Kaimana Scholarship Winners Bios
BIIF
Devin Chu, Hilo High School
Devin was one of two Hawaii delegates selected to the 2010 U.S. Senate Youth Program and met President Obama, Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor, and Senator Akaka. He was captain of the tennis team and won the Gemini Observatory Future Scientist Award. For his Eagle Scout project, he installed a communications center at Hilo Intermediate’s tennis courts.
Jo-Lynn Kahala-Minczer, Kealakehe High School
Jo-Lynn was a two-time BIIF wrestling champion in the 114-pound weight class and captain of the Waverider’s track and field team. She was also a National Honor Society member and volunteered at Kealakehe’s Relay for Life event.
Jonathan Torigoe, Waiakea High School
Jonathan placed fourth in the International Micro-Robotics competition at Nagoya University in Japan and served food at the Salvation Army soup kitchen. He was the top-ranked BIIF shooter for the air riflery team and on the soccer team. He was awarded a Regents Scholarship to the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
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ILH
Tyler Amina, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Tyler spent two summers conducting research on HIV at Drexel University, and was a finalist in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. He was captain of the swimming and water polo teams. Tyler did volunteer work at a hospital and worked on a church landscaping service project.
Courtney Choy, Punahou School
Courtney made the Dean’s List every year and won awards in Spanish, art, chemistry honors, and biology honors. She was captain of the five-time state-champion girls cross country team and the two-time state-champion track and field team. She volunteered for her school’s Outdoor Education Program.
Jonathan Padron, Damien Memorial School
Jonathan was selected to carry a relic of St. Damien to St. Philomena Church at Kalaupapa on Molokai. He was the state champion in the 100-meter dash during his junior year. He was a National Honor Society member and made the honor roll all four years of high school.
Shayna Price, Punahou School
Shayna helped repair a Mexican orphanage and returned to serve there the next year. She also volunteered in Swaziland, among other volunteer efforts. Shayna was the state championship tournament most outstanding player in 2009 and 2010 for the three-time champion girls water polo team. She was a National Honor Society member and won an Excellence in Social Studies Award and her school’s Multilingual Award.
Jetson Yee, Maryknoll School
Honor roll student Jetson was a member of the volleyball team and a four-year member of the Onipaa Volleyball Club that won the Junior Olympics 14-and-under national championship in 2006. He worked at Parents and Children Together Family Peace Center, volunteered at two hospitals, and spent more than 400 hours at the Boys & Girls Club.
Victoria Zeuner, Mid-Pacific Institute
Victoria was named to the U.S. junior national kayaking team. She trained and competed at the National Development Program camp in New York. She was also a National Honor Society member who made the President’s List, completed the International Baccalaureate program, and earned the Girl Scout’s Leadership and Gold awards.
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KIF
Natasha Abadilla, Waimea High School
Natasha was the KIF girls cross country individual champion and team captain, and a track and field team member. She was also class valedictorian, student body president, a National Merit semifinalist, and a Junior ROTC cadet battalion operations officer. Natasha volunteered with women undergoing chemotherapy and the American Cancer Society.
Jade Cano, Waimea High School
Number-one singles player and captain the tennis team, Jade also ran for the Waimea High cross country team. She was a member of the state’s first group of Junior Medical Reserve Corps. She also volunteered for the Health Occupation for Teens club and taught First Aid/CPR.
Alia Weiss, Waimea High School
Alia won her school’s scholar-athlete award and was class valedictorian. She was captain of the Warrior cross country and swim teams and also a member of the track team. Alia volunteered for campus cleanups and the Salvation Army and tutored Kapaa Elementary School students.
MIL
Jenae Kruck, Lahainaluna High School
Jenae served as a camp counselor for Kamp Kumulani and Camp Mokuleia for Young Life and also helped build a house for a family in Mexico. Jenae was captain of both the four-time MIL-champion Luna water polo team and the soccer team. She made the honor roll three out of four years.
Sheyenne Machida, Maui High School
Sheyenne was a three-time MIL 1-meter diving champion, captain of the cross country team, and a member of the track and field team. She was also a National Honor Society member and served as junior class president. Sheyenne volunteered more than 250 hours as a student athletic trainer.
Charlene Pacubas, St. Anthony High School
Charlene worked with girls at a homeless shelter in Wailuku and volunteered as a caregiver for children with disabilities at Camp Imua. She was a member of the air riflery, basketball, and softball teams. Charlene was also senior class president and a member of the National Honor Society.
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OIA
Jackie Ching, Roosevelt High School
Jackie placed fourth in the International Micro-Robotics competition at Nagoya University in Japan. He was the top-ranked BIIF shooter for the air riflery team and on the soccer team. Jackie served food at a soup kitchen and received a Regents Scholarship to the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Leia Lendio, Waialua High School
As captain of the robotics team, Leia won the Most Outstanding Website Award in the FIRST Robotics Competition regional in 2008 and 2009. She was selected first-team White Division libero in volleyball in 2008 and 2009 and was on the track and soccer teams. She mentored the Waialua Intermediate robotics team and also collected 1,750 books for children.
Xinhe Li, Roosevelt High School
Xinhe volunteered at the Manoa library because she learned English and gained a love for books when she moved from China in first grade. She was named an AP Scholar with distinction, made the honor roll all four years, and was class valedictorian. Xinhe was a three-time OIA East first-team selection in swimming and on the OIA-champion water polo team.
Melissa Monette, Mililani High School
As captain of the varsity tennis team, Melissa went undefeated in doubles play for two seasons. She was also junior varsity assistant tennis coach and class valedictorian. She directed the nonprofit Kids Helping Kids with Diabetes and created an exercise program for schools and a food collection organization. Melissa earned a Gold Award from the Girl Scouts and won the Nestle Very Best in Youth competition. She was honored by Laura Bush with a Prudential Spirit of Community Award.
Eugene Senda, Roosevelt High School
Eugene was a member of the OIA East championship tennis team and OIA championship soft tennis team. He made the honor roll every year and was an AP Scholar with honors. He twice received a Lions Young Leaders in Service Gold Award, which is given to students who volunteer more than 100 hours. He also worked at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii.
Kai Yoshioka, Roosevelt High School
Kai graduated summa cum laude and was a class valedictorian. He was also captain of the cross country and track and field teams and the OIA Eastern Division champion at 3,000 meters. Kai was a marching band member and will soon become an Eagle Scout. He won an award for best speech in his division of the KZOO Japanese-language speech contest.
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