Credit Union Awards $40K to Hawai‘i Teachers

Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union has granted $40,000 in grants to Hawaiʻi teachers this year, doubling its annual $20,000 grant award from last year.

The Investing in Education grant program supports Hawaiʻi public school teachers by providing up to $500 for educational resources and classroom activities.

The educators, who teach a range of subjects in elementary, middle and high school, were selected based on essay submissions detailing their classroom needs.

Lahaina Intermediate School’s Tricia Calhoon is awarded a $500 grant to purchase stream tables, buckets and tarps to teach students about erosion and landslides. PC: HSFCU.

Puʻu Kukui Elementary School’s Wileen Robson receives her Investing in Education grant for STEM stations and STEM kits to allow students to apply their learning of the scientific process, life sciences, environmental sciences and space sciences through hands-on activities. PC: HSFCU.

Maui High School’s Rondy Arquero plans to use her Investing in Education grant to introduce students to a career in education through field trips to nearby schools. PC: HSFCU.

Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union has funded classroom needs for a record 79 public school teachers on Oʻahu, Maui, Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi and Lānaʻi through the 2018 Investing in Education grant program.

This year’s educators continued to incorporate STEM-related lessons into their curriculum, requesting funds for kits to teach coding, build robots and create solar-powered cars.

Other teachers focused on developing post-graduation pathways for their students with career and technical education supplies as well as field trips to tour university campuses.

The grants also funded classroom materials ranging from basic books and art supplies to innovative tools such as interactive notebooks, smart boards and iPads.

“Over the past decade, our Investing in Education program has grown to support the needs of our educators on nearly every island in Hawaiʻi,” said Andrew Rosen, president and CEO of Hawaiʻi State FCU. “This year, we’re proud to double our investment and award even more public school teachers with grants that help them create innovative learning environments for our keiki.”

Since 2009, Hawaiʻi State FCU has funded the classroom needs of 512 grant recipients, with more than $236,684 awarded to support Hawaiʻi’s teachers.

Hawaiʻi State FCU also invests in higher education; its Lowell Kalapa Scholarship Program has awarded more than $609,000 over the past 22 years to help students attend universities, colleges and trade schools in Hawaiʻi and on the mainland.