East Hawaii News

Dorrance Scholars First in Family to Attend College

Play
Listen to this Article
1 minute
Loading Audio... Article will play after ad...
Playing in :00
A
A
A

The University of Hawaii at Hilo has announced 10 winners of a scholarship program aimed at Big Island high school students who are the first in their family to attend college.

The Dorrance Scholarships program, now in its second year at UH-Hilo, is a partnership between the university and the Dorrance Family Foundation.

The need-based scholarships consist of four-year awards of $8,000 annually to attend UH-Hilo.

Prior to their freshman year, Dorrance scholars will take part in a summer “bridge” program to help them make the transition from high school. In future summers, the recipients will take part in international travel and employment preparation which brings the total value of each award to more than $60,000 over the four-year period.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

“Higher education is the key to a brighter future,” said UH-Hilo Chancellor Don Straney. “The Dorrance Scholarship goes to the heart of our mission at UH Hilo, where some 70 percent of our students are the first in their family to attend college and an equal number rely on some form of financial aid.

“The support from the Dorrance family is a very important gift to UH-Hilo and we are extremely grateful for their commitment to our Hawai`i Island students,” Straney said.

Similar Dorrance scholarship programs have operated in Arizona for the past 13 years where they have been credited with boosting graduation rates for first-generation college students.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

In Arizona the program supports as many as 150 recipients at the state’s three public universities and at South Mountain Community College.

The program was extended to UH-Hilo in 2012.

The Big Island scholarship winners, their high school and home town are:

  • John Alokoa, Kealakehe High School, Waikoloa
  • Rachel Gristock, Kea`au High School, Kurtistown
  • Tawanaka (Puki) Kaupu, Kamehameha Schools Hawai`i, Ocean View
  • Richard Kerr, Hilo High School, Hilo
  • Cheyenne Losalio, Konawaena High School, Captain Cook
  • Gabriel Lubbess, Kamehameha Schools Hawai`i, Kea`au
  • Stareynelle (Kaua) Mitchell, Ke Kula`o `Ehunuikaimalino, Holualoa
  • Justin Shiigi, Hilo High School, Hilo
  • Benjamin Wada, Christian Liberty Academy, Pahoa
  • Luana Zablan, Kanu o ka `Aina, Waimea
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

Sponsored Content

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Stay in-the-know with daily or weekly
headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Cancel
×

Comments

This comments section is a public community forum for the purpose of free expression. Although Big Island Now encourages respectful communication only, some content may be considered offensive. Please view at your own discretion. View Comments