HCC Student Named Hawaii’s New Century Scholar

A student at Hawaii Community College has been named Hawaii’s New Century Scholar.

Edward Bufil was one of 51 community college students from the US, Canada and American Samoa to receive the award out of a pool of more than 1,700 nominees.

The New Century Scholars Program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the American Association of Community Colleges and the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

Bufil, a resident of Pepeekeo, is a student in the college’s Tropical Forest Ecosystem and Agroforestry Management program.

He is also the vice president of the program also known as HCC’s Forest TEAM and has participated in its beach clean-ups, nursery work, greenhouse construction, and has attended various conferences, workshops and festivals.

Bufil, who aspires to be a park ranger, has participated in many projects related to conservation and reforestation, including planting native species in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge.

Bufil plans to graduate from Hawai‘i CC in May with his Associate in Science degree from the Forest TEAM program as well as an Environmental Studies Academic Subject Certificate.

He plans to continue his education at the University of Hawai’I at Hilo, majoring in biology with a focus on ecology, evolution, and conservation.

In naming the New Century Scholars, judges considered grades, leadership, activities, and the ways students extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom.

New Century Scholars are the highest scoring students in each state, plus one student from Canada and one additional student chosen from among one of the remaining seven sovereign nations where Phi Theta Kappa is represented internationally.

Each scholar will receive a $2,000 scholarship and be presented at the American Association of College Presidents Convention which begins April 5 in Washington, DC.