Three Maui County Graduates Earn Scholarships

Three Maui County high school graduates were recently awarded $1,000 each from the Josh and Souk Jerman Foundation Scholarship program. Now in its 16th year, the program provides scholarships to students who will attend an accredited four-year college or university. The program has awarded more than $47,000 in scholarships to Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i high school seniors who have exemplified a passion for contributing to the Maui County community after college.

This year’s recipients are Moani Kahana from Hāna High and Elementary School, Malina Motulalo from Baldwin High School, and Kaitlin DeRouin from Moloka‘i High School.

DeRouin will attend Chaminade University of Honolulu in the fall, where she plans to pursue a nursing degree. Motulalo will attend Dixie State University, where she will study business administration. Kahana will attend the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo.

DeRouin said the scholarship will help her achieve her goals.

“This scholarship will not only benefit me, but my community as well, because when I complete my education, I will come back home to Moloka‘i to serve as a nurse,” DeRouin explained.  

Motulalo was elated to learn that she was selected as one of this year’s recipients.

“Being able to relieve some of the financial stress for college has lifted a huge weight off of my shoulders,” Motulalo said. “I want to thank Josh and Souk Jerman for believing in me and giving me this opportunity to continue my education. Thanks to their generosity, I will be the first in my family to attend college. I am one step closer to achieving my degree and I am thankful for their support.”

Kahana is also grateful to be one of this year’s scholarship recipients.

“I would like to thank them (Josh and Souk Jerman) for giving an opportunity like this to students in need of aid,” Kahana said.   

DeRouin said all college-bound students should apply for scholarships like the Josh and Souk Jerman Foundation Scholarship.  

“You don’t have a chance if you don’t apply,” DeRouin said.

Like DeRouin, Motulalo encourages high school seniors to seek out these opportunities.

“Apply for as many scholarships as you can,” Motulalo said. “Get a head start and don’t wait until the last minute. Even if you think you may not qualify, there is no harm in applying.”

Josh Jerman, an award-winning real estate broker, and his wife, Souk, are the founders of the Josh and Souk Jerman Foundation Scholarship program. More information about the program is available on their website.