WAIMEA — The Waimea Alumni and Friends Foundation recently honored the 2023 WAFF Scholarship recipients from the Waimea High School senior class.
“All 25 seniors exemplified academic excellence and service to their school and community through their four years at Waimea High School,” said WAFF President Russ Hasegawa. “A total of $41,500 was distributed amongst the 25 recipients. Congratulations to the 2023 graduating Waimea seniors who applied for and received scholarships through the Waimea Alumni and Friends Foundation.”
Through the generosity of the EZ Street Foundation, WAFF was able to award 21 scholarships of $1,000 to each student bound for a four-year college.
Captain Andy’s Sailing donated $2,000 scholarships to three students who plan to attend Kaua‘i Community College.
“These scholarships are in addition to the nine scholarships,” Hasegawa said. “Other donors include George and Doris Crowell, K. Fujita, Warren Ishida, Kaoru and Kikuno Nakaue, Alyssa Nishihira, Blanche Suga, Ruby and Claude Takanishi, Melody Miyamoto Walters and Kathleen and Aaron Uyeda.”
Students receiving scholarships include Jade Aguinaldo, who earned one of the EZ Street scholarships. The daughter of Stacie Agena Aguinaldo, an alumni of the WHS Class of 1993, and Joel Aguinaldo plans on becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner after earning her degree at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
Keilana Ando-Aana, the daughter of Terrine Ando, Class of 2004, plans on attending the KCC to become a nurse practitioner. She received a $2,000 from Captain Andy’s Sailing.
Meani Arbilera, the daughter of Dayne Arbilera, Class of 1998, and Mynalei Arbilera, Class of 2000, is bound for Weber State University, majoring in radiologic sciences. She received an EZ Street Scholarship.
Kasey Carveiro, the daughter of Sheri Carveiro, also earned an EZ Street scholarship that will help her major in business administration at Boise State University. Her plans include becoming an interior designer in her own business.
Kaizen Castillo aspires to become an electrical technician and will study at KCC with the $2,000 scholarship from Capt. Andy’s. He is the son of Zeal Castillo, Class of 1995, and Peggy Catillo, Class of 1987.
Makala El Saieh-Rowe, the daughter of Rupert Rowe Jr. and Malaika El Saieh-Rowe, eventually plans to return to Kaua‘i to work in information technology. A recipient of the EZ Street Scholarship, she is heading for Hiram College to major in computer science.
Matthew Fontaine, the son of Seran and Rosaberl Fontaine, will attend UH Manoa to major in mechanical engineering and minor in marine biology. He earned one of the EZ Street Scholarships.
Matthew Gabriel, the son of Salvador Gabriel, Class of 1979, and Floricita Gabriel, is also heading to UH Manoa to pursue his studies in computer science with the goal of becoming a video game or software developer.
Jeremiah Harper, an EZ Street scholarship recipient, will head to the George Fox University majoring in kinesiology with the goal of becoming a strength and conditioning coach at the collegiate level. He is the son of Charson and Janna Harper, both from the Class of 2004.
Kale Kakuda, the son of Jeffrey Kakuda, Class of 2005, and Ashley Shimono, Class of 2005, earned two scholarships, an EZ Street scholarship and a WAFF scholarship. He plans to major in biology with the goal of becoming a doctor of internal medicine or an otolaryngologist.
Tehillah Matsusaka, the daughter of Clifford Matsusaka, Class of 1987, and Cheri Matsusaka, earned an EZ Street scholarship that will help her at the Grand Canyon University, where she will major in psychology. She plans to become a youth counselor.
Hope Newton, the daughter of Kevin and Ashley Newton, Class of 1993, has been accepted in the aerospace engineering program at the University of Texas in Austin. She earned two scholarships — an EZ Street $1,000 and the Dan Suga Memorial Scholarship for $1,500.
Kylen Parongao, the son of Kyle Parongao, Class of 1984, and Christie Domingo Parongao, Class of 1998, will use his EZ Street scholarship when he attends Saint Martin’s University to major in exercise science.
