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Students in Honolulu Community College’s Diesel Technology program and Hawai‘i CC Diesel Mechanics program are rearing to go thanks to the generosity of Hawthorne Cat.

Hawthorne Cat, the Caterpillar dealership located on O‘ahu, along with matching funds from Caterpillar Foundation located in Peoria, Illinois, donated $13,750 to Honolulu and Hawai‘i Community Colleges to support scholarships and equipment needs.  Additionally, Hawthorn Cat gave both programs used engines and equipment with an estimated value of $18,800.

Honolulu CC lead diesel instructor Bobby Salvatierra shared, “Their donation will make a positive impact and enable students to fulfill their dreams of being a heavy equipment technician. The monies will assist with the financial burdens students often face. Some of the funds will allow the program to purchase items to enhance the student learning experience. ” He continued, “Providing students with an opportunity to work with Cat engines gives them a head start if they plan to work for the prestigious company.”

Hawai‘i CC diesel mechanics instructor Mitchell Soares added, “On behalf of the students, faculty and administration of the Hawai‘i CC Diesel Mechanics program, we would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to Hawthorn Cat for its generosity and support for the past decade.” Soares continued, “The Hawthorne Caterpillar Scholarship has supported many students’ financial needs throughout the years and has improved the Diesel Mechanics methodology training materials.”

New Internship Program

The Hawai‘i CC check signing ceremony was also an opportunity to celebrate a new internship program that began last year.

Brad Tsugawa, a second-year student in the Diesel Mechanics program, has been a paid intern at Hawthorne Caterpillar in Hilo since last summer. The internship has been a valuable learning experience, he said.

“It’s a lot of hard work but you also learn a lot of different ways of doing things there,” Tsugawa said. “It teaches you to work on your own sometimes and also to work with others and work with customers.”

Soares described the internship program as “another avenue provided to us by Hawthorne Caterpillar in supporting student success in our community.”

The internship is proving to be more than just a temporary learning opportunity for Tsugawa. When his yearlong internship ends, Tsugawa will work full time in a permanent position with Hawthorne Caterpillar in Hilo.

Before enrolling at Hawai‘i CC, Tsugawa fixed cars as a hobby while working in the restaurant industry.

“I decided to stick with what I know and go for it, and I’m actually making a career out if it now rather than doing things for free for friends,” said Tsugawa.

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The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawaiʻi System. The mission of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is to unite donors' passions with the University of Hawaiʻi’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawaiʻi and our future generations www.uhfoundation.org.