Empower. Lead. Inspire.

Nursing

My name is Micah Cadalzo, and I am a nursing student at Kapi'olani Community College maintaining a 3.5 GPA. Born and raised in the Philippines, I moved to Hawai'i at age ten with my family in pursuit of a better future. My goal is to become a compassionate and skilled nurse who serves others with empathy and professionalism. Through my involvement with the National Student Nurses' Association and community service events like "Make a Difference Day," I have learned the value of leadership and giving back. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to focus fully on my studies and clinical experiences without financial burden. I am committed to using my education to contribute positively to Hawai'i's healthcare community and inspire others to serve.

Civil Engineering

My name is Elijah Dominici, I am a Civil Engineering student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. I am perusing this degree to obtain a career at aqua engineers. I have a 3.12 GPA, have completed 30+ hours of community service for ahuimanu elementary school's yearly fair, Kaneohe canoe club's lo'i patch, king intermediate's wrestling team and am currently helping out at castle high school for their wrestling team. I am very thankful to be given the opportunity to continue my education with the help of the FAMES scholarship program.

PhD in Business Administration

Quang Loc Lam is a PhD candidate in Business Administration (specializing in Information Technology Management) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His research interests include Artificial Intelligence, Environmental Economics and Online Communication. He is also an instructor at the Shidler College of Business where he teaches undergraduate students Statistical Analysis for Business Administration. He was the Director of the Kalo Grants program at the Pacific Asian Center of Entrepreneurship (PACE). He won the first prize of the UH Venture Competition in 2025.

Student

As a little girl, even going through tough times, I've known my potential. I recently found a video of myself from a time where I was experiencing extremely traumatic events. In this video, I'm about five years old and I'm telling the camera to look at my new school schedule. Then I proceed to tell the camera that "I'm a kid and I'm very smart." Looking at this video as an 18 year old, I wondered how I felt this way as a kid despite what I was going through. As I continued to grow up, my mental health struggled more and more. From seventh to tenth grade, I took care of my grandmother, something I really valued.. I knew I was able to heal from my trauma, but I had a hard time controlling my emotions to do this. My grandmother passing away was the catalyst for my journey to becoming the woman I've always known I could be. I like to emphasize the dedication it takes to heal rather than the unfortunate events that I'm trying to heal from. After ten months of putting in the hard work in therapy programs, I look back and feel proud of my commitment to living up to the potential I always knew I had. I'm now a month into college, continuing my journey to live the life I deserve, with enthusiasm to be able to help others the same way in the future.

STEM Student

My name is Monica Lum, and I am a junior at Hanalani Schools. I have a strong passion for STEM and have participated in the Science Olympiad for four years, winning multiple regional and state-level competitions. I currently serve as Science Olympiad Team Captain. Beyond STEM, I love music and play the violin, and am 2nd chair in my school's orchestra, with experience in viola as well. I am a hard worker who enjoys challenging myself and giving back to the community. In addition to my academic and extracurricular pursuits, I am a Junior Class Officer and am trying out for the varsity girls' tennis team this year. I hope to pursue a career in information science, where I can combine my interests in technology and problem-solving to make a positive impact in the world around me.

Medical Student

My name is Angel Lynn Talana. I am currently a second-year medical student at the University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine. Prior to medical school, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology as well as my Master's in Public Health specializing in social and behavioral health sciences with the goal of reducing health disparities. Growing up in Wahiawā, I became deeply aware of the barriers many families face in accessing health care. This became a driving force for my commitment to health equity. Beyond my studies, I am a mentor to pre-medical students, hoping to empower the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Nursing

Hi my name is Shannia Wilber, I am currently a student at Hawaii Pacific University with a major in nursing. I am very excited to see where this path takes me and how much knowledge I will gain from my experience. Helping people has been a big part of my life and I want to continue doing that throughout my career. You never know what someone may be going through so a little help you offer could be a huge blessing for someone else. I know with the right support and perseverance I am able to accomplish anything I put my mind to. Nursing allows me to combine compassion with science, and that balance motivates me to keep pushing forward even on difficult days. I hope to make a difference not only through patient care but also by inspiring others to pursue kindness and empathy in their everyday lives. Every challenge I face in this journey reminds me of why I chose this field — to heal, comfort, and connect. I'm determined to grow into a nurse who truly impacts her community and represents the values of care and dedication.