Kayla Prigge, the daughter of John James Prigge and Angela Aguinaldo Prigge, Class of 1985, earned the $1,000 J. Nishihira Scholarship, and an EZ Street scholarship that will help her at Hiram College to major in exercise science toward her goal of becoming a physical therapist.
Clarenz Ringor, the son of Andrew and Wilma Ringor, will be using his $2,000 Capt. Andy’s scholarship when he attends Kaua‘i Community College. After securing a degree at KCC, he would like to further his education at the Oregon Institute of Technology to earn a degree in electrical engineering.
Mar Heinrich Ruiz, the son of Mario and Teresita Ruiz, earned two scholarships — the $1,000 George and Doris Crowell Memorial Scholarship, and the $1,000 EZ Street scholarship. He is planning on majoring in political science at the University of San Francisco. His interest in politics and government was piqued after winning honors in the History Day competition.
Safina Lei Nalinnea Sandblom, the daughter of Erik Sandblom and Marissa Matsuda Sandblom, Class of 1998, earned two scholarships, the $1,000 EZ Street scholarship and the $1,000 Kaoru and Kikuni (Nakaue) Fujita Endowed Scholarship. She plans to major in exercise science with the goal of becoming a physical therapist.
Keisha Suga, the daughter of Keith Suga, Class of 1995, and Jill Shimatsu Suga, Class of 1998, also earned two scholarships — the first $1,000 Lauren Uyeda Memorial Scholarship and the $1,000 EZ Street scholarship. Both scholarships will help her at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she plans to major in graphic design and media with the goal of working for a film company as an art director or production designer.
David Tsuchiya, the son of David and Lorna Tsuchiya, was another dual scholarship recipient. He received the $1,000 Naoko and Yoshiharu Ogata Scholarship, and the $1,000 EZ Street scholarship toward his career goal of “helping develop products that are environmentally friendly to help maintain our ecosystems and natural resources.”
Kimberly-Ann Vidinha, the daughter of Harold and Wendy Vidinha, will use her EZ Street scholarship to major in business administration with an emphasis on marketing. She hopes to use her skills to help local businesses and nonprofits that focus on outreach.
Kanale Viquelia, the son of Levi Viquelia, Class of 1994, and Gezmynn Viquelia, Class of 1998, will use his EZ Street scholarship when he attends the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in pursuit of an electrical engineering degree with the goal of coming back to Kaua‘i and working for the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative.
Charlz Visitacion, the son of Arnel and Alicia Visitacion, will use his EZ Street scholarship when he attends the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, to major in computer science. He plans to become a web or game designer.
Areck Yamamoto, the son of Vance Yamamoto, Class of 1981, and Anne Yamamoto, earned two scholarships, the $1,000 KF Scholarship for a student pursuing an engineering degree, and the $1,000 EZ Street scholarship. He will pursue a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with hopes to earn dual degrees in electrical and biomedical engineering that will allow him to discover solutions for sustainable electricity and nerve stimulation-based medical technologies.
Tevai Yorkman, the daughter of Joshua Yorkman, Class of 1994, and U‘ilani Corr-Yorkman, was awarded the Misae Tokushige Takanishi Scholarship for $5,000 that will be distributed over a period of four years. Takanishi, who taught at Waimea High School, had the scholarship named in her honor by her children. She will use the scholarship help when she attends the Utah State University to pursue a degree in early childhood and special education.
Haley Zina, the daughter of Paul Zina and Marites Fernandes Zina, Class of 1996, earned two scholarships, the $1,000 EZ Street scholarship and the $1,000 Yuso and Lilian Ishida Health Professions scholarship. She plans on attending the Oregon Institute of Technology to study pre-medical imaging technology with the hope of returning to Kaua‘i to help fill the demand for health care workers.
“We would like to thank WAFF Scholarship Committee Chair Lynne Tamashsiro, and members Brenda Denny, Esther Estes, Jerry Nishihira, Janice Nitta and Blanche Suga,” Hasegawa said.
“Vice president Blanche Suga, Treasurer Alvin Kyono, Secretary Katie Hardwich and the WAFF Board of Directors were integral in completing this process. Some of the applicants were awarded two scholarships. This was based on a scoring rubric that judged how well the students met the criteria in the application.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
