(Honolulu, Hawaiʻi) - Seven outstanding University of Hawaiʻi Community College students have been selected as the 2004-2005 recipients of the Honda Scholarship for International Study. This scholarship is open to all University of Hawaiʻi Community College students who wish to study overseas and internationalize their education. Community leader and internationalist Paul S. Honda established the scholarship to promote international understanding through support for international travel and study and provide these opportunities for University of Hawaiʻi Community College students.
Each scholarship candidate was reviewed, assessed, and ranked based on the quality of his or her personal statement, letters of recommendation, academic record, and service to community, related to the activities and experience of the candidate. Students from Kapi’olani Community College, Maui Community College, and Hawaiʻi Community College were recipients of this year's scholarships. Awards ranged from $3,000 to $5,000 for each student. Countries where these students will engage in their proposed language and cultural study programs are China, Japan, France and Spain.
As a child in Tokyo, Paul Honda longed to study abroad in the land where he was born - Manchuria, China. His dream was interrupted by the end of World War II and a Russian order to attend Moscow University while he was an exchange student at the National University of Manchuria. Sent to a labor camp when he refused, he worked until he fled to the Chinese port city of Dalian and found a job as a Russian-Chinese-Japanese interpreter. After repatriation to Japan in 1947, he found difficulty returning to Manchuria, and set his sights on America to complete his studies. Short on funds while pursuing his MBA, he sold seven strands of pearls that his mother had given him for such a purpose and started Honda & Company, beginning a highly successful career in international gem trading. After three decades as an international trader, the Hondas took an early retirement and chose Hawaiʻi as their new home.
Though his career has ended, his vision has not, and the Honda Foundation today supports over 50 non-profit organizations. Years after his trans-continental quest for opportunity, Honda started the International Opportunities Fund for Community College students, distilling the essence of his international vision for a new generation of international scholars.
Honda Scholarship for International Study winners for 2004-2005 are:
| NAME | CAMPUS | PROGRAM | OBJECTIVE | AWARD | |
| 1 | Dawn Baxter |
Kapi’olani CC | Six-week intensive Spanish language program in Salamanca, Spain.June – July, 2004. | Her career goal is to earn a degree in Psychology and to attend Argosy Graduate School for a degree in Clinical Psychology. | $3,000 |
| 2 | Hiwalani Brown |
Hawaiʻi CC | Four-week Chinese Culture Study Tour at Peking University, China. May 20 - June 14, 2004. | Her educational goal is to earn a Bachelor's degree in Hawaiʻian Studies and to pursue graduate studies in International Relations with an emphasis in cultural diversity and equity. | $3,000 |
| 3 | Kathleen Engeln |
Maui CC | Obirin University Reconnaissance Japan program in Machida, Japan for one academic year. September 22, 2004– July 22, 2005. | Her career goal is to become a Japanese / English translator. | $5,000 |
| 4 | Bobby Michael Sohns |
Kapi’olani CC | Six-week intensive French language program at Accord Language School in Paris, France. July 12 – August 20, 2004. | His career goal is to learn about the “culture and language” of foods from around the world starting with French Cuisine. He eventually wants to open his own business. | $3,000 |
| 5 | Jesse Soldat |
Kapi’olani CC | Kansai University in Osaka, Japan for one academic year. August 2004 – July 2005. | His career goal is to become an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and work in an organization in Japan. | $5,000 |
| 6 | Raena Kahealani Mariko Tong |
Kapi’olani CC | Kansai University in Osaka, Japan for one academic year. August 2004– July 2005. | Her career goal is to earn a Masters degree in Social Work and / or Education and become a social worker and help the Japanese community in Hawaiʻi. | $5,000 |
| 7 | Yufei Rishelle Zhou |
Kapi’olani CC | Fudan University, School of Public Health in Shanghai, China for one semester. September 13 – December 24, 2004. | Her career goal is to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (AND) and help the Chinese community in Hawaiʻi. | $4,000 |
| TOTAL | $28,000 |
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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.
