HONOLULU — The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. have named four high school graduates from Kaua‘i as recipients of its annual Legacy Scholarship Program.
Jotis Russell-Christian of Kapa‘a High School received a $5,000 District Finalist Award. Kaed Kosei Esposo from Kauai High School, Kepler Siau Niccore from Waimea High School, and Sophia Rose Riley from Island School each received $3,000 scholarships as Takitani Scholars, all nominated by their schools.
The students were among 61 recipients, one from each qualifying public and independent school in the state, who received scholarships based on academic achievement, community service, and financial need. In total, the Foundation awarded $225,000 to students throughout the state in its Legacy Scholarship Program this year.
“Mr. and Mrs. Takitani founded Hawaiian Host, and knew hard work, innovation, and commitment to excellence were key factors in their success,” said KSSK Radio personality Michael W. Perry, the Takitani Foundation Chairman of the Board. “The Takitanis wanted to recognize those same qualities in Hawai‘i’s outstanding students with support to further their education.”
Jotis Russell-Christian, the son of Terri Russell, participated in numerous organizations at his school including the Interact Club, the Youth Leadership Summit, and Kapa‘a High School’s band. Russell-Christian also worked with peers to complete the building of two pavilions on the school’s campus and represented his school on the Varsity Bowling and Varsity Paddling teams.
Russell-Christian honed his leadership skills through his involvement with the Lili’uokalani Trust and Youth Development program in his sophomore thru senior years. Russell-Christian will attend Purdue University in the Fall.
Kauai High School’s Kaed Esposo is the son of Janine and Windelle Esposo and will be attending the University of California at Berkeley next Fall. He represented Kauai High School on the Hawai’i State student council, helping to coordinate and facilitate statewide conferences.
Esposo was also involved in his school’s student government, was a co-founder of the Ocean Conservation Club, and helped to coordinate a clothes drive for the Nature Club. In his senior year, Esposo assisted with the relaunch of Senator Brian Schatz’s website, designing surveys and collecting data of the local population.
Kepler Niccore from Waimea High School is the daughter of Jennifer and Ward Niccore. Her strong scholarship in high school has placed Niccore on the Principal’s List since freshman year.
Niccore also played middle blocker on Waimea’s JR and Varsity Volleyball teams and was the starting goalkeeper on the Varsity Soccer team junior year; she also participates on the Onipa‘a women’s club soccer team. Niccore is a student leader in the Young Life organization and will be a freshman at Westmont College.
Kauai’s final winner is Sophia Riley, from Island School. She is the daughter of Carrie Riley and Shawn Riley, and will be attending Lewis and Clark College in the Fall. A member of her school’s Model United Nations club, Riley has participated in ten Model U.N. conferences, earning a MUN award in each year of high school.
In her junior year, Riley’s poem about the Shearwater that fly over Moloa‘a Bay received a first-place award from the Kauai Live Poets Society. She has also earned numerous art awards and has participated in her school’s cross country, golf, and paddling teams.
Mamoru and Aiko Takitani founded Hawaiian Host, Inc., manufacturer of Hawaiian Host chocolates, and established the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. to give back to the community by providing the gift of education to the young people of Hawai‘i. Hawaiian Host donates part of the proceeds from the sales of Hawaiian Host products to the Foundation in support of its scholarship programs.
Since 1993, the Foundation has annually presented scholarships to an outstanding student from every qualifying high school in the state and has awarded over $6 million to scholarship and academic enrichment programs throughout Hawai‘i.
