The Rotary Club of Kona Mauka awarded 14 scholarships totaling $23,900 to graduating seniors at Konawaena High School. Over the years the club has established several scholarships to help young adults achieve their academic goals. The funding of these scholarships is primarily generated from the club’s annual Valentine Wine Tasting fundraiser, along matching funds for the James Joseph Montgomery Memorial Scholarship and Bill Calder Education Scholarship.
Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation
• Robert Rogers, $5,000
Kona Mauka Rotary Scholarships
• Tharin Ohashi, $5,000
• Tristan DeAguiar, $1,000
• Miki Fujimoto, $1,200
• Jesse Cordero, $1,000
• Teizha Kaluna, $1,000
• Oberon Learned, $1,000
• Victoria Victor, $1,200
• Cody Ranfranz, $1,000
• Javen Blackhat, $1,000
Shizuko Mary (Grandma) Teshima Memorial Scholarship
• Cole Branham, $1,000
Teshima’s Restaurant has been the home of The Rotary Club of Kona Mauka for 50 years. In honor of Mrs. Teshima’s 100th birthday in 2007, the club set up a perpetual scholarship in her name. She died at the age of 106. Mrs. Teshima was a legend in our community and a lifetime believer in higher education.
Wayne Hedemann Memorial Scholarship
• Leisha Sesson, $1,000
Wayne Hedemann was a graduate of Konawaena High School. He enlisted in the military to serve his country as a helicopter pilot and was tragically killed during the Vietnam War. His father, who was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Kona Mauka, sponsored a scholarship in his name.
Kona Mauka Rotary invited community members to establish a scholarship to honor a loved one while helping a student achieve their academic goals. The club matched the family/friends’ donation dollar-to-dollar.
James Joseph Montgomery Memorial Scholarship
• Cheyshia Maternae, $2,000
Bill Calder Education Scholarship
• Bailey Walters, $1,500