WAIMEA — The Waimea Alumni and Friends Foundation distributed $43,000 in scholarships to 35 graduating seniors Friday during the school’s Senior Awards program in the Clem Gomes Gym on campus.
Russ Hasegawa of the WAFF said all of the student recipients exemplified academic excellence and service to their school and community despite the pandemic.
“We thank their parents, family, the Waimea High School staff and administration, coaches, friends and community members who provided the guidance and support that contributed to the success of these students,” Hasegawa said.
The WAFF Scholarship program also acknowledges the contributions and donations from the following for the success of the program that allowed scholarships to be given to 35 students: Nick “EZ” and Pauline Street, Edison Chong, George and Dee Crowell, Guillermo and Ignacia Estacio, K. Fujita, Lisa Hiraoka, Warren Ishida, Harry and John Nakaue, Alyssa Nishihira, Blanche Suga, Ruby and Claude Takanishi, Melody Miyamoto Walters and Sueko Yoshida.
Scholarships of $2,000 went to Glydelle Valmoja (Todd and Grace Fermin Dizon Memorial Scholarship), Kylan Takakusagi (EZ Street Charitable Fund), Reign Palama (Misae Tokushige Takanishi Scholarship renewable for three years, totalling $5,000), Hali‘a Moriguchi (EZ Street Charitable Fund), Melodee Miguel (EZ Street Charitable Fund), Kamalani Goo (EZ Street Charitable Fund) and Kieran Canavan (EZ Street Charitable Fund).
Scholarships of $1,500 go to Tiara Ruiz (Yuso and Lillian Ishida Health Professions Scholarship) and Tresten Shigematsu (Daniel Suga Memorial Scholarship).
Scholarships of $1,000 were awarded to Allayna Alop (EZ Street Charitable Fund), Briana Apo (WAFF scholarship), Cayden Artaho (EZ Street Charitable Fund), Dawn Chandler (EZ Street Charitable Fund), Bronze DeCosta (S. Yoshida and L. Hiraoka WAFF scholarship), Hallie Frasco (WAFF scholarship), Shyann Freitas (WAFF scholarship), Kainoa Kimata-Lopez (WAFF scholarship), Kyrie Linoz (George and Doris Crowell Memorial Scholarship), Marcus Malone (WAFF scholarship), Braeanna Moises (George and Doris Crowell Memorial Scholarship), Jaylynn Pascua (EZ Street Charitable Fund), Chet Pimsaguan (WAFF scholarship), Brook Pope (WAFF scholarship), Mahina Pu‘u (WAFF scholarship), Macie-Lynn Ramos (EZ Street Charitable Fund), Joseph Sams (J. Nishihira Scholarship), Jonah Sandal (Naoko and Yoshiharu Ogata Scholarship), Jasmine Semblante (EZ Street Charitable Fund), Hazel Serapio (Guillermo and Ignacia Estacio Scholarship), Casera Silva (WAFF scholarship), Cassie Simpliciano (EZ Street Charitable Fund), Matthew Taeza (EZ Street Charitable Fund), Ty Tsukayama (Kaoru and Kikumi Nakaue Fujita Endowed Scholarship), Isley Ulanday (WAFF scholarship) and Kevin Valenciano (EZ Street Charitable Fund).