Kaimana Scholarship Winners Bios

BIIF

Christina Chow, Keaau High School

Christina was cross country team captain and also played tennis. She was National Honor Society president, senior class valedictorian, and is an accomplished dancer. She prepared and served meals twice a month to the needy for the past 13 years. She’ll major in elementary education at Weber State University and plans to return to teach in Keaau.

Namele Naipo-Arsiga, Kamehameha Schools Hawaii

Namele was captain of the Warrior basketball team that captured four BIIF titles and won back-to-back Division II state championships in 2012 and 2013. She also was a member of the softball, cross country, and bowling teams. She volunteered with the Malia Puka o Kalani Church youth group and will study kinesiology and rehabilitation science at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Talon Ota, Keaau High School

Talon was team captain for the football and soccer teams and also participated in baseball and track. He was a National Honor Society member and started an afterschool track team for Keaau Elementary School students. Talon plans to study sports science or physical education at Southern Utah University and hopes to return home to share his knowledge of healthy living with his community.

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ILH

Kepa Barrett, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama

Kepa participated in cross country, track and field, and paddling. He spent many hours volunteering with the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps and qualified for the National Speech Tournament in duo interpretation. Kepa will pursue a degree in environmental analysis with an emphasis on science and sustainable living at Pitzer College in Claremont, California.

Allie Kim, Iolani School

Allie participated in track and field, wrestling, and kayaking and was selected to the ILH All-Star Division II mixed girls paddling team. She also served as a student tutor and is a member of the Japanese National Honor Society and Operation Raising Awareness for Darfur. She received National Merit commendation and a University of Hawaii at Manoa Regent’s Scholarship to study engineering.

Katy Kingery, Assets School

Katy participated in cheerleading and golf. She was active in student government, volunteered with Our Savior Lutheran Church, and was a Bookshare National Writing Contest winner. She’ll study nursing at Chaminade University and looks forward to a hands-on career where she can offer kindness and compassion to relieve pain and stress in others.

Makuali‘i Perry, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama

Makua was a member of the football and volleyball teams and was named Most Outstanding Varsity Paddler on the three-time state champion Warrior boys paddling team. He made the honor roll, was active in speech and debate, the Ku Mauna leadership program, and concert glee club. Makua will study psychology at Oregon State University and wants to earn a doctorate in counseling.

Lauren Uhr, Iolani School

Lauren participated in varsity paddling, volleyball, and track. She received the National Merit Scholarship Finalist Award, a Presidential Scholar Award nomination, and served as co-president of Operation Raising Awareness for Darfur. She also represented Hawaii at the World Youth Congress in Istanbul, Turkey. Lauren will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston to study biology and play volleyball. She plans to attend medical school.

Melissa Wong, Punahou School

Melissa was a three-time All-State first team selection in both cross country and track and field. She’s a National Honor Society member, a recipient of a Japanese-language achievement and speech award, and helped teach Japanese to second-graders. Melissa plans to run cross country and track and study engineering at Washington University in St. Louis.

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KIF

Joy Claypoole, Island School

Joy was captain of the basketball, cross country, tennis, track, swimming, and volleyball teams. She also captained Island School’s mock trial team and was a Science Olympiad club standout. Joy will study exercise science, run cross country, and play basketball at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She plans to return home eventually to take over her family’s physical therapy business.

Lucas Gushikuma, Kauai High School

Lucas was captain of the soccer team, a member of the cross country, track, and volleyball teams, National Honor Society member, and senior class valedictorian. He volunteered as an AYSO coach and for Young Life Capernaum, an organization that helps children with special needs. He’ll study nursing at the University of Portland and wants to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Noelani Murray, Kauai High School

Noe was a member of the tennis, cross country, and track teams, and a two-time Intel International Science and Engineering Fair finalist. She volunteered with Special Olympics and helped children who are new to the country learn English. Noe plans to attend California Lutheran University to become a TESOL teacher to teach English to immigrants in the U.S.

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MIL

Kaylee Correa, Kamehameha Schools Maui

Kaylee ran cross country and track and was team captain of the MIL champion Warrior soccer team. She volunteered for YMCA Child Watch and St. Joseph’s Church. Kaylee also made the Headmaster’s List and is a National Honor Society member. She’ll attend the University of Notre Dame to major in biology and international economics.

Michael Kikukawa, Molokai High School

Michael Kikukawa was a member of the cross country, track and field, golf, and swim teams. He was senior class valedictorian and student government president. He also participated in robotics and National History Day and interned in the governor’s office and for Mufi Hannemann’s 2012 congressional campaign. He’ll study government at Harvard University and wants to pursue a career in government and law.

Carissa Ratté, Seabury Hall

Carissa was a member of the two-time champion MIL Division II girls volleyball team and three-time champion soccer team. She also played tennis. She made the headmaster’s list all four years of high school and volunteered for several organizations that help disabled adults and children. Carissa will study business and special education at Western Washington University.

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OIA

Sean Fukunaga, Pearl City High School

Sean was a member of the cross country, wrestling, and track teams. He served as president of the National Honor Society and Leo Club. He also edited the school newspaper and volunteered at the Battleship Missouri Memorial. Sean will study electrical engineering at Loyola Marymount University and someday hopes to design and build more cost-effective renewable energy technology for consumers and households.

Tiana Grant, Kalaheo High School

Tiana was selected an OIA first-team all-star paddler during her junior year and Kalaheo’s Most Valuable Paddler her senior year. She received the academic honor roll all four years of high school and graduated summa cum laude. Tiana will attend Hawaii Pacific University to fulfill her goal of becoming a registered nurse.

Elise Inouye, Kaimuki High School

Elise played junior varsity baseball, varsity softball and water polo, and was captain of the soccer team. She also was senior class president, a National Honor Society member, a band member, and volunteered for the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps. Elise will study political science at the University of Hawaii at Hilo on a Chancellor’s Scholarship. She hopes to pursue a career in law or politics.

Kylie Nishino, Waipahu High School

Kylie was named to the HHSAA Division II all-tournament team in 2011. She was a four-year honor roll student, won awards in algebra and geometry, and took top honors in a Hawaiian-language speech competition for first-year students. Kylie volunteered at the Rehab Hospital of the Pacific. She’ll major in elementary education at Chaminade University and plans to work with young children.

Reece Teramoto, Pearl City High School

Reece was captain of the cross country and track teams. He was senior class valedictorian, National Honor Society and student government vice president, captain of Pearl City’s Science Bowl team, and played trumpet in his school’s symphonic wind ensemble. Reece participated in many community service activities through the Serteens Club of Hawaii. He’ll attend the Santa Clara University to study computer science.

Jaryn Kamalu Villegas, Leilehua High School

Jaryn was a second-team All-State selection in football and won an OIA Western Division title in judo and a state championship in wrestling. He helped teach a team of special-needs children how to play soccer. He’ll study engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point and play for the Army football team.

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