UH receives more than $69 million in grants for Native Hawaiian education

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Jodi Leong, (808) 492-0597
Dir of Communications, External Affairs and University Relations
Posted: Nov 26, 2014

Link to b-roll and sound:  http://bit.ly/11SJd7x

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The U.S. Department of Education awarded seven University of Hawai’i campuses a total of $69 million in grants to support programs serving Native Hawaiians, from pre-school through college and career training.

The campuses received more than $60 million in Title III renovation and individual development awards over the next five years.  The campuses include: UH West O’ahu, Leeward CC, Windward CC, Honolulu CC, Kapi’olani CC, Kaua’i CC, and the UH Manoa Hawai'inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge.

UH Manoa also received nearly $9 million in Native Hawaiian Education Program grants over the next three years.

The grants will support the university's effort to prepare more Native Hawaiians for leadership roles in the community by funding UH projects and programs such as kindergarten readiness; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education; Native Hawaiian culture and language; disability studies and college success.  

“In 2008 the Board of Regents embraced the University of Hawaii's mission to serve as a model indigenous serving university.  These grants individually will advance the priorities on each of our campuses.  But across the entire university system, they really represent the opportunity to deliver on that mission and advance our service to Native Hawaiian people, culture and knowledge,” said UH President David Lassner.

Windward Community College received nearly $10 million in grant money to support STEM  programs and create a Hawaiian language-based childcare facility for infants and toddlers of Windward CC students.

“Being that I’m a mother of three and I’m the first in my family to attend college, I know the feeling.  It took me ten years to come to school,” said Windward CC student Michelle Kam, who is the first in her family to attend college.   “I have one left in pre-school and it’s very hard to take care of the pre-school bills and going to school.  But with grants like this, it makes it possible.”

“We are so lucky to be serving our Native Hawaiian student population.  This money gives us the opportunity as a system to serve them in a better, richer, and more substantial way,” said Ardis Eschenberg, Windward Community College Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Grant recipients include:

            UH West O’ahu:                             Total: $14.2 million

            Leeward CC:                                  Total: $13.6 million

            Windward CC:                                Total:  $ 9.9 million

            Honolulu CC:                                  Total:  $  2  million

            Kapiolani CC:                                 Total:  $ 9.8 million

            Kaua’i CC:                                      Total:  $ 4    million

            UH Manoa (Hawai'inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge)

                                                                  Total:  $  7   million

            UH Manoa (various programs)

                                                                   Total:  $  8.9 million 

For more information on individual campus awards please go to specific campus websites or contact the campus directly.         

SOUNBITES:

Michelle Kam/Windward CC. student (:14)

I have one left in pre-school and it’s very hard to take care of the pre-school bills and going to school.  But with scholarships like these and grants, it makes it possible. 

 

Ardis Eschenberg/ Windward CC Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (:12)

We are so lucky to be serving our Native Hawaiian student population.  And this money gives us the opportunity as a system to serve them in a better, richer and more substantial way. 

 

David Lassner/UH President (:17)

These grants individually will advance the priorities on each of our campuses.  But across the entire university system, they really represent the opportunity to deliver on that mission and advance our service to Native Hawaiian people, culture and knowledge. 

Video log:

:00 -- :06 – Wide shot Michelle Kam studying at Windward CC

:07- :11 --   Medium shot Kam studying

:18 -- :29 – Kam and Ardis Eschenberg walking through a Windward CC corridor

:30 -- :40 -- Kam and Eschenberg sitting and chatting at Windward CC

Total: 41 seconds