Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 3, 1 March 2006 — Spreading the wealth [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Spreading the wealth

Changes to Kamehameha Schools post-high scholarship program aim to provide access for a greater range of Native Hawaiian students

James Koloio Kuiee Baker understands the importance of higher education. As a single father and a Native ffawaiian, he knows that earning a college degree is important to his future and his family. Baker receives financial aid from Kamehameha

Schools that enables him to attend UH Mānoa, where he is working toward a bachelor's degree in social work. With just a year to go until graduation, Baker plans to go on to pursue a master's degree. His career goal is to work in the area of substance abuse within the prison populahon. "Out of all the scholarship programs that I have applied to, Kamehameha Schools' financial aid program has been the most supportive in helping me achieve my college goals," Baker says. "My Kamehameha counselor has been my biggest supporter - always encouraging me to follow my dream and not give up, even during the tough times." Kamehameha Schools offers more than $12 million annually in post-high-school scholarships to

more than 2,500 Native Hawaiian students. This year, Kamehameha has modified its financial aid program to align with the priorities of its new Education Strategic Plan. In an effort to provide greater access to quality post-high education and training, the organization has identified specific areas of study that will be given special consideration during the application process. These areas were selected because they are job fields with projected growth in Hawai'i: • Business • Construction • Education, with preference given to students pursuing degrees in early childhood education • HawaiianlanguageorHawaiian studies • Healthcare support • Miscellaneous areas related to the 'āina, natural environment or life sciences • Social services • Technology

• Transportation Another new aspect the finaneial aid program is a focus on non-traditional students. Special consideration will be extended to applicants who are: • Single parents • Sole ineome providers for their family • Currently or previously incarcerated and seeking to re-enter the workforce • Homeless Additionally, financial aid will be available for qualified students who are pursuing graduate degrees and for students planning to enter select certificate, vocational or technical programs through the University of Hawai'i system and Hawai'i Technology Institute. Applications for Kamehameha Schools' Enaneial aid program are available now by calling 534-8080, or online at www.ksbe.edu/finaid. Interested applicants must submit their CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE

online to the College Board no later than April 1 in order to meet Kamehameha's applieahon deadline of April 20. Completed in 2005 , Kamehameha Schools' Education Strategic Plan reaffirms Kamehameha Schools' commitment to direct more of Pauahi's legacy to children in predominantly Hawaiian communities. The plan will help Kamehameha Schools to increase the eapahility and well-being of the Native Hawaiian people by creating intergenerational change through education. To read Kamehameha's Education Strategic Plan, log on to http://www.ksbe.edu/osp/ Publications/esp_v3_0c.pdf. E3

Editor's note: This article was provided to Ka Wai Ola by Kamehameha Schools staff.

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HO 'ONA'AUAO • EDUCAĪIDN