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The Maui News
KAHULUI--Last Saturday evening, the Maui Puerto Rican Association presented scholarship grants to four scholars from Maui at the Association's annual scholarship awards dance at Heritage Hall in Paia.
Joleen Rose Alexander will enter her second year at Chaminade University in Honolulu pursuing a degree in Forensic Science. Her goal is to obtain her degree and work at the Maui Police Department's Forensic Laboratory as a Crime Scene Investigator. She interned at the forensic facility last summer and is convinced this is the place she wants to be part of. Joleen is passionate about wanting to make a difference by helping people get the answers they need to move towards closure. Joleen has demonstrated her commitment to the community by working with the outreach program "I Am a Scientist" to teach kids how important science is in the world. Through the AYSO program, Joleen also taught youngsters to play soccer and refereed games. Last year, Joleen received a scholarship grant from the Maui Puerto Rican Association. This year, the Association awarded her another grant in the amount of $1,500 to continue her studies. Joleen is the daughter of Joseph Jr. and Jennifer Alexander of Kahului.
Staysia Kaho'opomaikai Haleakala is a 2024 graduate of Kamehameha Schools where she attained a grade point average of 4.083. Staysia recently traveled to New Zealand to share the mele and hula of Hawaii with the Māori of New Zealand. She has also participated in the Merrie Monarch Festival with her hālau. Stasia plans to become a veterinarian and have her own clinic and animal rescue on Maui. She has been a volunteer at the Hawaii Animal Rescue Foundation since 2021 and last year, also began volunteering at the Maui Humane Society. Staysia will begin her studies at the University of Oregon this fall. Staysia's paternal great-grandmother the late Ann Torres Gusman is a former President of the Maui Puerto Rican Association. Staysia is the daughter of Blaise and Ashley Halekala of Wailuku. The Maui Puerto Rican Association awarded Staysia a scholarship grant of $1,500 to help her with her college studies.
Alexandra Lif Luisdottir-Pérez is a 2024 graduate of Maui High School where she achieved a grade point average of 4.068. Alexandra was born in Iceland and has lived on Maui since she was three years old. Maui High School's current librarian was very clear in his recommendation for her. He said, "First, Alexandra is a leader. I started in the library one month into the school year when the previous librarian retired ... From the first day, Alexandra showed me what systems were currently in place and what was expected of her and the other aides. She even went so far as typing up procedures and work schedules for the other aides since I didn't know how well they worked with each other. She is very busy with school and all of her extra curricular activities, but she still found the time to help me and, as a good leader does, she made me feel like a part of the team ... ." Alexandra plans to become a veterinarian and will begin her studies in Animal Science at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Her goal is to obtain her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and specialize in large and companion animals. She is a weekly volunteer at the Maui Humane Society's veterinary clinic. She wants to return to Maui and practice in the community that raised her. Alexandra is the daughter of Luis Pérez and Sandra Vidisdottir Pérez of Kihei. The Maui Puerto Rican Association awarded Alexandra a scholarship grant of $1,500 to help with her studies.
Shayna Isabelle Villon is a 2024 graduate of Maui High School where she ranked first in a class of 395 students and was the class Valedictorian. Shayna will attend George Fox University in Newburg, Oregon where she will pursue a degree in civil engineering. There are only a few female civil engineers on Maui and Shayna plans to change that. By using her scholarship to enter an uncommon career field for women, she hopes to increase diversity in the engineering world and show other young women that they can succeed in this field. She wants to give back to her community through coaching youth sports and works of infrastructure as a civil engineer. Last August, Shayna served as a Lahaina Fires Shelter volunteer and assisted in donations inventory. Shayna is the daughter of Sherwin and Stacey Villon of Kahului. The Maui Puerto Rican Association awarded Shayna a scholarship grant of $1,500 to begin her studies.
The Maui Puerto Rican Association began awarding scholarships for post-secondary education in 1982. Over the past 42 years, the Maui Puerto Rican Association has given 223 awards to 166 scholars from Maui County for a total of $158,300.