LIHU‘E — Gather Federal Credit Union presented $10,000 in scholarships to 10 graduating seniors from high schools in front of a small collection of awardees’ close relatives at the Gather FCU Kukui Grove Village West offices last week.
“This is a very special time of year where Gather FCU takes pride in giving back to the community in the form of scholarships to a deserving group of high-school seniors,” said Gather FCU President and CEO Tess Shimabukuro. “Today, we wish these young men and women all the best as our leaders of tomorrow.”
The students were each awarded scholarships of $1,000, and include Kamalei Berg and Meleana Keawe of Kapa‘a High; Leonila Fulgencio, Kolten Gusman and Kaed Esposo from Kaua‘i High; Braelyn Cayaban, Zsa Zsa DuBose, Morgan Joy Igaya and Cailin Pasion from Waimea High; and Talia Suzuki from Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama.
To be eligible for consideration, the field of 36 applicants needed to be members of the credit union, and were judged on their academic merit, personal essay, their relationship and extra-curricular activities within and out of school, and their involvement within the community.
Kaleo Perez Jr. introduced the Scholarship Committee, including Michael Depoe, Debbie Higuchi and Sandra Magnussen, who volunteered to whittle the field down to the final 10 recipients following countless hours of reviewing applications.
This is the 16th year that Gather FCU has awarded scholarships to graduating high-school seniors.
Gather FCU, established 67 years ago, is a $689-million financial institution that serves more than 35,800 members through its six branch offices on Kaua‘i, including Kukui Grove, Lihu‘e, Kapa‘a, Koloa, ‘Ele‘ele and Waimea.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
