Four Nonprofits To Start New Scholarship Programs with the Grants
(Honolulu, Nov. 24, 2014) -- The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. added an extra round of grants to its regular high school scholarship program this year, this time to start new scholarship programs at four nonprofit organizations and institutions. With these new grants, the Foundation has awarded a total of $304,280 to promote scholarship in Hawaii this year.
Chaminade College received $50,000 to create a Takitani Entrepreneurship Scholar program for majors in entrepreneurship.
Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific will use its $40,000 grant to fund semester internships to medical students who declare physical therapy as their majors.
Shidler College of Business received $25,000 to create an entrepreneurship major for Takitani Innovation Fellows who “will provide strategic planning services to companies on issues relative to market experience, new product launch and acquisition.”
The Pacific Asian Affairs Council will use its $20,000 grant for scholarships for students in its travel abroad and after-school enrichment programs.
"We are particularly pleased to further honor Mr. and Mrs. Takitani's legacy of commitment, dedication and generosity to the Hawaii community with this increase in grant awards," said KSSK Radio personality Michael W. Perry, who serves as chairman of the board of the Takitani Foundation. "The Takitanis knew hard work, innovation and commitment to excellence were key factors in their success with Hawaiian Host, and these new scholarship programs will help people to excel in their fields."
Seven other nonprofit entities with existing scholarship programs are were also supported by the Takitani Foundation including $14,000 to YMCA Youth Leadership Program; $14,000 to the PUEO Program; $8,000 to Lawakua Kajukenbo Club; $6,000 each to the Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy and the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii; and $5,000 each to University of Hawaii’s Shidler School of Business and the School of Tropical Agriculture.
The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation gave out a total of $101,280 to high school seniors in 2014.
Mamoru and Aiko Takitani founded Hawaiian Host, Inc., manufacturer of Hawaiian Host chocolates, and established the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. to give back to the community by providing the gift of education to the young people of Hawaii. Generous support from Hawaiian Host enables the Foundation to continue the Takitani legacy of dedication to Hawaii. Since 1993, the Foundation has annually presented scholarships to an outstanding student from every qualifying high school in the state and has awarded over $2 million dollars in scholarships.
The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. has awarded $98,000 in scholarships to 62 exceptional seniors from every qualifying public and independent high school in Hawaii. Two students received Distinguished Student Awards of $10,000 each and a third student received an Outstanding Student Award of $5,000. Seven high school seniors received $3,000 scholarships as district finalists and 52 additional students were awarded $1,000 scholarships. Nominated by their respective schools, the award winners received scholarships based on their strong academic achievement, dedicated community service and financial need.
• Max Hsing-Huo Vinci of James B. Castle High School was the recipient of the Mamoru Takitani Distinguished Student Award of $10,000 and plans to attend Occidental University in September to study Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Planetary Science. He is the son of Robert and Glenda Vinci of Kaneohe.
• Erica Shin of Kalani High School was the recipient of the Aiko Takitani Distinguished Student Award of $10,000. Erica, the daughter of Scott and Unchong Shin of Honolulu, will enroll at the University of Hawaii - Manoa to pursue a career in medicine.
• Kelly Merrell of Admiral Arthur A. Radford High School was the recipient of the Karen Uno Outstanding Student Award of $5,000 and will pursue a degree in Biochemistry and a minor in Psychology at Auburn University in the fall.
District Finalists and recipients of $3,000 scholarships are as follows:
• Maria Andrea Jurado of Waipahu High School. She is the daughter of Andrew and Mary Grace Jurado.
• Sullivan Schuster of West Hawaii Explorations Academy. She is the daughter of Henry and Rebecca Schuster.
• Maile Naito of King Kekaulike High School. She is the daughter of Masato and Yoko Naito.
• Lani-Rae Green of Waimea High School. She is the daughter of Jerry and Yuka Green.
• Damien Farrant of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama. He is the son of Laurence and Kimberly Farrant,
• Santana Huck of Maui Preparatory Academy. He is the son of Markus and Erika Huck.
• Darren Zhao of Damien Memorial School. He is the son of Rui Zhong Zhao and Xiu Cai Zhou.
"Mr. and Mrs. Takitani's legacy of commitment, dedication and generosity is honored each year through the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation Scholarship Program," said KSSK Radio personality Michael W. Perry, Chairman of the Board of the Takitani Foundation. "The Takitanis knew hard work, innovation and commitment to excellence were key factors in their success with Hawaiian Host, and wanted to recognize those same qualities in Hawaii's outstanding students with the opportunity to further their education."
Mamoru and Aiko Takitani founded Hawaiian Host, Inc., manufacturer of Hawaiian Host chocolates, and established the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. to express their appreciation to the community by providing the gift of education to the young people of Hawaii. Since 1993, the Foundation has annually presented scholarships to an outstanding student from every qualifying high school in the state and has awarded over $1.9 million in scholarships.
