Maui Students Receive $3,000 Scholarships from First Wind

Kahaewa wind project. File photo.

By Sonia Isotov

Three Maui senior high schools students were among 15 recipients of $3,000 college scholarships from First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company with projects on Maui and Oahu.

First Wind received more applications from students living in Hawaii host communities than from any other state, which resulted in six scholarships being awarded to students from Hawaii, including these three from Maui:

• Dane Oshiro of Kula, a graduate of Maui High School, will attend Willamette University and will major in Environmental Science;
• Stephen Adolfson of Lahaina attended Lahainaluna High School and is enrolled in Colorado State University where he will pursue a degree in Engineering;
• Kamie-Lei Fujiwara of Wailuku, a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Maui, has been accepted to Dartmouth College and will major in Environmental Science;

The First Wind Scholars program offers one-time, $3,000 scholarships to local high school seniors who display strong potential for a successful college experience, as well as interest in the environment, energy, or the sciences.

“In its second full year, we were very pleased to see the significant increase in applications from so many talented and bright high school students in the communities where we develop and operate wind projects,” said Carol Grant, Senior Vice President of External Affairs for First Wind, in a written statement released by the company today. “As we grow our development of clean, renewable energy projects across the Northeast, the West and Hawaii, we will continue to expand our scholarship program with the hope that students within our host communities take full advantage it. For our 2011 recipients, we wish them all the best during their college careers and we are excited about their future contributions in the fields of environment, energy and the sciences.”

First Wind owns and operates two projects in Hawaii including its 30 MW Kaheawa Wind project on Maui and its 30 MW Kahuku Wind project on Oahu. First Wind has a power purchase agreement with Maui Electric Company for an additional 21 MW expansion of its Kaheawa Wind Project. In addition, First Wind hopes to build a 70 MW project near the town of Haleiwa, called Kawailoa Wind.