Local Law Firm Announces Scholarships to Five Maui Students

The Menzer Law Firm “Support the Community Scholarship” is given to five Maui students who have spent time volunteering in their community.

Each student selected for the award received a $2,500 scholarship, and Menzer Law Firm committed a $1,000 donation to the non-profit where each of the winners volunteered their time.

The five scholarship winners and their chosen non-profits are posted below:

Elijah Carbajal: Imua Family Services

A 2021 graduate of Kekaulike High School in Pukalani, Carbajal was accepted to the Arizona State University. At ASU, he plans to study Social Justice and Performing Arts. While in high school, Elijah volunteered at Imua Family Services for three summers. 

There, he worked as a camp counselor to kids with special needs. Each week-long camp was filled with activities for the attendees – and lots of responsibilities for volunteers like Elijah. Through his work, he learned patience, empathy, and the necessity of community support for families and kids alike.

Jacqueline Mulder: Maui Cancer Wellness Retreats

As a cancer survivor herself, Jacqueline “Jacky” Mulder understands the importance of volunteers in the community. After moving to the United States from the Netherlands in 2010, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After going into remission, she connected with the founder of Maui Cancer Wellness Retreats. 

For more than three years, she has worked with participants – teaching free weekly yoga classes, facilitating peer support groups, and participating in the MCWR communications board. In 2019, she decided to go back to school as an adult to become a social worker. Jacky currently attends the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College in Kahului, where she is majoring in Human Services and Liberal Arts.  After graduating with her degree in Spring 2021, she plans to attend the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa in Honolulu to obtain a Master’s Degree in Social Work.

Max McGrath: Hawaiian Islands Land Trust

A 2021 graduate of St. Anthony High School in Wailuku, McGrath was accepted to Montana State University in Bozeman. At MSU, he plans to study Ecology, with a focus on fish and wildlife ecology and management. His decision to study ecology was heavily influenced by his volunteer work for the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust at the Waihe’e Preserve. 

Each Friday, Max would join a team of volunteers to trek out into the coastal wetlands to remove invasive species, plant native plants, and clean up the preserves. Doing this work gave him a great appreciation for the natural wonders of Hawai’i – and convinced him to return to the islands to work in the conservation field after graduation.

Michael Wong: MathCounts

After graduating from Maui High School in Kahului in 2021, Wong was accepted to Rice University to study electrical engineering. As a student who routinely won awards for his math and science prowess, Michael wanted to help others experience the same love of math. A former member of the Iao Middle School MathCounts team, he decided to volunteer as an assistant coach of the team. 

Each Saturday, he worked directly with middle school students, teaching them specific math problems, preparing them for math competitions, and developing lesson plans. In his years coaching the middle school team, Michael’s students experienced great success – including finishing at the top of many competitions.

Zyra Gonzalez: Maui Humane Society

A 2021 graduate of Maui Preparatory Academy in Lahaina, Gonzalez was accepted to the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa in Honolulu. At UHM, she plans to study English. During high school, Zyra volunteered with the Maui Humane Society. At MHS, she walked and cared for dogs on the weekend. 

Eventually, she also helped socialize cats that came into the care of MHS. Through her volunteer work, she learned that certain animals (just like humans) require a bit more patience and compassion, and different methods may be needed to reach them.

Since 2002, the Menzer Law Firm has represented injury victims in Hawaiʻi. With offices in Wailuku and Seattle, the firm represents individuals who have been hurt by the negligence or carelessness of others in personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice cases.