Arthurs’ Fund Three Scholarships Totaling $127K

Robert Arthurs, Joni Onishi and Barbara Arthurs. University of Hawai’i Foundation courtesy photo.

Three new endowments set up by Hawai’i Community College administrator Dr. Barbara Arthurs and her husband, Robert Arthurs, will be supported through the couple’s $127,000 pledge to support the college educations of UH-Hilo and Hawai’i CC students.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Barbara Arthurs has served the UH System as a counselor, acting dean of student services, head counselor, and most recently as the vice chancellor for student affairs at Hawai’i CC.

The endowment will build upon the philanthropic and education contributions to the Big Island community that the Arthurs have laid as a foundation.

“Dr. Barbara Arthurs had a positive impact on so many students, faculty and staff during her decades of service at Hawai‘i Community College and UH-Hilo,” said Hawai‘i CC Interim Chancellor Joni Onishi. “These endowed scholarships ensure that her positive influence on students and our community will continue in perpetuity.”

In 2010, Dr. Barbara Arthurs received the Hawai’i Community College Chancellor’s Award in recognition of her diligence and dedication.

Robert Arthurs was a Consul and First Secretary with the U.S. Department of State and is now retired. He is currently a member of several fraternal and community organizations involved with volunteer work.

“Behind every scholarship is a person or family with a connection to the university and a desire to help our students,” said UH Hilo Chancellor Don Straney. “I hope others in our university and island communities will be inspired by the Arthurs’ spirit of paying it forward and make an investment in the future of our island by funding scholarships such as these.”

The scholarships are in addition to two scholarships in honor of their children, who are UH alumni: a scholarship at Honolulu Community College in memory of Dr. Barbara Arthurs’ brother, who attended Honolulu CC, and a scholarship at Hawai’i CC in honor of family members who supported Dr. Barbara Arthurs’ academic success.

The three new scholarships are:

• Barbara Bongo Arthurs Scholarship Endowment at Hawai’i CC, which will provide $50,000 of scholarships to full-time undergraduate Hawai’i CC students.
• Barbara Bongo Arthurs Scholarship Endowment at UH-Hilo, which will provide $50,000 of scholarships to full-time undergraduate UH-Hilo students who obtained a degree or certificate from Hawai’i CC.
• Lyman Squadron Civil Air Patrol Scholarship Endowment, which will provide $27,000 of scholarships to undergraduate students who were cadets in the civil air patrol and are pursuing a degree or certificate at any campus in the UH System, with a preference to students who desire to pursue a career in aerospace or aviation.