KILAUEA — A recipient of the Zonta Club of Hanalei Foundation scholarship almost did not make it because of a graduation party on Saturday, when the club awarded $39,000 in scholarships to 19 young women on Kaua‘i.
“This year, 19 young women were awarded a scholarship,” said Patti Graves of the Zonta Club of Hanalei. “Elise Yukimura, a recent graduate of Kaua‘i High School, was awarded the Varn/Hunt $3,000 scholarship for academic excellence. Ms. Yukimura’s field of study is in the area of scientific research. She will attend the University of San Francisco. The remaining young women each earn $2,000 awards and are just as accomplished.”
The Zonta Club of Hanalei is unique in that it serves not only graduating high school seniors, but invites those who are enrolled in associate or bachelor’s programs, as well as women who are reentering the academic setting, to apply for the available scholarship help.
Of the 19 scholarship recipients, two are recent graduates from Kaua‘i High School, four graduated from Waimea High School, two received their diplomas from Island School, and one graduated from Kapa‘a High School. The remaining recipients are university undergraduate students who have reapplied and maintained excellent academic achievements.
“These women represent our future, and we at the Zonta Club of Hanalei are honored to help them along the way,” Graves said.
Since the first year of the program in 2009, the Zonta Club of Hanalei has provided more than $200,000 to the women of Kaua‘i who are pursuing higher education.
Yukimura graduated this year from Kaua‘i High School. Other recipients include recent Kaua‘i High graduates Marissa Matsushige, Kaimi Silva and Ciaralan Tolentino; recent Waimea High graduates Maeani Arbilera, Ashley Pabustan, Hope Newton, Safina Sandblom and Haley Zina; recent Kapa‘a High graduate Sophia Potter; and recent Island School graduates Rayna Shafter and Skylar Steward.
Those receiving scholarships who are current college students include Kirra Carvalho (attending Chaminade), Braelyn Cayaban (attending Colorado University), Dominica DeTrolio (attending University of Nevada), Jessica Drent (attending Mt. Holyoke), Jessica Hreljac (attending CSU Cal Poly), Anais Offley (attending UC San Francisco), and Ella Offley (attending UC Los Angeles).
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
