By Sarah Ruppenthal
Since it was established in 1989, the Realtors Association of Maui Community Foundation (RAMCF) Presidential Scholarship Fund has awarded $914,000 in academic scholarships to college-bound students from Maui, Lana’i and Moloka’i.
This year, RAMCF awarded $37,000 in scholarships to 37 students. These young scholars were honored at RAM’s General Membership Meeting on Friday, July 21, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
This year’s scholarship recipients are Kailani Ibanez, Jordan Cortez, Janessa Baguio Larena and Mina Suzuki of Baldwin High School; Katie Anakalea, Jacob Ha‘aheo Ricalde Garcia, and Isabella Ayau of Kamehameha Schools Maui; Kiana Haugg, Bianca Haugg, and Lily Mariani of Kihei Charter School; Morena Danti, Kaitlin Kitagawa, and Owen Riecke of King Kekaulike High School; Madison Yu-Cua of Lahainaluna High School; Carl Brian Padron of Lana‘i High and Elementary School; Jazmyne Faith Sagisi Viloria, Aliyah Casayuran, Lily Ahrnsbrak, Jasper Bibat, Taliah Cabatu, Isaiah Bailey, and Elizabeth Bautista of Maui High School; Niko Bento and Mia Merrill of Maui Preparatory Academy; Khyren Luuloa of Moloka‘i High School; and Abigail Walton and Helena Colletta of Seabury Hall.
Additionally, 10 past recipients received renewed scholarships this year. They are Jayelyn Kalena Viela, Jadynne Zane, Kaydence Lilio, Caitlin Raquel Lizada Baclay, Aniston Eyre, Ryllah Rae Rodrigues, Kyra Cabanilla Ong, Liam Chadli, Kayla Tuitele, and Manuel Kupaa Castro.
This fall, Ahrnsbrak will attend the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, where she will study marine biology. “This award will help me with pursuing my future goals,” she said. “I would like to say a big thank you to the members of the Realtors Association of Maui for your generosity and hard work… it means a lot to me that I was chosen.”
The 2023 Realtors Association of Maui Community Foundation (RAMCF) Presidential Scholarship recipients were recognized at RAM’s General Membership Meeting on July 21, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. RAMCF awarded $37,000 in scholarships to 37 students from Maui, Lana’i and Moloka’i.
Photo courtesy Studio 44A and the Realtors Association of Maui
Anakalea will be heading off to Pacific University in Oregon, where she plans to major in biology. “I’m honored to be a recipient of this year's scholarship,” she said. “As a first-generation college student and the oldest of four children, I always knew I'd have to apply for as many scholarships as possible to help my dad make college possible for me. When I found out I was selected as a recipient, I felt overwhelming gratitude, knowing that it would help me make my academic dreams a reality.”
Yu-Cua will be attending the University of San Francisco, where she will pursue a degree in English. “I’m so extremely honored to be receiving this scholarship,” she said. “Those who choose to help fund furthering education not only inspire me, but also encourage me to accomplish more with my own.”
To the members of RAM, Yu-Cua said, “Mahalo a million times over. Reducing financial burdens for young students like myself really does go so far. Thank you.”
Applications for next year’s RAMCF Presidential Scholarship will be available in early 2024. For more information about the RAMCF Presidential Scholarship Fund or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.ramaui.com/foundation or contact RAM at (808) 873-8585 or info@ramaui.com.