Thirty promising high school and college students were honored on July 18, as the 2019 University of Hawaiʻi Regents and Presidential Scholars during an awards ceremony at the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Campus Center Ballroom. The scholarship program was created in 1987 and has attracted some of Hawaiʻi¡¯s best and brightest.
Regents Scholarships
The ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Regents Scholarships are awarded to 20 incoming freshmen attending ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Hilo and ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ West Oʻahu.
The students receive four years of paid tuition for undergraduate studies, a stipend of $4,000 per year and a one-time $2,000 travel voucher. They also have the opportunity to participate in a number of activities.
“ So with this program we also create activities for them throughout the year with their peers that we think will help them become more successful in college and also after they go out into the community,” ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ President David Lassner said.
The scholarships were welcome news to the Tucker family. Two of the triplets received Regents Scholarships after graduating from Waipahu High School.
“For us it¡¯s really a huge relief because we were considering going to ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ anyway. Having two scholarships really helps us to pursue our careers,” Dylan Tucker said.
Linnea Tucker said she sees other advantages to remaining in Hawaiʻi. “For me, I like to think the networking is really nice,” she said. While she is a declared nursing student, she has other plans as well. “I want to have a future career in law and currently have an internship with Judge (Edward) Kubo. I hope to continue that as I attend ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½.”
Presidential Scholarships
The ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Presidential Scholarships go to 10 juniors attending a ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ campus. Presidential scholars receive full tuition for two years of undergraduate study. The scholarships are awarded with preference for ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ community college students with high GPAs transferring to a four-year ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ campus.
Regents Scholars:
- Phillip Amona, Kamehameha Secondary Schools, Mechanical Engineering, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Alisha Churma, ʻIolani School, Communication, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Zyrill Dayne Dela Cruz, Waipahu High School, Chemistry-Biosciences, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Hilo
- Lauren Horita, Kalani High School, Dietetics, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Adam Hu, Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy, Electrical Engineering, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Miles Jenkins, Kailua High School, Physics, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Michaela Kop, Moanalua High School, Cell and Molecular Biology, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Tyler Maruno, ʻIolani School, Mechanical Engineering, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Tiffany Ng, Sacred Hearts Academy, Biology, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Kengo Raganit, Waipahu High School, General-Undeclared Liberal Arts, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ West Oʻahu
- Shane Severino, ʻIolani School, Chemistry, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Cassidy Silva, Mililani High School, Biology, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Ashley Taylor, Kalani High School, Communication, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Dylan Tucker, Waipahu High School, Civil Engineering, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Linnea Tucker, Waipahu High School, Nursing, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Deborah Yuan, Kaiser High School, International Business, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Kayla Hirano, James B. Castle High School, Computer Engineering, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Mika Odaira, Wai¨¡kea High School, Business Administration, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Hilo
- Benjamin Weiss, Kalaheo High School, Physics, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
Presidential Scholars:
- Gabriel Allen, Biochemistry, Kauaʻi CC, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Emily Bautista, Public Health, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Kiaria Nakamura, English, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Hilo
- Shawnia Oliveros, Social Work, Leeward CC, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Dylan Pilger, Biochemistry, Kapiʻolani CC, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Camryn Shiroma, Classics, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Marie Villareal, Public Administration, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Maui College, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ West Oʻahu
- Hanna Claerbout, Business, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Kasey Emoto, Biology, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹
- Celeste Guiles, Chemistry, Kapiʻolani CC, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹


