2011- 2012 Honda scholarship recipient, Brett Tanonaka, with Senator David Ige and PAAC Board members Jean Rolles and Frank Boas
Eddie Tangen Award
The legacy of Eddie Tangen, a pioneer in the development of Hawaii’s labor movement and past member of PAAC’s Board of Governors, is honored with a $300 award given yearly in his name to one PAAC student in grades 9-11.
Paul S. Honda Scholarship
Paul S. Honda, a distinguished member of PAAC’s Senior Advisory Council, established an endowment for this scholarship fund to promote Asian Studies and International Studies in higher education. Three $1,000 scholarships and two $500 scholarship are given to graduating seniors involved in PAAC.
Scholarship Winners from 2012-2013
Eddie Tangen Award Recipient:
Kathlene Keenan Vitug is now a junior at Campbell High School and the elected Vice President of the PAAC Club. Kathlene will be traveling abroad to China with PAAC’s Summer Study Tour. She was also a student in PAAC’s after school class and participated in last year’s WorldQuest event. Kathlene is involved in other clubs and activities like the Math Team, DECA, and Ponakea Elementary Tutor. She is also the President of the Chinese Culture Club.
She said in her essay that, “PAAC, CCC, and DECA have pushed me to see that there’s more to the world than just settling down […] They’ve showed me that many things are possible and that I shouldn’t be afraid to take a step forward […] I don’t know much about the world, but I want to.”
Paul Honda Scholarship Recipients:
Jared Sam Agtunong is a graduate of Maui High School and a three year member of the PAAC Club who was also its Senior Advisor this past year. In 2012, he participated in PAAC’s Summer Study Tour to Japan. He was also President of the AKAMAI Finance Academy’s High School Chapter and was a member of the Pre-College Honors Program at the Korean Language Flagship Center. Jared has done extensive volunteer work throughout his high school career and has participated and held various positions in Student Government, Hawai‘i State Student Council, National Honor Society, Hawai‘i Secondary Student Council, Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, and the Maui Nui Youth Alliance. He plans to major in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations at Azusa Pacific University.
Jared said in his essay, “Joining PAAC Club was a decision that I will never regret, for the experiences I have gone through were meaningful. Being in the club has taught me that as an individual one needs to be aware of the world around them [...] I had the opportunity to be a universe facilitator at the 2011 Big Island Model APEC [and it was here that] my professional goals were clarified. I already have my career goal in mind, which is to be a politician, and after meeting Hawaii county councilmembers, Dominic Yagong and Brittany Smart, and witnessing their passion for the future of tomorrow’s generations, I have an even stronger desire to serve in making a difference.”
Tabatha Donley is a graduate of Moanalua High School and was the President of the PAAC club in her junior and senior year. During her senior year she was also Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper; Vice President of the International Action Club; Vice President of Service in the National Honor Society; Ethnic Week Chairperson in the Student Association Senator; Layout Editor for Literary Magazine; Group Facilitator and Teacher in the Institute for Human Services’ Youth Empowerment Group; and a member of the Science Club. Additionally, Tabatha participated in the American Youth Leadership Program with Cambodia, Kapu’s Hawaii Youth Conversation Corps, Protect Kaho’olawe Ohana, Hickam Friends of the Library, Japanese Club, JV Basketball, and JV Volleyball. She will study International Relations at George Mason University.
She said in her essay, “Whether it was studying about APEC for WorldQuest, playing traditional Indonesian games at Fall Conference, or role-playing as an NGO at Global Vision, all of these events have enhanced my understanding about the complexities of world problems, as well as strategies to resolve these issues. I am perhaps most grateful for PAAC’s e-mails about travel and exchange opportunities; without them, I never would have applied—and got accepted—to the East West Center’s American Youth Leadership Program with Cambodia in the summer of 2012. During my Cambodia visit I was alerted to an issue that affects communities throughout the world: limited availability of fresh water. After sharing this experience with my PAAC club I was able to convince the club to organize a fundraiser for a water filtration system for one of the communities in Cambodia. PAAC is the foundation and instigator for change and empowerment.”
