Scholarship Program
Our goal is to support future leaders as role models for the Hawai`i community. The Scholarship Program is aimed at strengthening the pipeline of Bay Area college-bound students and ensuring retention so that more students obtain their degrees. We seek to support qualified kama`aina, and assist them in making the transition from high school to college, and from Hawai`i to the mainland. In 2008, HCCNC will award up to $5,000 in scholarships. University-bound students are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship. Applications, which require a written essay describing each applicant's strengths, and how their education will benefit the Hawai`i community, are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated leadership qualities
• Involvement in the community
• Clarity of direction and goals
• Academic achievement
• Letters of recommendation

Mentor Program

A vital component of the Scholarship Program is the Mentor Program. Each scholarship recipient will be assigned a mentor, who will be responsible for ensuring that s/he is part of the larger Hawaiian community here. The mentors will be culled from HCCNC membership, who will be asked to provide support with the social, academic and financial adjustments faced by Hawai`i students during their transition into higher education in a new environment. In addition to networking events, there may be internships available with kama`aina.

Eligibility Requirements

• All applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Be a kama`aina, defined by meeting any of the following criteria: was born in Hawai`i, was a resident of Hawaii for a minimum of five years, or has a parent that has lived in Hawai`i for a minimum of 20 years.
• Be a United States citizen, or permanent resident.
• Have a high school diploma (or its equivalent).
• Be enrolled full-time or half-time, or accepted, as a student in any accredited two- or four-year San Francisco Bay Area degree-granting institution of higher education.
• Satisfactorily meet the HCCNC program's academic requirements: a minimum grade point average, on the 4.0 scale, of 2.5 for undergraduates and 3.0 for graduate students.