The Native Hawaiian Organization Alaka‘ina Foundation recently contributed $500,000 to establish the Alaka‘ina Foundation UH Community College Technical Education Scholarship. This scholarship supports full-time and part-time undergraduate students pursuing a degree or certificate in vocational/technical education studies at any of the seven community college within the University of Hawai‘i System.
This new gift builds on the Alaka‘ina Foundation’s positive impact at UH. Last year, Alaka‘ina Foundation made donations to Kaua‘i CC programs totaling more than $250,000. This includes supporting the Alaka‘ina Foundation Engineering Scholarship for pre-engineering students transferring from Kaua‘i CC to UH Mānoa, the Kaua‘i CC Innovation Center and the Kaua‘i CC Cognition Learning Center (COGS) Fund.
University of Hawai‘i Vice President for Community Colleges John Morton said, “We are most grateful to the Alaka‘ina Foundation for their ongoing partnership and generous support.” Morton continued, “Through their strategic philanthropy, they are helping build stronger communities by ensuring our residents can afford the education and training they need to succeed in the dynamic workforce of today.” Morton continued, “Hawai‘i’s economic health depends on having a strong pool of well-trained employees ready to work.”
The goal of the Alaka‘ina Foundation is to ensure that students in K-12 grades have the skills and competencies they need to be effective leaders.
Philip Kahue, Executive Director of the Alaka‘ina Foundation said, “Alaka‘ina in Hawaiian means “leadership” and our mission at the Alaka‘ina Foundation is to build and promote leadership and education initiatives for “na pua o Hawai‘i,” or the youth of Hawai‘i.” Kahue continued, “Our goal is to develop a new generation of leaders, especially among those who live in rural areas, who have the aptitude, attitude and vision to lead our communities and our nation in the future. We are excited to partner with UH to help nurture this next generation.”
L-R William Villa, Secretary, Alaka‘ina Foundation; Vaughn Vasconcellos, Founder and Principal, Alaka‘ina Foundation; David Mortensen, Director, Alaka‘ina Foundation; Philip Kahue, Executive Director, Alaka‘ina Foundation; John Morton, UH Vice President for Community Colleges, and David Lassner, UH President.
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The Alaka‘ina Foundation is a non-profit Native Hawaiian Organization that was incorporated in March 2004.
Its programs include:
- Innovative educational projects, such as the Digital Bus, that blend science, technology, and environmental stewardship
- Teacher enrichment initiatives
- Scholarships and internships
- Support for community programs and organizations
Learn more at http://www.alakainafoundation.org/
The University of Hawai‘i Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawai‘i System. The mission of the University of Hawai‘i Foundation is to unite donors’ passions with the University of Hawai‘i’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawai‘i and our future generations. www.uhfoundation.org
