Scholarship Program
Changing the world one hāumana at a time
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Moku'āina A Wakinekona
MAWHCC Scholarship Program
MAWHCC Scholarship program began in 2008, focused on Native Hawaiian recent high school graduates with a desire to attain a four year college degree. Scholarships have also been available as a resource to reimburse registration for keiki members who attend the Summer Explorations program at Kamehameha Schools.
MAWHCC is stepping forward to meet the needs of our Lāhui on the continent. We have heard the voices of our members and are expanding the program to support members wanting to pursue cultural or professional development. Our annual ‘Aha Mele festival and generous donations are the main sources of funding for the Scholarship Committee and we are happy to share that we have now expanded to three tiers of support. Moku’āina A Wakinekona Hawaiian Civic Club membership for at least one year is required to apply for all tiers of support.
Since we are expanding funds from the longstanding post high school scholarships, we have discussed fair allocations to each tier. Funding this year for Tier 2 Professional Development or Continuing Education may be up to $750. Applicants this year for Tier 3 may receive up to $500. Because MAWHCC is a 501c3 organization, funding has to be sent directly to the organizations conducting each course . All applications should be submitted five weeks before the start date of program.
Tier I - Post High School age groups: Eligibility includes graduating with 2.0-4.0 G.P.A. and includes registration with a two or four year post high school program. Funds are sent directly to the educational institution.
Tier II - Professional Development for adults advancing their careers: suggested examples may be enhancement of work and club related programs (i.e., grant writing, incorporating AI as a writer, updating technology skills in the workforce). As well as Continuing Education for credits or certifications and for career upgrades such as completion of a GED.
Tier III - Keiki to Kupuna Cultural Programs: All awards are meant to be supplemental with the parameters that funding is sent to the organization, sharing mana'o with us and membership dues are current. Learning is a life skill, examples for any age could include cultural cooking, cultural arts, music, ʻōlelo Hawaii, which are only a few examples.
How can you apply? Click the links below to apply for either the educational or cultural scholarship programs. If you have any further questions contact the Scholarship Committee at scholarships@mawhcc.org.
Click on a link below for more information about how and when to apply.
Scholarship Recipients Achieving their Dream
Your DONATION will help them get there
Graduates Making a Difference
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Kūpono Ling
BA Music Performance (Opera), Central Washington University
Nicole Manuel
BA Ed, M.Ed Special Education, Grand Canyon University
Sandra Cox
BA Teacher Cert, Western Governor's University
Kaleimomi Newby
BS BioChem,
Western Washington University
Stella Mason, BA 2021
Political Science/Law, Rights and Justice, Linfield University, Oregon
Aloha! My amazing university journey has given me a wealth of knowledge and experience. I am grateful for the encouragement and support of my faculty to pursue my interests in Hawaiian political issues, even though Linfield does not have an Indigenous Studies department or classes. I have written two 20 page research essays about the Hawaiian Sovereignty movement and Hawaiian land stewardship models as well as nuclearization in the Marshall Islands and sovereignty struggles in Palau and Okinawa.
I also completed a 30 page junior thesis on how the US "measures" indigeneity and how those qualification methods have impacted the Native Hawaiian community in Census surveys and resource distribution. This led to an invitation from one of my Professors to do collaborative research for publication. What is a university experience without a study abroad? I spent a month in the Kingdom of Bhutan. It was an amazing experience seeing a group of indigenous people applying nation building skills and gave me a peek of what the Kingdom of Hawaii must have been like prior to western colonization.
I also participated on the executive board of the Student Wellness Advisory Committee, led the Mixed Student Coalition and continued my role as a student Resident Advisor.
Currently working as a Senate Aide and looking at graduate school options, including Law School. All will have a focus on giving me skills to positively impact social change here and globally.
Mahalo Nui Loa for MAWHCC's financial assistance.
Amber Manuel, BA 2016
Marketing Communications, minor in
Pacific & Native Hawaiian Studies, Chaminade University of Honolulu.
I began my Marketing degree and Minor in Athletic Coaching at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wa. where I also played Varsity Women's Softball (2011-2013), was the Hawaiian Club VP and a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. When not in school I was an Assistant Coach for the Edmonds Starz Fastpitch Softball team and volunteered with the Special Olympics of WA.
