Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union Offers Scholarships

Big Island Now stock photo.

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union has announced the addition of a new scholarship to its annual program.

The new Deguchi Scholarship is for post-high school graduates on Hawai‘i Island who are currently attending college or going back to college.

Eight deserving Hawai‘i Islanders in all will receive $2,500 to help support them as they transition to their higher education school of choice.

HCFCU has provided scholarships to Hawai‘i Island students for more than 31 years; 2017’s $20,000 will be the highest in HCFCU’s history.

“It’s so gratifying to be able to support graduating high school students,” said Tricia Buskirk, HCFCU’s president and CEO. “Now with the addition of this new scholarship, one more Hawai‘i Islander will be able to achieve their dreams for the future.”

Each scholarship is named after an HCFCU volunteer or leader who made important contributions to the organization.

Five of the scholarships—Peter Hirata Scholarship, Albert Akana Scholarship, Katsumasa Tomita Scholarship, Frank Ishii Scholarship and Mitsugi Inaba Scholarship—are awarded to students based on need, academic achievement, career goals and extracurricular activities.

The John Y. Iwane scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior who meets all the criteria mentioned above with plans to enter an agriculture-related field of study.

The Michael Asam Scholarship will be awarded to a senior who actively participates in an HCFCU sponsored Student Credit Union as a teller or as a Student Credit Union Board member.

Eligibility Requirements

HCFCU’s Scholarships are open to our Hawaii Island communities. You do not have to be a member of Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union.

You must meet at least one of the following requirements to be eligible to apply.

• Graduating senior from any Island of Hawaii high school and plan to attend a post-secondary college or four-year college during next school year as a full-time student (post-secondary college, vocational, technical with a minimum two-year curriculum); or
• A post high school graduate on Hawai‘i Island who is either currently attending, or going back to, a post-secondary college or four-year college as a full-time student (post-secondary college, vocational, technical – with a minimum two-year curriculum).

Submission Requirements: The following is required in order to complete your application.

• Academic Record
• Non-Academic/Extra- Curricular Activities
• Career Goals & Educational Plans
• Financial Need -Verified EFC signed off by counselor. FAFSA will need to be completed. (not required for post-graduates returning to college)

Interested applicants may fill out an application online at HCFCU’s website. The online application streamlines the process and allows the applicants to save their work and complete it at a later date.

The applications and all required information must be received by April 3, 2017, to be considered.

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union is a not-for- profit credit union owned by its over 40,000 member/owners with branches in Honoka‘a, Kailua-Kona, Kaloko, Kealakekua and Kohala. In addition to complete checking and savings services, the credit union offers credit cards, auto, mortgage, construction, small business, educational and personal loans; online and mobile banking; investment services; youth programs and supports numerous Hawai‘i Island programs and events. Membership in Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union is open to all Hawaii Island residents.