The Rev. Dale Burke presented the Doo Wook
and Helen Nahm Choy Scholarship to Roger Hawthorne,
II, a graduate
student pursuing an MBA with a concentration in finance and
a 4.0 GPA. He teaches at Lanakila Baptist Church and School
and, as Missions chairman, is actively involved with the church’s
choir and visitation programs. He hopes to use his education
to explore new ministry opportunities in the field of teaching.
The Elizabeth Kehrer Anderson M.D. Scholarship is presented to
students in the marine or environmental sciences who maintain
a minimum 3.50 GPA. Oceanic Institute President Dr. Bruce
Anderson presented the award to Denise
Bortnak and Hailey Kuntz.
Bortnak, a 4.0 GPA freshman, majors in marine biology, volunteers
at Sea Life Park, and is an active member of HPU student government
and the Marine Science Club.
Kuntz, a marine biology major, is president of the Mokauea Island
Club at HPU. She volunteers at Kailua Intermediate School’s
Oceanography Club and is active in community service projects.
She maintains a 3.64 GPA.
Dr. Phillip Bossert presented the Bossert Scholarship to Yu-Ching
Wu, from Taiwan, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in
management with a 3.62 GPA. She worked for an export company
in Taiwan and hopes to use her studies at HPU to learn more about
commerce as she furthers her communication skills and independence.
Dr. Kathleen Cassity presented the 18th Annual High School Essay
Writing Competition Awards. High school students throughout the
state submitted essays on a variety of topics related to events
or issues that have had a significant impact on the history of
Hawai‘i. This year’s three winners were Tani
Fujimoto,
from Sacred Hearts Academy; Hyatt Bailey, from Punahou High School;
and Jenna Tamashiro, from ‘Iolani High School.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. John Fleckles presented
the awards for the Undergraduate Writing Competition. HPU “encourages
students to express their thoughts and skills through the medium
of writing,” Fleckles said, explaining that every year
the University selects four undergraduate essay winners from
four categories to receive an award in recognition of their excellence
in writing. This year’s winners are:
Social Sciences: Dan Abrahamson: “Banning Same-Gender Marriage,
a Form of Legal Discrimination.” Abrahamson is a sophomore
from Sweden who, after what he calls “a life-changing experience,” is
pursuing a degree in nursing.
Natural Sciences-Mathematics and Nursing: Jessica St. James: “The Effects
of Humans on the Biodiversity of Coral Reefs in Kane‘ohe Bay, O‘ahu,
Hawai‘i.” St. James is senior majoring in marine biology who plans
to pursue a master’s degree in education this fall.
English and Humanities: Rachel Ana Brown, “Deconstructing What Love Is.”
Business-Computer Science and Law: Rebecca Loeffers, “Strategies for Hiring
a Diverse Workforce.”
Dr. Carlos Juarez presented the Paul C.T. and Vi Shaw Loo Scholarship, awarded
annually to a student pursuing an undergraduate degree while maintaining a 3.3
GPA and involvement in extracurricular activities, to Mickey Kromann-Jensen.
A senior from Denmark majoring in travel industry management, he has a 4.0 GPA,
is a member of the Swedish and Norwegian Student Associations, and founded the
Danish Dynamite Student Association. He is active in the Society of Human Resource
Management and the TIM Student Organization.
Ms. Teri Montano presented the Society for Human Resource Management Scholarship,an
award that is given to two students in the field of human resource management
who are also active members of the Lokahi Chapter at HPU. The recipients were
Anamaria Crisan and Jeremy DiMaio.
Crisan, who is from Romania, maintains a 3.5 GPA while pursuing an MBA. She is
described as “a competent scholar and researcher, a dedicated student,
and a leader among her peers,” said Montano, who added that “Anamaria
is recognized by her professor to have ‘significantly enriched the learning
experience of her peers and professors.’”
DiMaio is a graduate student in human resource management with a 3.87 GPA. He
has been working in human resources for nine years and hopes to further develop
his abilities with a graduate degree. In addition to working full time, he participates
in many community service activities.
Ms. Hi’ilei Dye presented the Kamakia Scholarship, awarded annually to
students pursuing degrees in the sciences who maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. This
year the award went to Omowale Adewoye, a junior nursing major with a 3.7 GPA,
who aspires to a career in the intensive care of people who are in critical condition.
He is active in HPU’s Rotaract Club, helping out at the Ronald McDonald
House, and visiting children at the Shriners’ Children Hospital.
Mrs. Janice Wright presented the Margaret Hustace Pietsch Memorial Scholarship
to Kimberly Fox Allen and Caroline Lacar. Both are pursuing bachelor’s
degrees in nursing. Allen has a 4.0 GPA and wants, one day, to make a difference
by “offering affordable, warmhearted, and culturally aware healthcare.”
Lacare has a 3.7 GPA, “a strong spirit of inquiry,” said Wright,
and “an unselfish willingness to help others.”
Mrs. Wright also presented the Eleanor Meader Putnam Memorial Scholarship to
Courtney Rogers and Joey Monforte, “In recognition for their accomplishments,
diligence, and dedication to excellence.”
Rogers is a sophomore working toward her bachelor’s degree in pre-medical
studies with a 3.65 GPA. She is a member of the Pre-Med Society, Phi Sigma Honor
Society, and Colleges Against Cancer, which allowed her the opportunity to take
part in more than 20 different service projects.
Monforte is a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in travel industry management.
He completed his Army ROTC in just two years and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant
in the U.S. Army. Today he is serving with the Army National Guard, is a full-time
student, and still finds time to intern at the Ko’Olina Beach Resort in
the food and beverage department.
Mr. Gulab Watumull presented the J. Watumull Scholarships to three recipients
selected as outstanding and deserving students from the graduate MBA and MSIS
programs: Bibhuti Shrestha, Sara Thampan, and Prajanna
Tuladhar. Shrestha is
pursuing an MSIS with a GPA of 3.83. She is from Nepal, and her professors, Watumull
said, have spoken highly of her motivation, strong work ethic, and personable
nature.
Thampan is working toward a master’s degree in human resource management
with a 4.0 GPA. From India, “she is a member of the Human Resources Club
at HPU and is known for her strong leadership abilities and potential,” Watumull
said.
Tuladhar is working on his MBA while maintaining a 3.5 GPA. From Nepal, Watumull
said, “he has always been at the top of his class and finds time not only
for studies but also for being active within his community.”
Mr. Allan Uyeda presented the First Insurance Company Scholarship
to Yen-Ju Chen, from Taiwan, a management major with a
3.6 GPA. Chen is the secretary for the
Taiwanese Student Association, active with the Rotary Club, and works part
time in HPU’s Registrar’s Office. “She hopes to take the skills
learned here back to Taiwan,” Uyeda said, “to help in managing her
father’s postnatal-care clinic.”
Mr. Wayne Tanaka presented the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation Scholarship,
which is awarded annually to full-time students majoring in travel industry
management, marketing, or management who maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. Two scholarship
recipients
were selected: Brandi Erickson and Whitney Sehmer.
Erickson is majoring in business administration management with a 3.96 GPA. “(Her)
professors refer to her as a very dedicated student,” Tanaka said. “She
has two part-time jobs and even finds time to tutor her fellow HPU students.”
Sehmer is working toward a degree in TIM with a GPA of 3.56. She is a member
of TIMSO and the American Marketing Association.
Mr. Richard Palma presented the The Marley Irons Memorial Scholarship to Rachel
Rojo and Mailee Erickson. Rojo is a junior in the nursing program and maintains
a 3.88 GPA. “Her desire,” said Palma, “has always been to care
for others, and she hopes to pursue this passion.” He added that Rojo
also loves music and volunteers to help others through her musical abilities.
Erickson is a senior in the nursing program and maintains a 3.6 GPA. She has
a degree in psychology and is pursuing a bachelor’s in nursing. Her goal
is to go on to graduate school and become a nurse practitioner.
Mr. Gregg Mueller and Ms. Susii Hearst presented the Hawai‘i Association
of Broadcasters Scholarship. “These scholarships are awarded to outstanding
students who are enrolled in any one of the communication programs at Hawai‘i
Pacific University,” said Mueller, who “have a career goal of working
in the broadcast industry in Hawai‘i upon graduation.” The scholarships
were awarded to Victoria Barela and Michaela Kocis.
Barela is a senior majoring in public relations and visual communication with
a 3.9 GPA. Kocis was unable to attend the event.
Mr. Andrew Lockwood presented the Pacific Islands Institute—Diana W. Lockwood
Memorial Scholarship, “which is awarded,” Lockwood said, “to
students from Pacific Island nations who are expected to return to their countries
upon completion of their studies and apply what they have learned within their
communities.”
This year’s awards went to James William Ripple, Laura
Thuy Smith, and
Kisha Borja-Quichocho.
Ripple is from the island of Saipan working on a Bachelor of Science in the
3-2 Engineering Program while maintaining a 3.6 GPA. Smith is a senior from
the Marshall
Islands majoring in human resource management with a 3.84 GPA. A member of
Phi Sigma Honor Society and the National Dean’s List, she is currently working
with the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Hawai‘i as a program designer.
Borja-Quichocho is from Guam majoring in English and minoring in Japanese with
a 3.4 GPA. She is active in HPU student organizations, is a member of the cross
country team, and an English tutor in HPU’s Tutoring Center.
Mr. Kelvin Bloom presented the The ResortQuest Hawai‘i Scholarship for
one or more outstanding students in the travel industry management program to
Michelle Oka and Mikael Lindvall. Oka is a senior who works full time with the
Department of Health and maintains a 3.8 GPA. She aspires to a career as a hotel
sales and catering manager. Lindvall, who hails from Sweden, is a junior with
a grade point average of 3.5. He is actively involved in TIMSO, a member of student
government, and has participated in many community service projects since coming
to Hawai‘i.
Dr. Allen Zecha presented the Allen and Nobuko Zecha Scholarship to Benerva
Marlene Gallegos, a graduate of James Campbell High School who is majoring
in nursing. “A
new mom,” Zecha said, “she is still able to maintain a 3.71 grade
point average.” He added, “Benerva is the type of person who will
bring into her chosen field of nursing a fine sense of duty and energy.”
Dr. Ross Murakami presented the Hawai‘i Accounting Education Foundation
Scholarship to Rumiko Nose. From Japan, she is an accounting major with a 4.0
GPA who plans to become a CPA, “so she can integrate her cross-cultural
skills and language fluency in Japanese and English,” Murakami said.
Ms. Katherine Payne presented the John H. Payne Scholarship to Jenny
Thao,
who is pursuing her bachelor’s in social work with a 3.5 GPA.
“
Thao is the first generation of her Hmong family in the United States,” said
Payne. She has been active within numerous volunteer organizations, dedicating
her time helping others. She is a member of the Alakai Jaycees and participated
in their 2005 World Exploration event at Ala Moana Centerstage
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