HEA awards scholarships
The Hawaii Education Association (HEA) has selected 10 individuals to receive 2021-22 scholarships as they pursue higher education and professional development. Over the past 20 years, HEA has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships to support current and aspiring educators and their dependents.
The 2021-22 HEA scholarship recipients include the following:
• Pascal Y.K. Cabuzel, grandson of HEA member Maring Gacusana and a 2021 graduate of Hawaii Preparatory Academy on Hawaii island, received a Graduating High School Seniors Scholarship of $2,000. Cabuzel is attending the University of Southern California and pursuing a degree in architecture and/or economics.
• Kari A. Handley, a special education teacher and grade level chair at Lehua Elementary School on Oahu, received an In-Service Public School Educator Scholarship of $2,000. She is pursuing a master’s degree in special education at the University of Northern Colorado.
• Denise K. Karratti, an academic coach at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School on Kauai, received an In-Service Public School Educator Scholarship of $2,000. Karratti is also a Hawaii State Teacher Fellow and a National Board Certified Teacher in Literacy. She is currently attending Chaminade University to receive her master’s degree in education leadership with a school administrator certification.
• Lori Ann Koyama, an educator with 25 years of teaching experience at Lahaina Intermediate School on Maui, received a Ronald K. Toma Professional Development Scholarship of $1,500. She is enrolled and immersed in a Hawaiian language course offered by University of Hawaii.
• Laurie L.Q. Luczak, principal at Hokulani Elementary, received a Ronald K. Toma Professional Development Scholarship of $1,500. She is currently pursuing a certificate in educational finance from Georgetown University.
• Mary G. Ward, a student teacher who is pursuing her master’s of education in teaching from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, received a Helen McKay Student Teacher Scholarship of $2,000.
• Tord H.M. Ivarsson, an aspiring elementary school teacher and a student at Kapiolani Community College, received a Hiroshi &Barbara Kim Yamashita Undergraduate College Students Scholarship of $2,000.
• Stephen O. Aisabokhae received a Continuing College Students Scholarship of $1,000. He is currently attending Prairie View A&M University and is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership.
• Czeara Rae D. Santos received a Continuing College Students Scholarship of $1,000. She is enrolled at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in elementary and early childhood education.
• Rhynne T. Lee, daughter of HEA member Janice Lee and a 2021 graduate of Moanalua High School on Oahu, received a Graduating High School Seniors Scholarship of $2,000. She is attending Whitworth University and majoring in strategic communication and technology with a minor in public relations.
To learn more about HEA scholarships and scholarship recipients, visit hawaiieducationassociation.org/scholarships.
Applications open for Hawaii Youth Sustainability Challenge
Kupu and Kokua Hawaii Foundation recently announced applications are now open for the Hawaii Youth Sustainability Challenge (HYSC) for the 2021-22 school year.
Now in its sixth year, the Hawaii Youth Sustainability Challenge is an initiative to empower youth from across the state of Hawaii to create solutions to conservation and sustainability challenges in their schools and communities. Selected students will receive funding, mentorship, and training to support their innovative and grassroots environmental initiatives. The opportunity is open to students in grades 9-12 statewide. The deadline to apply is Oct. 8.
In addition to the conservation and sustainability challenges students personally identify, HYSC also encourages them to solve “community partnership challenges,” which are problems organizations from across the state confront that they feel would benefit from creative solutions developed by students. This year, 12 federal, state and community organizations have submitted 20 different challenges for students to tackle.
“To help prepare students to submit strong, well thought out proposals to HYSC, for the first time we are offering HYSC Readiness Workshops,” said Kupu Senior Program Manager Elia Herman. “Offered in September, these virtual workshops will give students the chance to talk directly with organizations about their community partner challenges, help to better define their vision and ideas, and write more effective proposals. We are so excited to debut this part of our program and see how students respond.”
Projects are awarded up to $1,000 for supplies and materials based on scope and need. Awardees also receive a HYSC mentor and training to support successful project implementation. Projects commence in December and must be completed by May. Students, together with a teacher advisor, are invited to apply. All projects must be student driven. To learn more and apply, visit: http://www.hawaiiyouthsustainability challenge.org.
“We are so excited for this year’s pool of youth applicants,” said Kōkua Hawaii Foundation Senior Program Director Natalie McKinney. “We really hope that some of our new programming and partnerships will bring in innovative and meaningful proposals and will support our amazing students in their efforts to create a more resilient Hawaii.”
For the past five school years, HYSC has awarded over $65,000 to support the completion of more than 100 projects and 167 student leaders on five Hawaiian Islands.
Nonprofit Awarded $127,000 to Serve Hawaiians on Trust Lands
The Homestead Community Development Corporation (HCDC), a nonprofit founded by the Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations (SCHHA), has been awarded $127,000 from the national intermediary, Credit Builder Alliance (CBA).
Competitive funding awards were made by CBA to several community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in states and tribal areas around the country. HCDC will direct the CBA investment to consumer products on or near Hawaiian Home Lands in all four counties in Hawaii.
“This is an important investment in consumer loan and financial services we provide to waitlist and homestead families,” said Vaipuarii Tapiero-Kight, a loan fund program manager at Hawaiian Lending and Investments (HLI), an HCDC initiative. “We appreciate the inclusion of Hawaiians and our trust land communities by CBA.”
HCDC and its HLI initiative will combine the CBA capital with other intermediary investments received, to continue to bring loans and grants directly into homestead communities and to waitlist beneficiaries. The CBA funds will be deployed for example, to clear traffic tickets, purchase used vehicle, add comfort sheds or solar water systems, repair credit scores, improve food security, and other consumer type purposes.
HCDC launched its Native CDFI initiative in 2019 for Hawaiian Home Land beneficiaries, and within two years has raised over $1.5 million dollars in grant and loan capital and millions more in mortgage capital for the waitlist.
For more information, contact hli@hawaiianhomesteads.org.