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Women’s Campus Club of Hawaiʻi Establishes Endowed Scholarship Fund

"Since its founding, the Women’s Campus Club has continued to encourage scholarship, promote fellowship among its members and render service to the university. Over the years, WCC has provided financial aid for students through the Leora Parmalee Dean Scholarship. Our partnership with the UH Foundation will enable us to continue to offer opportunities to students in need of financial assistance."

Aurora Fruehling, President,
Women’s Campus Club of Hawaiʻi


(Honolulu, Hawaiʻi) — For 100 years, the Women’s Campus Club (WCC) of Hawaiʻi has provided support and service to the University of Hawaiʻi. On May 19, WCC held a special gift signing ceremony, to transfer more than $80,000 to the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation to establish the Women’s Campus Club Endowed Scholarship.

"It is critical that resources are available for students looking to further their education," said UH Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw. "We are honored that this outstanding organization has chosen to support our university for so many years."

Founded in 1908 as The Women’s Club of the College of Hawaiʻi, the Women’s Campus Club (WCC) of Hawaiʻi is one of the oldest organizations affiliated with the university. Its goals are to promote friendship among members, to encourage scholarship and organize on and off-campus activities, field trips and tours. The group also sponsors an annual program of grants to all UH campuses.

Scholarships have been awarded by WCC for more than 50 years and were originally named in honor of Leora Parmalee Dean, who was club president when the College of Hawaiʻi became the University of Hawaiʻi. Dean was the wife of Arthur Lyman Dean who served as the president of UH when the college became a university in 1920.

A portion of the funds will be available for immediate use with the remainder placed in the endowed fund for future awards. The scholarships are for financially needy Hawaiʻi high school graduates and students transferring from another UH campus to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. These scholarships will benefit non-traditional or mature students in any field of study at UH Mānoa.

"It is important to note that both the University of Hawaiʻi and the Women’s Campus Club of Hawaiʻi are celebrating their centennials," said Donna Vuchinich, president of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation. "For 100 years, this partnership has allowed students to reach their full potential and become successful, productive members of society."

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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.

The Centennial Campaign is an historic private fundraising initiative to raise $250 million to support the University of Hawaiʻi’s commitment to our students, our community and our world. For more information about the Centennial Campaign, please visit www.uhf.hawaii.edu.