LIHUE — Ten graduating high school seniors each received $1,000 scholarships from Gather Federal Credit Union during a short ceremony by Gather staff, scholarship recipients and their parents at the credit union’s Kukui Grove West offices.
“This is a very special time of year where Gather FCU takes pride in giving back to the community in the form of scholarships to a well-deserved group of high school seniors,” said Tess Shimabukuro, CEO and president. “Today, we celebrate their accomplishments and wish them all the best as our young leaders of tomorrow.”
Scholarship recipients needed to be members of GFCU, and awards were distributed after candidates were judged on academic merit, community service, financial need and credit union relationship.
Kapaa High School students Kailee Bush, Amber Lis, Sariah Mokuahi, Aretha Matsushima and Jaycee Pang earned awards from the first school that GFCU partnered with to form a student credit union on the island.
Haven Luper Jasso, Kimberly Matutina and Leanna Theskin were the recipients from Kauai High School.
Waimea High School graduate Leilani Higashi and Britnee Akau, graduating from John R. Rogers High School in Washington, rounded out the awardees for 2018.
Taylor Shigemoto of GFCU said this was the 14th year the credit union has been awarding scholarships after scrutinizing more than 35 applications.
The scholarship committee included Sandy Mangnussen, Debbie Higuchi and Marlene Leary.
GFCU pioneered the student credit unions at Kapaa, Kauai and Waimea high schools to enhance financial literacy education among high school students.
The credit union serves more than 34,000 members through its network of five branch offices on Kauai.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
