Hawaii Community College and representatives from Hawthorne Caterpillar celebrated the company’s 10th year of supporting the college’s diesel mechanics program with a $6,875 donation toward student scholarships. ADVERTISING Hawaii Community College and representatives from Hawthorne Caterpillar celebrated the company’s 10th
Hawaii Community College and representatives from Hawthorne Caterpillar celebrated the company’s 10th year of supporting the college’s diesel mechanics program with a $6,875 donation toward student scholarships.
“On behalf of the students, faculty and administration of the Hawaii Community College diesel mechanics program, we would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation for the generosity and support for the past decade,” said HCC diesel mechanics instructor Mitchell Soares. “The Hawthorne Caterpillar Scholarship has supported many students’ financial needs throughout the years and has improved the diesel mechanics methodology training materials.”
The check presentation also was an opportunity to celebrate a new internship program that began last year. Brad Tsugawa, a second-year student in the diesel mechanics program, has been a paid intern at Hawthorne Caterpillar in Hilo since last summer.
The internship has been a valuable learning experience, he said.
“It’s a lot of hard work, but you also learn a lot of different ways of doing things there,” Tsugawa said. “It teaches you to work on your own … and also to work with others and customers.”
Soares described the internship program as “another avenue provided to us by Hawthorne Caterpillar in supporting student success in our community.”
The internship is proving to be more than just a temporary learning opportunity for Tsugawa. When his yearlong internship ends, Tsugawa will work full time in a permanent position with Hawthorne Caterpillar in Hilo.
Before enrolling at HCC, Tsugawa fixed cars as a hobby while working in the restaurant industry.
“I decided to stick with what I know and go for it, and I’m actually making a career out if it now rather than doing things for free for friends,” Tsugawa said.
