PUHI — Mabel Fujiuchi of the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i Scholarship Committee could not understand how “guests” became “gifts,” Thursday when two of the dozen scholarship recipients appeared at the luncheon with gifts. But she was not turning down the
PUHI — Mabel Fujiuchi of the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i Scholarship Committee could not understand how “guests” became “gifts,” Thursday when two of the dozen scholarship recipients appeared at the luncheon with gifts.
But she was not turning down the gifts as the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i presented $12,000 in scholarships to 11 graduating high school seniors and one returning student at the Kaua‘i Community College.
Fujiuchi said when the Zonta Club started presenting scholarships 25 years ago, there were three presented in the amount of $250 each, compared with the 12 presented Thursday in the amount of $1,000 each.
Maria Camero Fraga, originally of Venezuela, is a single mother with two children, balancing her work at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort, attending KCC to further her work at the hotel, and raising two children, said bills occur, especially with two young children, and the scholarship will definitely help her toward obtaining her Associates Degree in Hospitality and Tourism.
Katie Beer, of the Zonta Scholarship Committee, was thrilled to learn the high school recipients were from all three of Kaua‘i’s public high schools as well as Island School and a home schooler.
Dana Kay Abundo, Adrianna Medeiros, Sarah Kukino, Shealyna Ringor, Saryna-Brooke Garcia and Melissa Miner were recipients from Kaua‘i High School.
Kaitlin “Maka” Viernes, performing the violin before the Mokihana Club during the club’s 42nd Scholarship Talent presentations, Wednesday, was the sole home schooler through the Kula ‘O Ke ola program interested in pursuing a career in Music Therapy and teaching music to young children.
Kelsey Long is the sole recipient from Island School, interested in becoming a psychologist and returning to Kaua‘i to practice. She will pursue this path at Cal State San Marcos.
Laurie Ann Tamayo and Christen Wilson are the recipients graduating from Kapa‘a High School and Cinderella Taroma is the graduate from Waimea High School.
Fujiuchi said the selection process involved more than interested students filling out the application and paperwork which included at least three letters of reference and a narrative.
Students faced a Zonta Club committee which presented each candidate with character-revealing questions which needed to be answered en route to being selected for a scholarship.
“These are exceptional young women who will become tomorrow’s leaders and professional women,” Fujiuchi said. “The Zonta Club of Kaua‘i is proud to be able to invest in such fine young people.”
Scholarship funds are derived some several Zonta Club of Kaua‘i fundraising activities, including the annual Eat Dessert First which is held in February.
The Zonta Club of Kaua‘i is an organization of executives and professional women working to advance the status of women, not only on Kaua‘i, but throughout the world.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
