There were more than 500 applications from women pursuing their education, from a GED (high school equivalency diploma) to a doctoral degree. The other four recipients are in Maine, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas.

Tobosa, 22, is a senior in the bachelor of applied science degree program in applied business and information technology at Maui Community College.

Tobosa works for a Wailuku lawyer and is the sole provider for her mother and two younger siblings. She is also the founding president of MCC's Rotaract Club — a service organization under the auspices of Rotary International, for students and young professionals.

Selection criteria for the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation scholarship include being a woman at least 17 years old; a mother with a minor child; and enrolled in a skills-training, English-as-a-second-language or GED program, or pursuing a technical, vocational, associate, first bachelor's, professional, master's or doctoral degree.

The award also has an income requirement: an annual family income of less than $16,000 for a family of two, $20,000 for a family of three or $24,000 for a family of four.

For more information about the foundation, visit www.ptmfoundation.net.