the three recipients at JJ’s Broiler in the Anchor Cove Shopping Center.
Debra Lindsey, principal of Koloa Elementary School, was also honored for earning the Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award earlier this year. The award is presented by the Public Schools of Hawai‘i Foundation.
Lynn McCrory, a trustee of the Public Schools of Hawai‘i Foundation, was joined by William Arakaki, the state Department of Education Kaua‘i Complex Area superintendent, Daniel Hamada, principal of Kapa‘a High School, Nely Caberto, principal of Waimea High School, and Penny Vess of Kaua‘i High School in making the presentation to the graduating high school seniors.
“This is a very special scholarship,” Arakaki told the seniors. “It comes from a Kaua‘i person who went through the public schools, advancing through West Point and becoming a four-star general. His wife Patricia is a graduate of Waimea High School and taught biology at Kaua‘i High School.”
Arakaki said the presentation of scholarships to the three recipients represents Shinseki’s vision and passion of “anyone can do it.”
Arakaki said he came to Kaua‘i 23 years ago from O‘ahu, where they have 20-plus high schools, but over the years has come to realize Kaua‘i’s students can compete with the rest of the state in any field.
Lindsey told the graduates to be unafraid of setting high goals and not let obstacles get in the way of getting to their goal.
“Live your dream. Live ethically as Daniel Hamada said,” Lindsey said. “You are role models for your siblings, your neighbors and your community. Make Kaua‘i proud.”
The Shinseki fund, which was established in 2003 in the name of the Shinseki family, is held by the Public Schools of Hawai‘i Foundation.
Shinseki, a graduate of Kaua‘i High, currently serves as the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
