‘Starry Nights’ brightens futures
LIHUE — Mayumi and Leonila Fulgencio, students at Kauai High School, are anxiously waiting for Saturday night and the “Starry, Starry Country Nights” gala.
“I helped during last year’s fundraising event for ‘The Bridge: Kauai to College,’” Mayumi said. “It was a lot of fun, and it should be just as good this year.”
Tisa Herold, treasurer for The Bridge, said the Fulgencio sisters will be helping with registration when Starry, Starry Country Nights open at 5 p.m. at the Koloa Landing Resort as a fundraiser for The Bridge.
This is the third annual fundraising effort for The Bridge, an organization that provides free guidance and support for Kauai students who want to attend college following their high school careers.
Starry, Starry Country Nights is a barbecue dinner followed by dancing to music by the popular island country band, Not My First Rodeo. A no-host bar is also available.
On the agenda are dancing and silent and live auctions.
Open seating tickets as well as VIP reserved tables are available by visiting www.kauaitocollege.org, or calling 346-1478.
“All of the proceeds from this event help our local high school kids,” Herold said. “Last year, we held a free college planning workshop as well as provided small scholarships to send students to study cultures in both Japan and Germany.”
Mayumi was a recipient of a scholarship that enabled her to attend a sustainability camp in Germany.
“This was an interesting experience,” the Kauai High School senior said. “We got to discuss things like sustainability and the environment with kids from other countries. It is very interesting to see the different perspectives people have on the common subject.”
Mayumi and her sister Leonila are also active with The Bridge.
“I have my mentor,” Mayumi said. “He sends me all kinds of information on the environment and some of the issues surrounding it because I plan on studying environmental engineering when I go to college at Lewis and Clark.”
She said they discovered The Bridge after experiencing college with her older brother.
“He went off to college, but during the process of transitioning from high to school to college, my dad said, ‘There’s got to be an easier way,’” Mayumi said. “When we started looking, we found The Bridge.”
Herold said currently The Bridge can pair up to 10 students with mentors who help the students with college applications, essays, and even offer financial advice.
“We’re always looking,” Herold said. “Students, parents or volunteers.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.