Four members of the Paia Youth & Cultural Center received a combined $6,000 as recipients of the PYCC Campbell Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund, which launched in 2005, is open to any active member of PYCC who is a high school senior, has a GED, or is in their first year of community college. To qualify, each candidate must submit an application and be personally interviewed.
This year, Derrin Allan Kamanaokekai Johnson was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Johnson is a 2012 graduate of King Kekaulike High School. He has been a member of the PYCC since he was eight years old. This is the second year that he has been awarded this scholarship. Johnson has participated in every one of the PYCC’s programs. His first job was at the PYCC StoneWave Skate Park.
Among Johnson’s academic achievements is being the first of his siblings to graduate from high school. He is attending UHMC to pursue a degree in renewable resources or sustainable energy. His hobbies include playing basketball, playing the ukulele, body boarding and skateboarding.
Itara Sved-Wood, who is in the culinary program at UHMC, was awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Sved-Wood is passionate about cooking and pursuing her dreams. She intends to continue her education to achieve a master in culinary after she has achieved the associate degree in both culinary and baking. Sved-Wood hopes to one day own a gluten-free, sugar-free, all-natural bakery on Maui.
Brennen Almeida, a 2014 graduate of King Kekaulike High School, was awarded $2,000 from the scholarship fund. Almeida plans to attend UHMC next year. Almeida has been an active PYCC member for the past six years. He has participated in PYCC radio station, RadiOpio, the Hekili Multimedia Lab, and the Pa`ia Bay Café cooking program. His current academic interests are psychology and culinary arts.
Abigail (Abby) Robinson, who was awarded $1,000, is the fourth recipient of the Campbell Scholarship Fund. Robinson has been an active member of PYCC since she was 10. This past year she served as an intern and helped run the PYCC drop-in program. She also created a fitness challenge for the youth members. Robinson plans to attend UHMC next year. Her scholastic interests include management, business and art.
Photo courtesy Paia Youth Center
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