Big Island Press Club awards scholarships
The Big Island Press Club awarded scholarships totaling $5,000 to four students this year, with each winner receiving $1,250 to pursue a higher education in journalism or a related field. The Big Island Press Club is Hawaii’s oldest press club, protecting the public’s right to know since 1967.
The recipients are:
•Lichen Forster, of Mountain View, is a geology major at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and has been editor in chief of the student newspaper, Ke Kalahea, for the past three semesters. Forster, who’s majoring in geology, wants to pursue a career in science journalism. Forster plans to be an exchange student at the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand for the fall semester, while continuing the newspaper work as copy editor. This is their third BIPC award.
“I’ve enjoyed leading the team and being able to make important decisions about how our budget is spent and our team operates,” Forster said. “(Now), I’m excited to use the skills I’ve gained to make our writing as good as I know it can be.”
•Maya-Lin Green, of Waimea, is a 2008 graduate of Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a communications and media journalism major at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Green joined Ke Kalahea as a staff writer in the spring semester. She plans a career in public relations, writing or a related field.
“I love writing, and it would be incredible to write about things that I find interesting, engaging and dynamic,” Green said. “I like reading and writing about the intersections of pop culture, environmentalism, human interest, psychology, science and politics.”
•Kai Hayashida, a Hilo High 2023 graduate from Hilo, plans to major in journalism and will attend Whitworth University, in Spokane, Washington, this fall. Hayashida called Hilo High School athletic contests on its Hiki No video media platform KVIKS.
“Working for a large company that broadcasts major sporting events has been a dream of mine since at least fifth grade,” Hayashida said. “All I want to do is to get involved with sports and share my writing to the world.”
•King James Mangoba, of Papaaloa, is a 2023 graduate of Hilo High School who plans to major in communications. Mangoba will attend Fordham University in New York City. Mangoba participated as a part of the crew to produce a story video for PBS Hawaii’s Hiki No program, an activity that whetted his interest in television journalism.
“I would like to use my voice to lift and showcase inspiring and unseen stories within my community,” Mangoba said. “Being a storyteller for Hawaii is my way of giving back to my community.”
Awarding scholarships to promote journalism is an annual event and one of the primary projects of the press club, which is the oldest in the state.
To submit an announcement to be shared in this section, email calendar@westhawaiitoday.com at least two weeks ahead of an event or required registration date. All submissions will be edited for content, style and parity treatment. Submit an Island Life photo, by emailing the image along with your name and a brief description to islandlife@westhawaiitoday.com.
