PUHI — Glydelle Valmoja, a senior at Waimea High School, was full of gratitude when she found out she was a recipient of a Grove Farm Foundation scholarship.
“I’m so grateful to receive this,” Valmoja said. “I’m going to school at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and with the scholarship I feel good about being able to go to school and still be able to help my family.”
Valmoja is one of the three recipients of the Grove Farm Foundation scholarships that reward recipients up to $20,000 a year for their four-year college or university studies and are renewable for all four years of undergraduate studies.
Madhav Collins Doijode of Kapa‘a High School, and Aidan Gregerson of Kaua‘i High School join Valmoja as recipients of the scholarship geared to the public high schools.
“I feel really good that this year’s recipients are from each of the high schools — Waimea, Kaua‘i and Kapa‘a high schools,” said Shawn Shimabukuro 0f Grove Farm.
Valmoja is pursuing a career as a family nurse practitioner. While a Menehune, Valmoja was outstanding in academics, and a leader in serving her class in student government and as the battalion commander for the Waimea High School JROTC.
“I don’t really know what specialty I want to pursue at this point,” said Collins Doijode. “But I know it’s medical, so I’m going for pre-medicine. I want to live a life of helping others, of being a positive force for change.”
After graduating from Kapa‘a High Friday, Collins Doijode is heading for Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, with a goal of becoming a physician.
Gregerson will be wearing the red-and-white of Kaua‘i High School when he graduates Friday at Vidinha Stadium.
Following graduation, Gregerson will be heading to Columbia University in New York to study neuroscience and computer science. Grove Farm said his dual fields of study will focus on his desire to practice medicine and wanting to pursue scientific research specializing in computers.
“Any advancements in understanding the brain will advance computing and provide the technology necessary to solve the great problems of our time,” Gregerson said.
This year’s pool of nine applicants was whittled down by a panel of judges invited by the Grove Farm Foundation.
Scholarship applicants for the three $20,000 scholarships are evaluated on their excellence in community service, citizenship, academic accomplishments and quality of character.
The Grove Farm Foundation merit-based scholarship is one of the largest scholarships offered in Hawai‘i, and since its start in 2010 has awarded $780,000 in scholarships.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
