Posted on: Tuesday, June 5, 2001

Bank of Hawai'i honors 2nd Century Scholars

Advertiser Staff

The Bank of Hawai'i 2nd Century Scholars were recognized in a special ceremony yesterday to celebrate the transition from high school to college.

Several high school seniors from around O'ahu who are part of the statewide $5 million educational program gathered at the Sheraton Waikiki Kaua'i Ballroom to celebrate.

The program awarded 93 students tuition scholarships of up to $10,000 per year for four years to attend four-year accredited colleges or universities in Hawai'i and on the Mainland. At the end of the program, most of the scholars will become the first in their families to graduate from college.

The seniors are graduating from public and private high schools across the state. Of the 46 colleges and universities selected by the students, the top 10 schools include: University of Hawai'i-Manoa, Hawai'i Pacific University, University of Hawai'i-Hilo, University of San Francisco, University of Nevada, Chaminade University, Washington State University, Loyola Marymount University, Stanford University and Pacific University. Other schools include Cornell University, University of Southern California, George Washington University and Howard University.

The seven-year Century Scholars program was launched in 1998, when Bank of Hawai'i selected 100 of Hawai'i's most promising high school freshmen to be a part of the single largest educational program of its kind in the state.

Over the last three years, the program provided each student with leadership training, life skills, test preparation, writing instruction, tutorial services, college prep courses and community service programs. Volunteer mentors from the Bank of Hawai'i and the community worked with each student, providing guidance and support.