Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 11, 1 November 1991 — Oʻahu Council awards $6,000 in scholarships [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Oʻahu Council awards $6,000 in scholarships

The O'ahu Advisory Oouneil of Alu Like announces the recipients of the six $1,000 grants of the Kako'o Graduate Scholarship Program for the fall of 1991-1992. The six graduate students are from the fields of medicine, international law, anthropology, veterinarian medicine, education and optometry.

The first recipient, Mikilani Ho of Kane ohe, is enrolled in the master's of arts program in anthropology at the University of Hawaii. She has served as president and founder of the Rock Art Association of Hawai'i, the conservation chair for Hawaii of the American Rock Art Research Association and director of Hawaii's 1000 Friends. Mikilani also lectures for the City and County of Honolulu on topics ranging from art to Hawaiian culture. Her goal is to be a research anthropologist with a specialty in Polynesian rock art focusing on Hawaiian rock art, its study, preservation and conservation.

Charles Holt is a resident of Berkeley, Calif. pursing a doctor of optometry degree. He attended Whitman College in Washington where he received a bachelor of arts degree in physics. Presently, he is chairperson of the American Optometric Association Political Action Committee Student Group. His professional goal is to establish a successful private practice whieh will enable him to help others, continue his interests in science along with nurturing a successful business life. He said his personal goals are to participate and improve the quality of health care within the Hawaiian community and to support and keep the Hawaiian culture and heritage alive.

Roger McKeague is from Kailua, Oahu. He graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a degree in history and English. He is attending Lewis and Clark Northwestern School of Law in Portland, Ore. He is a member of the Golden Key Honor Society, the Lewis and Clark International Business School. McKeague is an avid eanoe racer and served as a crewmember, eoaeh, and equipment chairman of the Lanikai Canoe Club. His professional interest is in international business law. He would like to be involved in international trade and investment in the Pacific Rim. He believes that if business between nations were increased and conducted in a more harmonious manner, the relationships between countries would be improved. He said he would assure that our Hawaiian culture would be respected and preserved.

The fourth recipient is Keakealani Mitchell from Honolulu who currently resides on Maui and is the vice-principal of Kihei School. She will be entering the master's program in the field of education administration at the University of Hawai'i. She is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. Since 1975, she has been a volunteer for the Maui Kidney Hemodialysis Patient Organization and is an active member of the Lanakila Church on Maui. She also received the Valley Forge Award for teaching. She wants to serve the community as an educational administrator working with students, teachers, parents and the community.

Susana Pulawa is from Kapa'a, Kaua'i and is a third year veterinary student at Ohio State University. She is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools. She received her bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of Hawai'i. She currently serves as the corresponding secretary of the Alpha PSI Veterinary Fraternity and is an active member of the student chapter of the American Veterinary Medicine Association.

Susana said ever since high school she has always wanted to be a veterinarian and has dedicated her studies to such a goal. She has worked as a dog handler, animal groomer and an experimenter in biomedical research for animal behavior. One of her professional goals is to educate the public in preventive medicine for animals as well as

in zoonotic diseases that affect humans. Our final recipient is Patrice Mei Lei Tim Sing from Hilo, Hawaii, who graduated from Kamehameha Schools and received a degree in biology from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. She is currently a second year medical student at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii.

She wrote īn her appheahon that the trek to higher education is open to anyone, Hawaiians included." Patrice's community activities inciude working with other students from the John A. Burns School of Medicine as they visit high schools statewide speaking to minority students, especially Hawaiians, on health concerns, higher education, and medicine. Her other activities include the Kua'ana Graduate Project for students in transition to

Donors Jean Stark (left) and Virgo Paynter Miyamoto.

From left: Mr. and Mrs. Holt accept the award for son Charles Holt who was in school, Patrice Tim Sing, Roger McKeague with his parents.

graduate school and she volunteers her time with the Hospice Hawai'i Project and the Hawai'i Medical Association Hawaiian Health Care System Committee.

After graduation from medical school, she plans to return to her home town of Hilo to practice primary care medicine. Patrice said she "wants to give back to Hawaiians the knowledge I've gained so as to guide or lead the way for other Hawaiians to achieve their goals." Patrice's grant was donated through the generosity of Virgo Paynter Miyamoto. Miyamoto has requested that her $1,000 grant be given to a student in the field of medicine. And further, Miyamoto has promised to pay in full, the medical school tuition of Patrice if she is unable to pay while a student in the John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Dr. Isaac J. Kaopua, Jr., an optometrist and vicechairman of the O'ahu Advisory Council of Alu Like, and the chairman of the Kako'o Graduate

Scholarship Program Selection Committee, said, "We had 36 applicants, screened 28 applicants and received eiqht late applications."

The Kako'o Graduate Scholarship Program was established in 1990 to assist Hawaii residents of Hawaiian and part-Hawaiian ancestry. To be eligible for a graduate scholarship, applicants had to be accepted at an accredited university or college in a graduate program; provide a one-page statement on why they chose their graduate program and how it will benefit the community; two letters of recommendations; an official transcript of undergraduate work; and provide proof of Hawaiian ancestry.

The other members of the committee are William D. Souza, chairman of the O'ahu Advisory Council and a member of the State Board of Directors of Alu Like, Mildred McColgan, member of the O'ahu Advisory Council, Harriet 0'Sullivan, O'ahu Island Center Representative, and Toni Demos of the Bank of Hawai'i.