The Paubox Kahikina Scholarship helps Native Hawaiian students pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and Tech in general. Its purpose is to offer financial support and create a strong network for these students. The scholarship makes education more affordable and connects students with professionals, giving them valuable opportunities to learn and grow in their chosen STEM or Tech fields. This scholarship is about more than just money; it's about building a community and empowering Native Hawaiian students to succeed in STEM or Tech careers.
See also: The big ideas behind the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship
Shaley Yoshizu was one of the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship 2022 recipients and is now attending Penn State University, studying toward an immunology & infectious disease degree. Here is a word from Shaley:
“Aloha! My name is Shaley Yoshizu, and I am one of the 2022 recipients of the Paubox Kahikina STEM Scholarship. This Fall, I will be entering my junior year at Penn State University, where I am majoring in Immunology & Infectious Disease. I spent my first two years at the Harrisburg campus and will now be transitioning to the main campus for the remainder of my undergraduate education.
My sophomore year was a journey presented with unexpected opportunities and challenges. In the fall semester, I enrolled in a course on biological molecules and cells, where I had the unique opportunity to conduct a semester-long lab focused on CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. This biological technique allows for the modification of genes by editing mutated DNA strands implicated in diseases. Already, CRISPR-Cas9 has paved the way for advancements in medicine and disease prevention such as developing new methods for autoimmunotherapy and has successfully cured sickle cell disease. In the lab, our focus was on applying our knowledge of genetic transformation by utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 to edit a section of DNA from a lacZ gene using a non-pathogenic E. coli bacterial strain. Working with CRISPR-Cas9 as an undergraduate was truly an incredible experience as it is typically practiced beyond the graduate-level. Throughout the school year, I also took other courses such as Organic Chemistry I and II, Principles of Immunology, and Practical Bioinformatics.
Apart from academics, I wanted to find a way to give back to the community that supported my journey into college before my final goodbye. In the fall, I was inducted into student government as a senator and served on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. We organized campus events promoting inclusion and planned for long-term accessibility goals. Additionally, I was involved in another club in the Fall semester called Lion Ambassadors where we partnered with the alumni association to promote community engagement on campus. In this club, I took on the role of a campus tour guide, and had the chance to deepen my understanding of community service. I am grateful for the chance to be a voice for others, even if it was the least I could do to make a difference!
This summer, I had to take a break from job shadowing to focus on my health. As detailed in my previous blog posts, I was diagnosed with severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) at the age of two. A little over a year ago, my arthritis worsened in my hips after returning home for the summer. I had found out that my left hip had lost all cartilage and was now bone-on-bone. Meanwhile, my right hip had been fused since my initial diagnosis. I was then able to do a surgical consultation in December and decided that a double hip replacement was the best route to go. Mentally preparing for the procedure over the past few months, I anticipated having both hips replaced simultaneously on June 3rd. However, I was only able to have my left hip replaced due to complications related to my size and further blood loss. The surgery then had to be split into a two-part procedure. After discussing options with my surgeon, I chose to proceed with replacing my right hip and scheduled the second surgery for July 1st.
I'm pleased to say that both surgeries were successful, and I have been recovering well since! While the recovery has been a bit longer than expected, I am relieved to have resolved the chronic joint pain that I’ve endured for the past 18 years! This double hip replacement marks a new chapter, enabling me to engage more actively and pursue activities that were previously challenging.
I would like to give a huge mahalo to the Paubox Kahikina STEM scholarship for being apart of my journey thus far! I am incredibly thankful to have been chosen as one of the lucky recipients from the class of 2022. With this scholarship, I hope to be able to continue my academic pursuits as I reach the halfway mark to my college education. I hope to be an inspiration to other Native Hawaiians in the STEM field to know that you will make it through anything that comes your way and come back stronger than you have before! Mahalo nui and a hui hou!”
Read: Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Recipient 2024 Update: Shaley Yoshizu
Read more: Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Recipient 2022: Shaley Yoshizu