Maui Youth Awarded $5,000 Planet Fitness Scholarship

Tahiti Ahsam from Kahului, Maui has received a $5,000 national scholarship from Planet Fitness. Only 30 students received the scholarship nationwide.

Tahiti Ahsam from Kahului, Maui was one of 30 nationally recognized students which received a $5,000 scholarship from Planet Fitness. PC: Nagamine Photo Studio, Inc.

Ahsam received the scholarship for her inspiring efforts to create a kinder world for today’s youth as part of the company’s Judgement Free Generation philanthropic initiative which aims to prevent bullying and promote kindness everywhere.

The award ceremony took place on May 16, 2019 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui’s Central Clubhouse in Kahului.

In the winning entry, Tahiti shared her hopes for stopping bullying through the values of her Native Hawaiian culture, specifically sharing, “By perpetuating my Hawaiian culture, I’m able to set forth values like pono and aloha. Bullying is not aloha, it’s not pono, and it has no place in these values.”

Tahiti has been a Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui Paukukalo Clubhouse member for seven years and is a 2019 Baldwin High School graduate. She will be attending the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo in the fall and plans to pursue Hawaiian Studies.

“Planet Fitness’ Judgement Free Generation scholarship program recognizes today’s youth who are making a difference by spreading kindness and inclusion,” said Chris Rondeau, Planet Fitness’ Chief Executive Officer. “All 30 recognized scholarship recipients embody the true meaning of being judgement free, and their impact can be felt across their communities for the better.”

Tahiti Ahsam receives her award from the Kahului Planet Fitness. PC: Nagamine Photo Studio, Inc.

As part of this scholarship program, Planet Fitness is recognizing 30 teens across the country who have promoted kindness, acceptance and inclusion in their communities. Applications were submitted from Boys & Girls Club youth throughout the country and the scholarship recipients were awarded based on a personal essay, staff recommendation and video submission, all representing how they demonstrate and perpetuate values of kindness, acceptance, respect and tolerance.

Since 2016, Planet Fitness, Inc., has contributed more than $4 million to promote kindness as part of its national partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. As part of the program, the Company has funded first-of-its-kind pro-kindness, bullying prevention trainings for Boys & Girls Club professionals and youth, engaged in ongoing volunteer efforts, and built welcoming gym spaces at Boys & Girls Clubs. To date, the company has awarded $275,000 in Judgement Free Generation scholarships.