Two earn Kiwanis scholarships

LIHUE — The Kiwanis Club of Kauai, sponsors of the Key Clubs at the public high schools, presented $1,000 scholarships and a Kiwanis mascot with appropriate ribbons to two students — Michaela Alcaraz of Kauai High School and Margarita Lomongo of Waimea High School — Tuesday during the Kiwanis Scholarship Meeting at the Puakea Grill.

Lomongo, also a recipient of a scholarship from the Waimea Alumni and Friends Foundation (WAFF) being awarded at the same time, opted to attend the Kiwanis event, where each recipient also earned special congratulatory certificates from Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami and the Kauai County Council.

Lomongo, the vice president of Service and a founding member of the Waimea High School Key Club, carries a Grade Point Average of 4.038 and expects to attend Northern Arizona University to study dietetics. She is the daughter of Mathleen Otosi.

Alcaraz, a member of the Kauai High School Key Club since a freshman, is the club’s previous vice president of Membership. She plans on attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa to study medicine. The daughter of Maricel De Venecia and Daniel Alcaraz Jr. carries a GPA of 4.13.

Since 1989, the Kiwanis Club of Kauai has provided $100,500.00 in scholarships for deserving Key Club members. Recipients are awarded based on their leadership, community service activities, academic achievements, need, adviser comments and an essay.

The Kiwanis Club of Kauai raises most of the scholarship funds through various fundraisers throughout the year, including their chili and rice lunch and car washes. The Kiwanis Club of Kauai typically meets once a month at the Puakea Grill, and is currently under the leadership of President Cheryl Shintani.