Seven candidates from University of Hawai‘i at Manoa who live and work on Kaua‘i each received $4,000 scholarships from the Growing Our Own Teachers on Kaua‘i during a Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay luncheon Dec. 18 at the Saffron Restaurant
Seven candidates from University of Hawai‘i at Manoa who live and work on Kaua‘i each received $4,000 scholarships from the Growing Our Own Teachers on Kaua‘i during a Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay luncheon Dec. 18 at the Saffron Restaurant in Princeville.
The recipients will be starting their student teaching semester in January 2009. They will be teaching and learning in a classroom, full time and without pay.
The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay received the Rotary International Significant Achievement Award for the Growing Our Own Teachers project at the Rotary District Convention held May 23, 2008 on Maui.
One criteria for this award was to permanently continue as the GOOT-OK program as an ongoing project. Another criteria was to be able to have the project replicated.
In August 2008, the Growing Our Own Teachers on Kaua‘i (GOOT-OK) became a 501(c)3 organization to continue the commitment to produce future teachers on Kaua‘i.
The GOOT project has been duplicated on Maui by the Rotary Club of Kihei-Wailea, which will be giving nine future teachers scholarships of $3,500, and the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise is providing the scholarship for the one Molokai teacher candidate.
Growing Our Own Teachers is making a difference in education in Hawai‘i. Most of the teacher candidates were born in Hawai‘i or are long-time residents. All have made a commitment to serve their communities by being highly qualified teachers, said Dr. Kani Blackwell, the Elementary Education coordinator for the University of Hawai‘i.
The teacher candidates receiving scholarships on Kaua‘i are Lei Wann, Sheri Majewski, Emily Blackburn, Claire Hirota, Hosanna Snyder, Kim McKillop and Ilikea Handley.
