First in her family Sherry Kupau is the first person in her family to attend college, but she won’t be the last. This honors student, full-time employee, community volunteer and mother of seven doesn’t just encourage her children to say “I can.” She leads by example. “I knew going back to school would take hard work. I wanted to help my family, myself and the homeless in my community and make Maui a better place. That was my purpose. Having a goal to work toward focused my drive,” she says. “My first semester, I shocked myself by getting 4.0 grades. Everyone at home and work was encouraging me. I used that momentum to keep going.” A textbook multitasker, Sherry found that balancing her kuleana was challenging but not discouraging. However, she worried about the financial burden. “Tuition – on top off rent? I didn’t know how my husband and I were going to manage it.” Fortunately for Sherry, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) gives students access to over 250 scholarships through just one application. In 2017, the
foundation awarded more than $6 million in scholarships to 1,277 local recipients. HCF believes helping students afford and access high-quality education is key to their success, in and beyond the classroom, enabling them to achieve their highest hopes and benefit their communities. “The scholarships helped to cover my tuition, so I could afford to buy a laptop,” Sherry says. “Instead of leaving work or home in the middle of the day to use the school’s computer lab, I can work by day, go home and take care of my family, and study after they’ve gone to bed. I am so thankful and relieved.” For a student like Sherry, a scholarship award also conveys a message of hope and encouragement. “Someone believes in me and wants me to succeed,” she says. Following an educational dream, helping students afford college, strengthening our communities – that’s the big promise of little things. “Each scholarship gives me hope that someone believes in me and wants me to succeed.” ~ Sherry Kupau University of Hawai‘i Student Class of 2019
DID YOU KNOW: The Hawai‘i Community Foundation has awarded $1.58 million in scholarships for Maui students and facilitated over $9 million in grants for Maui County nonprofit organizations in the past three years. Learn how you can transform your generosity into lasting change at
HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org