Rikki Ignacio is a graduate of Campbell High School and also participated in PAAC’s Summer Study Tour to Japan in 2012. She was the PAAC Historian in both her junior and senior year. She was also the Vice President of the IB club in her senior year. Throughout high school she has participated in the Literary Connections Club, Leo Club, and Math team while volunteering at the Oahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, GLocal Literacy Foundation, Educating the Heart Service Learning Program, and the Honolulu Zoo Animal Enrichment Program. Rikki will attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the fall and intends to major in pre-Business.
She said in her essay, “PAAC has given me exposure to many global opportunities and experiences; it has enhanced my understanding of world affairs by hosting events that allow me to engage in international thought and it has enabled me to experience a different country—Japan. Conferences like GVS that PAAC hosts increased my awareness of the problems that the world faces and how countries have made efforts in solving these problems.”
Kristal Kaku is a graduate of Campbell High School and the Punahou Summer Study Abroad scholarship to Japan in 2012 and will be traveling to China through the Freeman Foundation Summer Study Tour. Kristal has participated in PAAC’s afterschool class and club for the past three years. She served as the Secretary and Treasurer for the PAAC club while also attending numerous PAAC conferences and events such as the Spring and Fall Book Giveaway and the Ewa Cemetery Project. In addition to Kristal’s involvement in PAAC, she was a volunteer at Oahu SPCA, served on the Renaissance Committee and Youth Philanthropy Board, in the National Honor Society, and as a grader for Kumon. Kristal will attend the University of Hawai‘i at West Oahu and major in accounting.
She said in her essay, “Ever since I have joined the PAAC club and attended the afterschool classes provided by PAAC, my understanding of world affairs and issues has expanded and I have come to realize the vast world that we live in. By attending the activities, PAAC has instilled in me the traits that I need to have in order to change the world and they give encouraging tips on how to make that first step. The after school Global Studies class that I attend at my school has been a great way of learning about world affairs […] because the topics are every interesting and different from the ones that I learn in school.”
Keelan Okazaki is a graduate of Mililani High School and participated in PAAC’s Summer Study Abroad to Vietnam last year and will go again this year. He was in the PAAC club for all four years of high school and served as the Service Project Chair in his sophomore year as well as the President in his junior and senior year. He has also held multiple leadership roles in Boy Scouts (including Patrol leader, Assistant Patrol leader, Instructor, Troop guide, Troop Quartermaster, and Patrol Quartermaster) while participating in the Hawaii Youth Symphony and Mu Alpha Theta and serving on the committee chair of Interact Club for two years. Keelan will attend Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska to study Biology.
He said in his essay, “PAAC has given me numerous opportunities to take part in conferences, speaker sessions, travel scholarships, and school events which has brought even greater awareness to myself and fellow club members in Asian and Pacific countries.”
Natalie Subia is a graduate of Farrington High School and a three year PAAC Club member. In 2012 she participated in PAAC’s study abroad to Japan. She was also PAAC Secretary in her junior year and President in her senior year while simultaneously holding positions such as treasurer in the class council, the Vice President for the Leadership Experience and Opportunities Club, and Secretary for the National Honor Society. During her senior year she was a seasonal worker at Macy’s. Her high school membership has included organizations and clubs like the Health Occupation Students of America, Robotics, and bowling as well as volunteer work for the Hawaiian Humane Society and at Kuakini Hospital. Natalie plans to attend either UH Manoa or the University of San Francisco to study Computer Engineering.
She said in her essay, “Before joining PAAC I neglected the world around me and only focused on my surroundings and myself. It was like I was closed in this box where it kept me from gaining knowledge about the opportunities and problems in the world. PAAC made me engage in trying to broaden my horizons and increase my knowledge about the world. [Through PAAC] I was able to gain a summer travel experience to Japan. Although it was different, I liked it because I had the opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and try new foods and traditions. [Travel to Japan] made me think about my future [and realize] I want to travel and see what other cultures and traditions [have to offer] and I want to be able to increase my knowledge in the world.”
