Hawaii State FCU Increases Annual Scholarship Program to $40,000 to Award 20 Students Pursuing Higher Education

HONOLULU — Hawaii State Federal Credit Union (Hawaii State FCU) announced today it is increasing funding for its 2018 Lowell Kalapa Scholarship Program from $30,000 to $40,000. This year the program will award 20 scholarships worth $2,000 each to Hawaii students attending an accredited U.S. Department of Education university, college, or trade/vocational school in the 2018-2019 school year.

Last year, Hawaii State FCU transitioned its paper application process to a streamlined digital application, nearly doubling the number of applicants to a record 459 students in 2017. Recipients were selected based on financial need, academic merit and extracurricular activities.

“We’re excited to announce that we have increased our annual scholarship program from $30,000 to $40,000, which gives us the opportunity to award five more deserving students. Education is a cornerstone of our community-giving efforts and we’re proud to invest in our Hawaii students on their higher-education journey,” said Andrew Rosen, president and CEO of Hawaii State FCU. “Our new digital application process also has made it easier for students to submit their application materials, which has led to a strong boost in participation.”

Named for the late Lowell Kalapa, former president of the Tax Foundation of Hawaii and Hawaii State FCU board member, the program has awarded more than $570,000 over the past 22 years to help young members pursue their higher education goals. Last year’s scholarship recipients represented a diverse group of students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees at local and national institutions.

Interested students are encouraged to apply online at www.HawaiiStateFCU.com/scholarship. Applications must include a personal essay, two letters of recommendation, an official transcript, student aid report and a list of achievements and community service activities. Deadline to apply is March 31.