3 Maui Graduates Receive Josh and Souk Jerman Foundation Scholarships

Three Maui County high school graduates have been awarded $1,000 each by the Josh and Souk Jerman Foundation Scholarship program. Now in its thirteenth consecutive year, the Josh and Souk Jerman Foundation Scholarship (formerly the Josh Jerman Maui Nui Scholarship) program has provided scholarships to college-bound students who will attend an accredited four-year college or university.

To date, the program has awarded more than $38,000 in scholarships to Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi high school seniors who have displayed a passion for returning to Maui County after college to contribute to the community.

This year’s recipients are Dean Omura from Lahainaluna High School, Jasmine Cabajar from Maui High School and Nohea Stoner from Hāna High and Elementary School.

In the fall, Omura will attend the University of Portland, where he will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

He said the scholarship will help him achieve his academic goals. “When I learned I was the recipient of this scholarship, I was overwhelmed with joy, because I knew my hard academic, volunteer and athletic work had paid off,” he said. “This scholarship will help me achieve my academic goals because of the time and money it has saved me. It has been a huge help to me and my family.”

Cabajar will attend Portland State University, with plans to study pre-physical therapy.

Cabajar said she was elated to learn that she had been selected as one of this year’s recipients. “My reaction was excited and happy,” she said. “I’m glad that I applied for this scholarship; I really wanted it and I would like to thank the Josh and Souk Jerman Foundation for picking me… I am happy to be continuing my education and golf career at Portland State University.”

Stoner will attend UH Maui College, where she plans to fulfill her dream of earning a culinary arts degree.

“I hope to one day become as knowledgeable as Rachael Ray, Giada De Laurentiis, Ina Garten and the number of others who share a deep passion for food,” Stoner said. “In addition to that, I will combine my love for cooking with a desire to promote sustainable farming practices and seasonal cuisine.”

Stoner is also grateful to be one of this year’s scholarship recipients. “This scholarship will help me pay for a number of my college expenses—expenses that I would be unable to pay otherwise. So, for that, I am extremely grateful,” she said.

Omura encourages all college-bound students to apply for scholarships like the Josh and Souk Jerman Foundation Scholarship. “Apply for every scholarship you can qualify for, because everyone works hard in high school to build their credibility in the community and there is an abundance of money donated just for scholarships,” he said. “Don’t doubt yourself and have a little faith in yourself, because I’m pretty sure every application is taken into consideration.”

Josh Jerman, an award-winning, top-producing real estate broker, and his wife, Souk, are the founders of the Josh and Souk Jerman Foundation Scholarship program..

Jasmine Cabajar will attend Portland State University, with plans to study pre-physical therapy.

Nohea Stoner will attend UH Maui College, where she plans to fulfill her dream of earning a culinary arts degree.

Dean Omura will attend the University of Portland, where he will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.