Being Hawaiian and raised in WA I felt a strong pull to explore my heritage and consider living and making a career in Hawaii. I chose to transfer to Chaminade University and majored in Communications- Integrated Marketing with a minor in Pacific & Native Hawaiian Studies. I am grateful for the opportunity to have learned more about who I am as a Hawaiian, but realized how difficult it would be to pursue my dream job of being a college softball coach. I returned to WA and completed my Masters degree in Coaching and Athletics Management from Concordia University in 2019.
I am currently working as an assistant coach for the Women's Softball program at St Martin's University in Lacey, WA.
Mahalo to MAWHCC for supporting me on this journey.
Peter Joaquin
BS EMS Paramedicine 2016 Central Washington University
After graduating 2012 from Decatur High School in Federal Way, WA I knew I wanted to be in the Paramedicine program at Central Washington University.
I pursued my academic prerequisites and completed a volunteer Internship with ALS (Advanced Life Systems) in Yakima, WA. It confirmed my decision that I was in the right field for me. So when the admission letter came that I was accepted into the Paramedicine BS degree program, I felt all my hard work up to that point paid off.
After graduating I worked at the University of Washington Hospital in the Cardiology department and am now employed by Boston Scientific where I work on pacemakers and defibrillators. I am one of three Field Clinical Reps in Clinical Rhythm Management for the South Puget Sound region. If there are other MAWHCC members or Hawaiian students thinking about Paramedicine or health care related career I’m open to talking with them about it, my email is P-joaquin@hotmail.com
I recently married and bought a home in Edgewood, WA.
LIFE is GOOD!
Thank you MAWHCC for helping support me through my college degree.
Kilinahemālie Ling
Cultural Anthropology,
University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
From 2014 to 2019, I was the gracious recipient of the academic scholarship offered by the Moku ‘āina A Wakinekona Hawaiian Civic Club each year I was in college. I received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology at the end of 2019 from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. Currently, I am a program assistant at the East-West Center (EWC), an education and research organization that strives to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. Special shout out to ‘Anakala Ben Baker for being a reference during my application process to the job I hold now! At the EWC, I am also a co-chair for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, a group made of staff volunteers that formed out of a need to re-evaluate what diversity and inclusivity means to employees of the EWC, particularly in response to the murder of George Floyd in 2020. As a program assistant, I work closely with the Pacific Islands Leadership Program (PILP), a program that links regional analysis of emerging issues in Oceania with experiential leadership learning and a commitment to practical action. Throughout my undergraduate experience, my interest in issues and topics relating to Oceania flourished. As a kanaka maoli who grew up in the diaspora, I learned a lot about my Hawaiian history as well as the history of my fellow Oceanic brothers and sisters while at college. Epeli Hau’ofa, writer and anthropologist of Tongan and Fijian descent, says “Oceania is vast, Oceania is expanding…Oceania is us. We are the sea, we are the ocean, we must wake up to this ancient truth and together use it to overturn all hegemonic views that aim ultimately to confine us again, physically and psychologically, in the tiny spaces which we have resisted accepting as our sole appointed place, and from which we have recently liberated ourselves”. I thank the Moku ‘āina A Wakinekona Hawaiian Civic Club for financially helping me throughout my time as an undergraduate student seeking a degree in anthropology, because it is during that time that I realized my passion. He Hawai’i au mau a mau. I feel such a strong tie to ko’u kulāiwi nei, ku’u Hawai’i. Being at the University of Hawai’i allowed me to see the connection I have to Oceania as a whole. We as Oceanic peoples are resilient and we are strong. In my current professional position and every position I find myself in in the future, I seek to build up and support interests of Hawai’i and Oceania as a whole. Nui ko’u maholo no ka Moku ‘Āina A Wakinekona Hawaiian Civic Club.
Taylor Joaquin
A.A. 2010
Highline Community College
I am grateful for the financial support MAWHCC gave me while completing my Associate of Arts degree at Highline Community College. I enjoyed applying my academic skills with the research and reading as well as practicing critical thinking in my class discussions. I was proud to be invited to join the PTK honor society and participate with the Honors Scholar program. My time at Highline helped me choose a career pathway. My hope is to become a Registered Nurse. However, after graduating the universe intervened when I found the love of my life. We currently reside in Colville, WA. with our children. I did begin the prerequisites and plan to return in the fall. Though the road has taken a few twists and turns I am determined to reach my goal!
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