Four graduating senior students, two from Kapaa High School and two from Kauai High School, shared $4,000 in scholarships presented by the Kiwanis Club of Kauai Tuesday evening during a special dinner for scholars and their families at Ho‘okipa Cafe at Puakea Golf Course.
“We’ve been doing this since 1989,” said Scott Sato, Kiwanis Scholarship Committee chair. “Since that time, the Kiwanis Club of Kawai has provided $84,500 in awards for very deserving Key Club members.”
Leila Nelson, graduating from Kapaa High School, is the school’s Key Club president. A past vice president of the club’s Service and Membership Committee where she served as chair, Nelson was also an Officer of the Year.
She holds a 4.271 grade point average and plans to pursue study in psychology and environmental science at Duke University.
Hannah Collins-Doijode, daughter of Bridget Collins and Surendra Rao, is the Kapaa Key Club’s secretary and a past Member of the Year.
She has a 4.271 GPA and plans on attending Johns Hopkins University, where she will be pursuing a neuroscience and cognitive science path.
Krysten Cassandra Padasdao is Kauai High School Key Club president, a past corresponding secretary, and chair of the Officer Training Conference, Membership Training, and the Festival of Lights, where the club volunteers in providing docents as well as sprucing up the displays.
Padasdao holds a 3.902 GPA and plans to attend Pacific University, where she will be studying environmental chemistry and toxicology.
Charlene Tan, graduating from Kauai High School, serves as the Division 22 Makai Lieutenant Governor and the Makai News editor, the Region 18 lieutenant governor, Candidate Training Conference chair, and District Communications and Marketing Committee member.
She holds a 4.107 GPA and plans to attend the University of Washington, Seattle, where she will be pursuing study in neuroscience.
Scholars are selected based on their leadership, community service activities, academic achievements, need, advisor comments and an essay.
Funds for the Kiwanis Club of Kauai are derived primarily through fundraisers, included the popular steak fry luncheon and car washes.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
