Maui Students Receive Citizen-Scholar Awards

Several Maui students were among a list of public school seniors honored with scholarships by the Hawaiʻi visitor industry.  A total of seven students on Maui were on the list of 42 seniors in the state who received $1,000 scholarships for their post-graduate educations from the Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association during a luncheon today on Oʻahu.  The students were selected by the Department of Education for scholastic achievements and school and community service.

Maui County recipients include: Baldwin High School, Julia A. Kimoto; Hāna High & Elementary School, Precious Helekahi; Kekaulike High School, Isabelle Mosbarger; Lahainaluna High School, Natasha Currence; Lānaʻi High & Elementary School, Nicholas M. Niimi; Maui High School, Jacy M. Sera; and Molokaʻi High School, Cendall E. Manley.

The scholarships, known as the Citizen-Scholar Awards, is a partnership of the Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and Department of Education. Funding was provided by HLTA members. This was the 12th year the awards were presented.

In addition to their academic and community achievements, each student must have a minimum 3.2 grade point average and have an extensive record of school and public service.

Mufi Hannemann, HLTA president and CEO, said: “Hawai‘i’s hospitality industry has been proud to honor the future leaders of our state and nation. These seniors have been selected by dint of their scholastic success as well as their invaluable contributions to their schools and our community. They represent the best of your youth devoting themselves to volunteerism and public service, and we’re delighted to recognize them for their leadership and selflessness.”

This year, the HLTA added two new awards: the top senior representing O‘ahu and the top senior representing the Neighbor Islands each received an additional $2,500 scholarship. They were selected by an HLTA committee.

The recipients were Perry M. Arrasmith of ‘Aiea High School on O‘ahu and Julia A. Kimoto of Maui’s Baldwin High School. Kimoto is active in student government, a member of the National Honor Society, been a long-time 4-H member and held many leadership posts for the group, and volunteers as a children’s soccer coach and with her church. She will attend the University of Portland.

“We added these two new awards thanks to the generosity of our HLTA members. The $2,500 scholarships are an added bonus to the two students who represent all the finest attributes of our future leaders, and we couldn’t have selected better students to inaugurate this special honor,” said Hannemann,

A complete list of the Citizen-Scholar Award recipients follows:

2016 Citizen-Scholar Honorees

ʻAiea High School Perry M. Arrasmith
Baldwin High School Julia A. Kimoto
Campbell High School Rebekah T. Padua
Castle High School Janice A.M. Hata
Farrington High School Elvelyn Fernandez
Hāna High & Elementary School Precious Helekahi
Hilo High School Jasmine T.K. Smeraglia
Honokaʻa High & Intermediate School Kehaulani I. Kapu
Kaʻū High & Pahala Elementary Schools Jay-R P. Abalos
Kahuku High & Intermediate School Yara M.L. Rose
Kailua High School Zachary Espino
Kaimukī High School Starshine S. Chun
Kaiser High School Kannon F. Rivas
Kalaheo High School Jahanna N. Shah
Kalani High School Izumi C. Amemiya
Kapaʻa High School Brylyn N. Aiwohi
Kapolei High School Joelle A.K. Tamura
Kauaʻi High School Emma R. Leary
Keaʻau High School Phillip H. Palmore
Kealakehe High School Sarah M. Mumbert
Kekaulike High School Isabelle Mosbarger
Kohala High School Melanie R. Sahagun
Konawaena High School Brianna Halliwell
Kula Kalapuni ‘O Anuenue/Anuenue School Tayler Baniaga
Lahainaluna High School Natasha Currence
Lānaʻi High & Elementary School Nicholas M. Niimi
Leilehua High School Ethan S. Toriki
Maui High School Jacy M. Sera
McKinley High School Amber M. Kim
Mililani High School Kiana K. Caranto
Moanalua High School Jessica S.T. Luong
Molokaʻi High School Cendall E. Manley
Nānākuli High & Intermediate School Ma.luisa R. Benicarlo
Pāhoa High & Intermediate School Christopher Erice Bartolome
Pearl City High School Lindsey M. Brown
Radford High School Hannah L. Tufts
Roosevelt High School Noelle N. Lee
Waiakea High School Taylor M.T. Nishimura
Waialua High & Intermediate School Cooper R. Thomson
Waiʻanae High School Lester Aquino
Waimea High School Melia H. Okura
Waipahu High School Mc Erl Dave C. Andres

Most Outstanding Scholar Julia Kimoto. Courtesy photo.

Cendall Manley of Molokaʻi. Courtesy photo.

Jacy Sera of Maui. Courtesy photo.

Isabelle Mosbarger of Kekaulike. Courtesy photo.

Precious Helekahi of Hāna on Maui. Courtesy photo.

Julia Kimoto of Baldwin High School. Courtesy photo.

Natasha Currence. Courtesy photo.