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Realtors Association of Maui members and Rotarians (from left) Karin Carlson, Judy Gray, Mike O’Dwyer, and Mark Harbison. Photo credit: Stuart Karlan

For many students, a scholarship is more than a financial reprieve—it is also the promise of a brighter future. Just ask the students who are now pursuing their educational and career goals with the help of scholarship programs supported by members of the Realtors Association of Maui (RAM).

Among them are Anne Diola of Makai Mortgage, Shannon Cortez of First Hawaii Title, Bruce McDonald of Coldwell Banker Island Properties, Naomi Petterson of Maui Realty Co. and Kai Schmidt of First Hawaii Title. They belong to the Kiwanis Club of Kahului, which recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Aleth Sabugo from King Kekaulike High School. This fall, Sabugo will be studying nursing at the University of Hawaii Maui College.

In addition to offering academic scholarships, the Kiwanis Club of Kahului sponsors two key clubs (the oldest and largest student-led service program for high school students) at King Kekaulike High School and Baldwin High School. The club also supports the annual Shop with a Cop event for deserving kids, participates in the Maui Food Bank’s Aloha BackPack Buddies program at Wailuku Elementary School and has raised more than $100,000 for Maui Memorial Medical Center’s pediatrics department through annual golf tournaments.

Karin Carlson of Wailea Realty Corp. + Windermere Real Estate, Judy Gray of Wailea Point Realty, Mark Harbison of Coldwell Banker Island Properties and Mike O’Dwyer of Wailea Realty Corp. + Windermere Real Estate are members of the Rotary Club of Kihei-Wailea. The club recently presented a $5,000 Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation scholarship to Jharrell Sim, a 2021 graduate of Kihei Charter School who plans to pursue a career in biomedical engineering. The Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation was founded in 1976 by Rotary District 5000 Governor Maurice J. “Sully” Sullivan (Rotary District 5000 includes all of Hawaii’s Rotary clubs), who wanted to help local high school graduates realize their potential by attending a college or university of their choice. Every year, Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation scholarship awards are given to graduating high school seniors across the state.

Like its Kihei-Wailea counterpart, the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset also awarded scholarships this year. The club’s membership roster includes Heidi Dollinger of Island Sotheby’s International Realty, Nancy Montoya of Keller Williams Realty Maui, Leanna Roberts of iTrip Vacations Maui, Kyoko Wills of Old Republic Title and Katie Zimmerman of Keller Williams Realty Maui.

The Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset’s annual “Go for the Green” scholarship awards are given to students whose chosen field of study will benefit the environment; it reflects the club’s commitment to environmental initiatives and the long-term educational goals of local youth. To be eligible for the scholarship, an applicant must be a graduating senior residing and attending high school in West Maui, Lanai or Molokai. The recipients of the 2021 “Go for the Green” scholarships are Molokai High School graduate Reese Raguindin and Lahainaluna High School graduate Manuel Kupa‘a Castro. They each received $2,500.

This fall, Castro will be attending St. Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington, where he intends to major in engineering. “I am truly grateful for being selected as one of the recipients of the $2,500 Go for the Green Scholarship from the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset,” he said. “From my freshman year in high school, it was my dream to attend a university on the mainland, and with this scholarship, this goal is now being achieved.”

Raguindin will be majoring in education at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. After completing her degree, she plans to return home and work as a teacher on Molokai. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” she said. “I wish to become a public school educator so that I can help change the world one student at a time.”

The Maui News – June 28, 2021

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