2009 Scholarship Recipients

The goal of the HCCNC Scholarship Program is to support student leaders as role models for the Hawai‘i community. The Scholarship Program is aimed at strengthening the pipeline of Bay Area college-bound students and ensuring retention so that more students obtain their degrees. We seek to support qualified kama‘āina, and assist them in making the transition from high school to college, and from Hawai‘i to the mainland.

This year we are pleased to support two outstanding students!  Congratulations to Matthew and Ka’ohulani, recipients of the 2009 HCCNC Scholarship!

Matthew akio chee

Matthew Akio Chee, a Maryknoll High School graduate from Honolulu, is currently a junior studying Economics and Finance at Santa Clara University. He is a stellar student who was valedictorian of his high school graduating class, a Math Bowl champion and a Presidential scholar honors student. Not only is Matthew at the top of his class academically, but also he is also heavily involved in community service activities and is a leader in many community service organizations such as Rotaract, Santa Clara Community Action Plan, Peer Tutoring, Community Beautification, and Delta Sigma Pi.

Matthew’s future plans are to return home to Hawaii and serve as a State Senator, economic advisor at the state level, chief economist of a financial institution or as a college professor. He hopes to help influence Hawaii`s economic policies, support working families and help Hawaii`s tourism thrive. Matthew’s passion is truly about helping people, and he sees no better way to do this than serving as a voice of the people or by inspiring others to find their own passion as a teacher.

HCCNC is proud to support such an amazing individual and look forward to the many great accomplishments that Matthew will inevitably achieve.

Ka’ohulani Ah Yin Rawlins-Crivello

Ka’ohulani Ah Yin Rawlins-Crivello, from Molokai, will graduate from Kamehameha Schools this year and will enter the University of San Francisco as a freshman studying Civil Engineering. Ka’ohulani is a well-rounded student who is a champion athlete in canoeing, swim team, track & field and cross country and still finds time to do well academically and conduct community service activities such as Relay for Life, Lunalilo Home, Race for the Cure, and Kamehameha Schools Ho’olaule’a.

Ka’ohulani’s story is one that demonstrates the drive and “heart” of a talented and smart individual from Hawai`i – growing up on the small island of Molokai where she only spoke native Hawaiian and where others in her environment may not have pursued a higher education, Ka’ohulani strived to graduate from high school with honors and to pursue a college degree in Civil Engineering. Her goal is to study environmental engineering in order to help develop and support projects that will compatible with Hawaii’s unique environment.

HCCNC is proud and excited to award this scholarship to a gifted individual who has demonstrated that “heart” and hard work will go far.