NORTH HAWAII — On June 22, Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union (HCFCU) announced the recipients of its 2017 college scholarships. A total of $20,000 was awarded to eight deserving Hawaii Island recipients. Two of them reside in North Hawaii.
Gabriella Boyle, a Kohala High School graduate, received the $2,500 Student Credit Union Scholarship and intends to pursue a career in psychology. The $2,500 John Y. Iwane Scholarship was awarded to Hailey Briseno, who graduated from Hawaii Preparatory Academy. She intends to pursue a career in ecosystem and marine sciences.
Seven of the scholarships were awarded to high school graduates planning to attend a two- or four-year institution of higher learning in the coming school year, and one of the scholarships was awarded to a recipient who is continuing her education post-high school graduation. The scholarships are named after a retired HCFCU employee and community volunteers who made important contributions to the HCFCU.
The $2,500 Peter T. Hirata Scholarship was awarded to Andre Fazeli, a Konawaena High School graduate who intends to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. Shariah Mae Olomua, a Kamehameha Schools graduate, was awarded the $2,500 Albert Akana Scholarship and will study business and law. The $2,500 Katsumasa Tomita Scholarship was presented to Danielle Brown, a Hilo High School graduate who intends to become a professional writer. Lois Taylor, a graduate of Kealakehe High School, received the $2,500 Frank Ishii Scholarship and plans to study environmental biology. The $2,500 Mitsugi Inaba Scholarship was awarded to Aaliyah Kamalii-Keka of Pahoa Intermediate and High School who intends to pursue studies in nursing and Hawaiian Language.
Sarah Rouse of Wheaton College is the first winner of the new $2,500 Yasunori Deguchi Scholarship. It is offered to high school graduates who could not attend college right after graduation or are currently in their second year of college and in need of further financial assistance.