LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High School Foundation Wednesday announced 18 scholarship recipients who will share $97,500.
“We have scholarships for the community college and vocational trades school, and the four-year college and universities,” said Kaua‘i HS Foundation board member Leland Tottori.
“We only had three applicants for the community college, so they all received scholarships. We also expanded the number of grants to those applying in the four-year-college category. Actually, to encourage future applicants, every student who applied received something.”
Holly Taguma is planning on attending Kapi‘olani Community College on O‘ahu with a major in culinary arts. Dannicah Ganir and Blaze Batoon are both registered to start at Kaua‘i Community College. Ganir is looking at a nursing degree, and Batoon will focus on automotive technology.
Fifteen Red Raider seniors are planning on attending four-year college or universities. They include Aiden S. Gregerson, Kai Mottley, Isabella Parsons, Angeline Chan, Andrew Chidester, Kailash Letman, Kiele Casillas, Frances Virginia Muana, Aron Taguiam, Natalie Tadije, Kaleohane Bukoski, Kellen Coloma, Matthew Rivera, Gian-Carlo Kekoa Menor Panoy and Caisen L.R. Medina.
“The amount we’re distributing is more than the normal amount,” said Kaua‘i HS Foundation board president Gary Yamamoto.
“Our normal major source for scholarship funds comes from our annual golf tournament that could not be held because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, we had a lot of individual and private contributions coming in. This is the only way we could come up with this much scholarship aid.”
Yamamoto said some of the major contributors to the foundation include The Alan Funamura KHS ‘54 Scholarship for $2,500, The Gloria (Manipon) Funston KHS ‘58 Scholarship for $5,000, the Nancy Honda WHS ‘59 the Happy Kauaians of Los Angeles Scholarship for $4,000, The Dennis Miyoshi KHS ‘59 in the name of KHS Principal Isamu Miyoshi Scholarship for $3,000, The Pauline and EZ Street Charitable Fund for $30,000, The Stella (Daida) Tippin KHS ‘64 Scholarship for $2,000, The Zensaku KHS ‘27 and Tashiko KHS ‘32 Tokita Memorial Scholarship for $1,000, the Milt KHS ‘60 and Debbie Valera Scholarship for $30,000, and the Florence KHS ‘56 and Tad Yoshikawa Scholarship for $20,000.
“Every little bit helps,” said Marissa Purcell, one of the Kaua‘i High vice principals. “Donations and contributions from any one who can adds up. Anyone can contribute by visiting the Kaua‘i High School Foundation website at kauaihighschoolfoundation.com.”
Tottori said the foundation, in addition to the student scholarships for the school’s graduating seniors, also helps the school with grants for students, the athletic department and, more recently, the Technology Center that was completed in 2018.
The foundation, an IRS 501(3c)(3) corporation, has a mission dedicated to serving the students of Kaua‘i’s first high school by promoting scholarship, providing financial support for educational programs and capital improvement projects, and sponsoring other activities to advance the school.
The foundation is supported by donor programs and gifts from alumni, friends and corporate benefactors.
