Hawaiʻi Community College touted for building international relationships

Hawaiʻi Community College in Hilo is being honored by the U.S. State Department for its commitment to building relationships around the world.

The Big Island college was recently recognized as a Fulbright Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-23 academic year. The Fulbright Program is the federal government’s flagship international academic exchange program.

“This achievement is a testament to your institution’s deep commitment to international exchange and to building lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,” wrote U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a congratulatory letter to Hawaiʻi Community College Chancellor Rachel Solemsaas. “I would like to thank your entire team for their hard work in promoting the Fulbright Program to your faculty and staff, and in particular Pamela Scheffler for their support of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program on your campus.”

Scheffler is a science professor who teaches in the college’s Tropical Forest Ecosystem and Agroforestry Management Program. She is in Indonesia now, studying native stingless bee ecology with faculty at Udayama University.

This is Scheffler’s second time being selected as a Fulbright Scholar. In 2012, she studied small farmer agroforestry systems in India.

“It is an honor for Hawaiʻi Community College to receive this recognition,” Solemsaas said in a press release, adding that the college is fortunate to have faculty such as Scheffler who are deeply committed to learning and able to bring their global experiences into the classroom.

Hawaiʻi Community College is one of just 12 community colleges nationwide to have a Fulbright U.S. Scholar.