2017 Citizen-Scholar Awards

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Watch a recap by RKT Media of the Citizen-Scholar Awards below!

2017 Citizen-Scholar Awards from Hawaii Lodging (HLTA) on Vimeo.

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Forty-two seniors from public high schools across the Hawaiian Islands each received $1,000 scholarships for their post-graduate educations at the 13th annual Citizen-Scholar Awards, a partnership of the HLTA, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and Department of Education. The presentations were made at a luncheon held at The MODERN Honolulu on April 27. Mahalo to The MODERN Honolulu and all the HLTA members who sponsored a student, especially those who have participated in this worthy cause every year! 
 
The students were selected by the Department of Education for scholastic achievements and school and community service. Each must have a minimum 3.2 grade point average and an extensive record of school and public service.
 
This year, the HLTA introduced four additional $2,500 scholarships that were awarded to the top student from each of the state’s four counties. The recipients were Jaccie Hisashima of King Kekaulike High School on Maui, Lester Iwata of Waiakea High School on Hawai‘i Island, Truman Spring of Kahuku High School on O‘ahu, and Grace Yatsko of Kapa‘a High School on Kauai. The students were selected by an HLTA committee.
 
Jaccie Hisashima, Maui
Over the course of her schooling at Kekaulike, Jaccie Hisashima has devoted over a thousand hours of service to others. She is the student body president, as well as a member of the Key Club, STEM Club, tennis team, and a taiko group. Hisashima also returns every year to her elementary school to volunteer for events such as Read Aloud America and Pumpkin Math Night, where she teaches younger students STEM subjects. Hisashima will attend Chapman University starting Fall 2017.
 
Lester Iwata, Hawai‘i Island
Lester Iwata has been involved in community service since the beginning of his high school career at Waiakea. He is a Key Club member, Student Government Association secretary, and a varsity baseball athlete. Iwata is currently working on a project using computer drafting programs to draw a three-dimensional model of the Hokualaka‘i voyaging canoe. By using his STEM skills, Iwata hopes to educate the community on the history of the canoe and promote Hawaiian culture. Iwata will attend the University of Portland beginning this Fall.
 
Truman Spring, Oahu
Truman Spring of Kahuku High School is the vice president of his school’s National Honor Society, captain of the Kahuku Speech & Debate team, vice president of the Drama Club, and captain of a soccer club. He is a History Day competitor who has placed in the top 10 nationally for four years, including a first-place finish. When several students from his community lacked the financial resources to compete in National History Day in Washington, D.C., a few years ago, Spring helped get the students to the competition by successfully obtaining a youth leadership grant that required 275 students to participate in 1,000 hours of service through community environmental sustainability projects. Spring will attend Brigham Young University – Provo starting this Fall.
 
Grace Yatsko, Kaua‘i
Grace Yatsko is president of her school’s Interact Club, member of the Civics Club, student representative for the Kapa‘a High School PTSA, and part of the National Honor Society. Yatsko also has extensive experience in volunteering with youth; she tutors first graders at Kapa‘a Elementary School, works part-time as a teacher’s aide at All Saints Preschool, and has served as a Ke Akua Youth Group leader and Sunday school teacher at her church. When a psychiatric rehabilitation organization called Friendship House was burglarized, Yatsko wrote an editorial in the local newspaper to help raise money for the organization and successfully raised nearly $500. Yatsko will attend Colorado State University starting this Fall.
 
A complete list of the 2017 Citizen-Scholar Award recipients follows:
 
Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School
Victoria Matos
Aqua-Aston Hospitality

Aiea High School
Carly Nebrija
Sheraton Princess Kaiulani

Anuenue School
Logan Keola
Island Air

Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School
Regine Louisa Ramos
The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort

Hana High & Elementary School
Harmony-Sanoe Gonsalves-Cosma
Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

Henry J. Kaiser High School
Alexandria Yawata
The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel

Henry Perrine Baldwin High School
Layce Yamauchi
International Market Place

Hilo High School
Jessica Valdez
Castle Resorts & Hotels

Honoka`a High School
Aimee Seo
Ken's House of Pancakes

James B. Castle High School
Keilee Simms
Enterprise Rent-A-Car

James Campbell High School
Brandon Ragasa
Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach

Ka`u High School
Trevor Taylor
UH Manoa, School of Travel Industry Management

Kahuku High & Intermediate School
Truman Spring
Hawaiian Airlines

Kailua High School
Max Arakaki
Trump International Hotel Waikiki

Kaimuki High School
Sofia Matias
Ala Moana Hotel

Kalaheo High School
Matthew Darrah
Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa

Kalani High School
Mary Garrison
Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Kapa`a High School
Grace Yatsko
Alaska Airlines

Kapolei High School
Chantelle Lopez
Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Kaua‘i High School
Danica Marielle Ola
Hawai`i Lodging & Tourism Association - Kauai Chapter

Kea‘au High School
Ruby Kate Galapon
Hawaii Gas

Kealakehe High School
James Caudell
Hawai`i Lodging & Tourism Association - Hawaii Island Chapter

King Kekaulike High School
Jaccie Hisashima
Maui Hotel & Lodging Association

Kohala High School
Gabriella Boyle
Mauna Kea Resort

Konawaena High School
Ragan Leslie
Hale Koa Hotel

Lahainaluna High School
Justice Tihada
Marriott's Maui Ocean Club

Lanai High School
Colleen Sakuma
Pūlama Lāna`i

Leilehua High School
Christina Masutani
Sheraton Waikiki Resort

Maui High School
Alexandria Tyau
Island Movers

Mililani High School
Mitchell Kim-Fu
Pacific Beach Hotel

Moanalua High School
Mami Narita
Roberts Hawaii

Moloka‘i High School
Sonja Angst
Chelsea Group

Nanakuli High School
Joey Pantil
Hawaiian Electric Companies

Pahoa High & Intermediate School
Cosette Daniels
Big Island Candies

Pearl City High School
Michael Taylor
Outrigger Enterprises Group

President Theodore Roosevelt High School
Madavrolyn Tausa
Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa

President William McKinley High School
Donavan Albano
First Hawaiian Bank

Waiakea High School
Lester Iwata
KTA Super Stores

Waialua High & Intermediate School
Saige-Caleigh Dayacos
Interstate Restoration

Waianae High School
Rudjay Keopuhiwa
Halekulani Corporation

Waimea High School
BreeAnn Cayaban
DOW Agroscience

Waipahu High School
Andrea Lyn Mateo
Halekulani & Waikiki Parc Hotel