The HCCNC Foundation is pleased to help Bay Area college-bound students become future leaders as role models for the Hawai’i community. Support the HCCNC Foundation’s scholarship fund by making a donation today. The HCCNC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in California. All donations will be applied to the scholarship fund. Your tax-deductible donation, no matter how big or small, is greatly appreciated. Please mail a check payable to:

• Background
• Scholarship Program
• Mentor Program
• Eligibility Requirements
• Required Application Forms and Documents

| download Scholarship information

Background

In 1999, the three founders of the HCCNC realized that a unique synergy existed among all their acquaintances who either were from Hawai`i and living in the mainland or spent time in Hawai`i and were familiar with the Hawaiian way which consists of a blend of trust, good humor and a genuine desire to help one another. This, they realized, was a business intangible that is normally only developed after months - maybe years of doing business with a person or a group. This, they also realized, was a valuable commodity among their acquaintances and those in a similar situation that should be identified, organized and focused to generate value. Today, with almost 3000 members, the HCCNC has accomplished its goal of setting up an organization that kama`ainas turn to for `ohana away from home. Our goal from the beginning was to find ways to give back to our community. Thus, in the true Hawaiian spirit, the HCCNC has set up a scholarship fund to ensure that leadership in the Hawai`i community is rewarded and enabled through our support.

Scholarship Program

Our goal is to support future leaders as role models for the Hawai`i community. The Scholarship Program is aimed at strengthening the pipeline of Bay Area college- bound students and ensuring retention so that more students obtain their degrees. We seek to support qualified kama`aina, and assist them in making the transition from high school to college, and from Hawai`i to the mainland. In 2008, HCCNC will award up to $5,000 in scholarships. University-bound students are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship. Applications, which require a written essay describing each applicant’s strengths, and how their education will benefit the Hawai`i community, are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated leadership qualities
• Involvement in the community
• Clarity of direction and goals
• Academic achievement
• Letters of recommendation

Mentor Program

A vital component of the Scholarship Program is the Mentor Program. Each scholarship recipient will be assigned a mentor, who will be responsible for ensuring that s/he is part of the larger Hawaiian community here. The mentors will be culled from HCCNC membership, who will be asked to provide support with the social, academic and financial adjustments faced by Hawai`i students during their transition into higher education in a new environment. In addition to networking events, there may be internships available with kama`aina.

Eligibility Requirements

• All applicants must meet the following criteria:
  
• Be a kama`aina, defined by meeting any of the following criteria: was born in Hawai`i, was a resident of Hawaii for a minimum of five years, or has a parent that has lived in Hawai`i for a minimum of 20 years.
  
• Be a United States citizen, or permanent resident.
• Have a high school diploma (or its equivalent).
  
• Be enrolled full-time or half-time, or accepted, as a student in any accredited two- or four-year San Francisco Bay Area degree-granting institution of higher education.
  
• Satisfactorily meet the HCCNC program's academic requirements: a minimum grade point average, on the 4.0 scale, of 2.5 for undergraduates and 3.0 for graduate students.
  

Required Application Forms and Documents

All application materials (application, recommendations, admission letter) must be postmarked by March 15, 2008. Obtain an application by contacting your guidance counselor, financial aid office, or by downloading it from www.hccnc.com.

Complete the application form.

Letters of Recommendation

Students must provide two letters of recommendation from a teacher, administrator or other adult familiar with the student for at least one year. Relatives may not provide letters of recommendation. Provide a copy of the admission letter from university or community college (provisional acceptance letter is adequate). Order transcripts from the appropriate schools you have attended. Must be postmarked by March 15, 2008.

• All 2008 high school seniors must ask the school or schools they attended to send official school transcripts.
• High school transcripts must cover at least six semesters.
• Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students must ask their school to submit their official transcript, covering all credit courses from the most recently completed term.

Applicants not currently enrolled in a school should have their most recent official high school or college transcripts sent by the school they most recently attended.

Mail transcripts to:

HCCNC Scholarship Program
100 Bush Street, #2200
San Francisco, CA 94104

The HCCNC will notify scholarship winners by April 15, 2008.

Any questions regarding the scholarship program should be directed to:

HCCNC Scholarship Program
100 Bush Street, #2200
San Francisco, CA 94104