LIHU‘E — Kailea Danielson, Tiana Tomoda-Bannert and Hi‘ilani Ventura are just three of the 68 North Shore students to be awarded scholarships by the North Shore Lions Club.
The three students represented the awardees receiving additional awards from special donors to the club’s scholarship fund, and were congratulated by Mayor Derek Kawakami Thursday during a special presentation by the club that also earned a thank you and congratulations from the mayor.
“This year, we raised a record-setting $63,000 with the golf tournament that benefits the scholarship program,” said Jerry Moore, chair of the club’s tournament. “This money was awarded to 38 deserving North Shore scholarship recipients.”
Danielson, Tomoda-Bannert and Taelee Kimura represent the lead of the field of 38 recipients because, according to Lion Stuart Cain, each received $2,200 from the Lions Club, and each received an additional $5,000 from the Hunt Family for a total of $7,200 in scholarships.
Ventura received the Lions’ $2,200 scholarship and an additional $3,000 from the Kilauea Japanese Club for a total of $5,200 in scholarships.
“The scholarships have already been awarded,” Moore said. “We are planning to do a picnic where all 38 recipients can come together and celebrate.”
Ventura, who graduated from Island School, will be heading to the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa to study environmental science or sustainability. Astronomy is a link not only to Hawaiian culture, but to the necessity of advancing this technology. “Although I am unsure of where my future will take me, my ultimate goal is to give back to Hawai‘i,” she said in her application letter.
Danielson, a Kapa‘a High graduate who finished seven Early College dual-enrollment courses, will be a freshman at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. Originally from Tahiti, Danielson moved to Kaua‘i following her sixth grade.
Tomoda-Bannert is a senior at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa studying biology, transferring to UH-Manoa after attaining her associate degree in biological science from Kaua‘i Community College.
“Students can apply each year they’re in school and keep their home address on the North Shore of Kaua‘i,” Moore said. “For the past 18 years, the North Shore Lions Club has been raising money for deserving North Shore students in the form of a scholarship program to assist with school expenses.”
The annual golf tournament runs on the second Saturday in January with the help of title sponsor Aloha Roofing Supply, and partner the Princeville Makai Golf Club. It has grown over the past several years and often sells out with more than 100 golfers each year.
“We are very fortunate to receive financial support from our local community, who understands why supporting the education of our North Shore residents is very important,” Moore said. “The Hunt Family Foundation has been very generous to match our fundraising efforts with a donation of $20,000 for the past few years, along with local businesses and individuals.”
