HEA Awards More than $18,000 in Scholarships
The Hawaii Education Association (HEA) recently awarded 12 scholarships to educators and students in six categories, totaling $18,495. HEA’s investment in these deserving individuals furthers their education and supports their professional development, and this ultimately enhances their capability to deliver a quality learning experience for students. Congratulations to all of them!
Two $2,000 Graduating High School Senior Scholarships
Elias Casillas
Son of HEA members Dante & Wendy Casillas
Kauai High School
Elias Casillas plans to attend Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where he will study mechanical engineering or aeronautics.
“My interest in engineering probably started as early as elementary school when I won the outstanding math Olympiad award,” Elias said. “When I entered high school, there were academy systems in place and I had to select an area to focus on and I selected engineering. If I were to become an engineer, I would welcome the challenge and be proud to use the mathematical skills.”
“This scholarship will help me reach my goal of desiring to be an engineer. Both my parents are full-time public school teachers and they both work a second job to pay for my siblings and I to go to college. So, receiving this scholarship would help lighten the load.”
Colton Mills
Son of HEA member Marcia Montayre
Grandson of HEA members Dr. Mitsugi & Marjorie Nakashima
Kauai High School
With a CTE Honors in engineering, Colton Mills, Elias’ classmate, will be pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with the support of $2,000 HEA scholarship.
While in high school, Colton took classes in engineering technologies as part of Kauai High School’s Academy of Innovation and Design at Kauai High School. This jump started his understanding of engineering and allowed him to accelerate his proficiency in computer-aided design software used by many engineering industries.
Two Recipients of the $500 Teaching As A Career Club (TAAC) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway High School Senior Scholarships, jointly sponsored by Pi Lambda Theta-Beta Zeta Hawaii Chapter
Schools that have a Teaching As A Career club on their campus or are a Hawaii Department of Education school that offers a Career and Technical Education pathway and previously received an HEA grant were eligible to elect a high school senior for an HEA scholarship. These scholarships are funded in part from Pi Lambda Theta-Beta Zeta Hawaii Chapter, the group previously for university students majoring in education.
Dillon Gunderson
Maui High School
Maui High School graduate Dillon Gunderson received a $500 HEA TAAC High School scholarship to pursue teaching as a career. Ironically, Dillon said he never felt the urge to become a teacher and had his mind set on becoming a chef. However, this all changed in his first year in high school when he met Rondy Arquero who shared the importance of a teacher in a child’s life during the education portion of public human services core class.
Throughout high school, he constantly volunteered with activities and programs in schools throughout Maui, including Maui High School’s Education Advisory Board. Now that he has graduated, he will be pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree, focusing on elementary education, at the University of Hawaii Maui College and eventually transfer to the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Emi Tanaka
Mililani High School
Emi Tanaka, like Dillon, wasn’t set on teaching as a career until she entered Mililani High School, and started the education pathway. With a $500 HEA TAAC Scholarship, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu.
Emi has already gained significant experience through observations of preschool, elementary, and high school classrooms; interactions with students; and learning how teachers present their lessons from various grade levels.
She has volunteered with the Trojan Trading Post Keiki workshops, helping children to do arts and crafts and last year, worked at lolani as a Summer School Teacher’s Aide, helping with the Kick Start Kindergarten classes and started working at Kumon.
Emi is deciding whether to focus on elementary education or secondary math because she enjoys working with students from both age groups.
$2,000 Hiroshi & Barbara Kim Yamashita HEA Scholarship
Teige Keikilani Lorenzo-Akamu
Grand Canyon University
Teige Keikilani Lorenzo-Akamu, a junior at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, is pursuing early childhood education as her major because of her strong desire to give back to the community and provide students with the quality education they deserve. HEA awarded her a $2,000 scholarship to support her efforts.
“I strongly believe in the power of education, particularly during a child’s developing years. By majoring in early childhood education, I aim to play a crucial role in shaping the minds of young learners and nurturing their potential,” Teige said. “My future plans align closely with this aspiration, as I intend to return to my community in Kohala to teach the children there, and contribute to the educational development of my hometown.”
Two $2,000 Student Teacher Scholarships, sponsored by Helen MacKay Memorial
Kristen Takamiya
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Kristen Takamiya, who will receive a Bachelor of Education degree, specializing in music from kindergarten to grade 12, at the University of Hawaii at Manoa this fall, received a $2,000 HEA Student Teacher scholarship. Kristen is student teacher at Maryknoll School (grades PK-4) and llima Intermediate School.
“I strongly believe that music is our universal language and that every student should have the right to have access to music education just like STEM subjects,” she said. “Music is an invisible source of information that can communicate feelings and messages that everyone can relate to in one shape or another.”
Kristen is a collegiate member of the National Association of Music Education, Hawaii Music Educators Association, and Hawaii Orff Schulwerk Association.
Serena Torres-Lopez
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The other Student Teacher scholarship for $2,000 was awarded to Serena Torres-Lopez, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree, with a focus on elementary education, from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and expected to graduate next year. She will be student teaching at Honowai Elementary School in Waipahu.
