Forty-two seniors from public high schools statewide, including nine from the Big Island, each received $1,000 scholarships for their post-graduate educations from the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association.
The presentations were made April 27 during a luncheon at The Modern Honolulu.
The scholarships, known as the Citizen-Scholar Awards, are a partnership of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Department of Education. Funding is provided by HLTA members. This was the 13th year the awards have been made.
The students were selected by the Department of Education for scholastic achievements and school and community service. Each must have a minimum 3.2 GPA and an extensive record of school and public service.
“Hawaii’s hospitality industry has been proud to honor the future leaders of our state and nation,” said Mufi Hannemann, HLTA president and CEO. “These seniors have been selected by dint of their scholastic success as well as their invaluable contributions to their schools and our community.”
This year, HLTA introduced four additional $2,500 scholarships that were awarded to the top student from each of the state’s four counties. The recipients were Lester Iwata of Waiakea High School, Jaccie Hisashima of King Kekaulike High School on Maui, Truman Spring of Kahuku High School on Oahu and Grace Yatsko of Kapaa High School on Kauai. The students were selected by an HLTA committee.
Iwata has been involved in community service since the beginning of his high school career at Waiakea. He is a Key Club member, Student Government Association secretary and a varsity baseball athlete. Iwata is working on a project using computer drafting programs to draw a 3-D model of the Hokualaka‘i voyaging canoe. By using his STEM skills, Iwata hopes to educate the community about the history of the canoe and promote Hawaiian culture. Iwata will attend the University of Portland this fall.
2017 Citizen-Scholar Award recipients from Hawaii Island and their sponsors:
• Jessica Valdez, Hilo High School, Castle Resorts & Hotels.
• Aimee Seo, Honoka`a High School, Ken’s House of Pancakes.
• Trevor Taylor, Ka`u High School, UH Manoa, School of Travel Industry Management.
• Ruby Kate Galapon, Kea‘au High School, Hawaii Gas.
• James Caudell, Kealakehe High School, Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, Hawaii Island Chapter.
• Gabriella Boyle, Kohala High School, Mauna Kea Resort.
• Ragan Leslie, Konawaena High School, Hale Koa Hotel.
• Cosette Daniels, Pahoa High & Intermediate School, Big Island Candies.
• Lester Iwata, Waiakea High School, KTA Super Stores.
