NUKOLI‘I — Lael Bukoski was a dual winner Sunday when the Kauai County Farm Bureau presented more than $5,000 in scholarships at its annual meeting at the Aqua Kauai Beach Resort.
Lael, a high school senior studying agriculture, was the recipient of the Kauai County Farm Bureau scholarship for $1,000, and the recipient of another $1,000 from the Hawaii Tropical Flowers &Foliage Association.
Dottie Yadao, representing the Hawaii Tropical Flowers &Foliage Association, said she encourages more students to look into the HTFF scholarships to further their post-high school work.
Due to work at college, Billie Ann Bukoski and Kira Blackstad-Pimental, each receiving $1,000 were not able to attend the presentation where Billie’s mom accepted her award.
Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama, of a farm family, is aiming for a PhD in Education and will use her award toward that end.
Christina Martiney, doing graduate studies work at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, was awarded a scholarship for her work in agriculture.
Rayven Orsatelli was presented a special $500 award for being selected to the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. She leaves for the mainland later this week and hopes to use the information she learns to help spread awareness about agriculture and motivate young people to look at agriculture when she returns.
The scholarships are derived in part from the Kauai County Farm Bureau initiatives on the island, including the Kauai Community Market, a partnership with the Kauai Community College, the Kauai Culinary Market, a partnership with The Shops at Kukuiula, the spring Garden Fair, the Tropical Agriculture and Environment Awareness Day in collaboration with the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, and the Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair which will celebrate its 50th anniversary when it opens Aug. 16 at Vidinha Stadium for a four-day run.
The fair is the biggest fundraising arm for the Kauai County Farm Bureau.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