“I have found a joy and affinity for helping students,” Serena said. “I know all students have the capability to reach their fullest potential, and I want to be a teacher who will help students achieve that success. Education is forever changing, and there are always new strategies and practices that can be implemented to help our diverse school communities,” she said.
Three Recipients of the Ronald K. Toma Scholarships (Professional Development for In-Service Public School Educators), ranging from $995 to $1,500 awards
Chayanee Brooks
Kaū High & Pahala Elementary School
Chayanee Brooks, a Secondary Teacher at Kau High and Pau Elementary School since 2013, received a $1,000 scholarship from HEA to pursue a PhD in neuroscience at the Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, a public research university in Thailand. This is her second HEA scholarship.
Her goal is to create “braincompatible classrooms that foster a positive and supportive learning environment by understanding the impact of stress, environment, and social interactions on the brain.”
“Neuroscience is extremely crucial to teachers since the human brain is an incredibly complex and fascinating organ, and it is the foundation for all learning,” Chayanee said. “Yet, many educators lack a deep understanding of how the brain works and how this knowledge can be applied to improve teaching and learning.”
“Our academic plan is to support students from diverse backgrounds,” she added. “Understanding how to accommodate students successfully relies on our understanding of diverse neural network connectivity…The PhD program in neuroscience is aligned with our academic plan because it involves factors that directly affect our students’ learning.”
Angela Natrasevschi
Kaū High & Pahala Elementary School
Secondary teacher Angela Natrasevschi, a colleague of Chayanee at Kau High and Pahala Elementary School in Pahala, also received an HEA scholarship. Angela, who has been a teacher at the school since 2020, will use her $1,500 scholarship to pursue certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
“Participating in the National Board Certification process will significantly contribute to my professional improvement as an art educator,” Angela said. “Through the rigorous
certification journey, I anticipate enhancing my instructional practices and ultimately benefit my students’ learning experiences.”
“By pursuing certification, I aim to refine my instructional practices and curriculum design to best serve the diverse needs of my students,” Angela said, noting that this is ideal for the Title I school in the small, rural community where the students have diverse needs.
Kristi Gibbs
Chiefess Kamakehelei Middle School
Kristi Gibbs, a teacher at Chiefess Kamakehelei Middle School in Lihue since 2014, who has also been involved in the After School Academic Program (ASAP) with the Tutoring and Cooking (Career Technology Education Enhancement) since 2022, received a $995 HEA scholarship.
The scholarship will help cover some of the costs for Kristi to learn more about screenprinting and soda firing ceramics at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina.
“While attending East Carolina University, I studied alongside several students who attended Penland School of Craft and learned of its prestigious reputation,” Kristi said. “Studying under Alexander Thierry will allow me to expand my skill set, which I plan to utilize and share with my students. As a ceramics teacher, I hope to gain a new skill to teach my students.”
“Living on Kauai for almost 20 years has made it challenging to continue my education in ceramics, so being immersed with other students from around the country and possibly the world is an inspiring opportunity,” Kristi said.
Two $2,000 HEA In-Service Educators Scholarship Recipients
Crystal Maxilom
Maunawili Elementary School
Crystal Maxilom, who has been an Educational Assistant at Maunawili Elementary in Kailua since 2018, received a $2,000 scholarship to help her obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education at Chaminade University of Honolulu.
“By obtaining this scholarship, I will be provided with the financial support to help keep me focused on my studies while allowing me to continue my responsibilities as a fulltime working parent,” she said.
Crystal, who earned an Associate’s Degree in liberal arts from Windward Community College, and graduated this past spring with an Associate’s Degree in science in teaching from Leeward Community College, is looking forward to her next, exciting education challenge at Chaminade University.
Evelyn Utai
Farrington High School
Evelyn Utai has been on a rewarding full-circle educational journey. Since 2011, she has been an Education Assistant in special education at Farrington High School, where she graduated in 1999. She would now like to take her education career to a new level and is pursuing a degree in education at Chaminade University of Honolulu. HEA is supporting her efforts with a $2,000 scholarship to help cover tuition costs. Evelyn also received an HEA scholarship last year.
“My 11-year tenure as an Educational Assistant in Special Education has been an invaluable journey that has uniquely prepared me to take the next step as an educator. During this time, I have gained firsthand experience in the intricacies of supporting students with diverse learning needs,” she said. “As I transition into the role of an educator, I carry with me a wealth of knowledge, a passion for inclusivity, and a commitment to fostering an environment where every student can thrive academically and personally.
Evelyn also serves as a Unified Sports Coach at Farrington, bridging the gap between students with and without special needs.
“My engagement with unified sports underscores my belief in empowering students with special needs, providing them with a voice and the opportunity to showcase their abilities as remarkable athletes,” Evelyn added.
Visit our Scholarships section to learn more about our scholarships for current and aspiring educators.
