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HFS Federal Credit Union awards $37,500 in scholarships

HILO, HI (July 5, 2023) — Getting ready to go to college is exciting, but it can also be challenging because of the rising costs of tuition, books, room and board, etc. HFS Federal Credit Union understands this, and has stepped up to help!

For the past 11 years, the Credit Union has been awarding scholarships to help local students achieve their dreams of a higher education and to ease the financial burden. So far, over $200,000 in scholarships have been awarded to over 85 recipients. The Credit Union is proud to support its student members who will one day be leaders in the community and positive contributors in the workforce. Previous recipients have gone on to study in fields such as Education, Law, Nursing, Automotive Mechanics, Fire Science, Art and more.

The Big Island has raised extremely hard-working, talented, and goal-oriented students. Many intend to give back and serve the Big Island community. This year, the Credit Union received a number of applications from these outstanding students. HFS FCU is excited to announce the high school and college 2023 HFS FCU Scholarship recipients. Each student will receive $2,500 to help fund their 2023-2024 school year. Congratulations to the following students:

Braysha Nobriga-Namihira (Hilo High School)
Kyra Valencia (Honoka’a High School)
Ciana-Lei Bence (Kamehameha Schools Hawai’i)
Savanna Colliado (Kamehameha Schools Hawai’i)
Tia Tanimoto (Kamehameha Schools Hawai’i)
Dalilah Martin (Kea’au High School)
Weston-Jon Camara (Kohala High School)
Sara Igawa (Waiakea High School)
Makaila-Lei Kunishige (Waiakea High School)
Jaden Manuel-Basilio (Waiakea High School)
Tyanna Aranaydo (Hawai’i Community College)
Camy Aguinaldo (Pacific University)
Montana Lagat (Stanford University)
Tatum Okamoto (University of Hawai’i at Manoa)
Kainalu Gomera (University of Portland)

HFS FCU releases applications at the beginning of each year, offering scholarships for both graduating Big Island high school seniors pursuing a 2 or 4-year degree, as well as current college students pursuing a 2-year, 4-year, or graduate degree. For more information, please contact the Credit Union at (808) 930-1400 or visit our website at hfsfcu.org.

Scholarship recipients from L-R: Kyra Valencia, Sara Igawa, Savanna Colliado, Dalilah Martin, Tia Tanimoto, Ciana-Lei Bence, Braysha Nobriga-Namihira, Jaden Manuel-Basilio, Makaila-Lei Kunishige, Weston-Jon Camara, Camy Aquinaldo, Tatum Okamoto, Montana Lagat, Tyanna Aranaydo, Kainalu Gomera

About HFS Federal Credit Union

HFS Federal Credit Union (HFS FCU) is the largest not-for-profit and member-owned financial institution on Hawai’i Island. Established by just nine individuals in 1937, HFS started with very humble beginnings. The Credit Union continued to grow from serving just employees of the Federal and Territorial Governments in the County of Hawai‘i and their families, to now offering membership to any person who lives, works, or attends school on Hawai’i Island.