WAIPOULI — Miralisa Sotelo could not help herself as she broke down while accepting a Rotary scholarship. “This is like a prayer being answered,” the Kapa‘a High School student said. “Thank you. Thank you.” Sotelo, who also serves as the
WAIPOULI — Miralisa Sotelo could not help herself as she broke down while accepting a Rotary scholarship.
“This is like a prayer being answered,” the Kapa‘a High School student said. “Thank you. Thank you.”
Sotelo, who also serves as the president of the Interact Club, said she will be attending the University of Hawai‘i, Hilo, with a major in biology. She was one of six Kapa‘a High students awarded scholarships by the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a at its regular weekly meeting Wednesday.
Together they received a collective $5,000.
Funds for the scholarships were generated through last year’s Taste of Hawai‘i, according to Ken Stokes, president of Kapa‘a’s Rotary Club.
To supplement the student scholarships, Lois Andersson and Ken Stokes of the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a also awarded the school’s Interact Club $1,000 for its community service events throughout the year, including helping out at the club’s Taste of Hawai‘i event.
Marissa Agena received $2,000 from the Rotary Youth Foundation. She will be heading to the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa to major in journalism.
Tasha Rames, one of four $500 scholarship recipients, is heading to the Manoa campus for a degree in graphic design.
“I will be back to work with the community,” Rames said as she accepted her check.
Lani Kunioka Volz plans to attend the University of San Francisco to pursue computer science, Kristine Ortal will study nursing at Kaua‘i Community College, and Michael Brewer will attend the University of Portland to study engineering.
Stokes said one of the features for the 19th annual Taste of Hawai‘i, scheduled for June 3, is the club’s goal of going green.
Another new facet is the partnership and televising of the event through The Garden Island newspaper and Dickie Chang’s “Wala‘au” production.
Tickets are available at outlets island-wide or by visiting www.tasteofhawaii.com.
