Rotary Club of West Kauai honors six scholarship recipients
WAIMEA — Six Waimea High School graduates shared $10,000 in scholarships from the Rotary Club of West Kauai on Tuesday.
“These are talented and significant individuals who are living among us,” said Leanna Gautney, Rotary Club president. “We have the opportunity to honor not only them, but their families who have allowed them to grow by being mentors in community spirit.”
Waimea graduates Paige Ando, Michelle Austria, Charlotte Kaauamo, Jessica Tangalin and Ikaika Vidinha were recipients of the Rotary Club of West Kauai VocTech scholarships. Each received a $1,000 scholarship
Ember Teter, a Waimea High School graduate, was presented a $5,000 Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation Scholarship, the graduate heading to the Point Loma Nazarene University, where she intends to pursue a
career as an athletic trainer.
“The club was able to present five scholarships due to the success of the annual Burns Supper fundraiser,” said Dave Walker of the Rotary Club of West Kauai Community Services program.
“One of Leanna’s goal was to increase the amount of funds for scholarships, and she has been out soliciting items for the silent auction and other contributions for the annual event.”
Walker said next year’s Burns Supper will be on Feb. 1.
“The more we raise, the more scholarships we can present,” Walker said.
Ando plans on taking liberal arts at Kauai Community College in the fall semester.
She will be joined by Kaauamo, who plans to study nursing.
Tangalin will also attend KCC and study culinary arts in the fall semester.
Austria plans to move to Oahu in the fall to attend the Paul Mitchell cosmetology school.
Jennifer Moniz, adviser for the Waimea High School Interact Club, was named the top Interact Club during a Rotary Conference.