Where Are They Now? The Journeys of Paubox Kahikina STEM Scholarship Recipients

As the Paubox Kahikina STEM Scholarship enters its fifth year, we find ourselves wondering about the incredible journeys our past recipients have embarked upon. Once aspiring STEM students, these bright young minds have now stepped into various roles, from groundbreaking research to innovative entrepreneurship. This article aims to catch up with our scholarship alumni, offering a glimpse into their academic achievements, career milestones, and their impact in their respective fields.

The 2023 recipients

As we celebrate the accomplishments of our past and present scholarship recipients, we can't help but look forward with great anticipation to the 2023 class. These emerging talents, freshly embarking on their academic journeys, hold the promise of future innovation and leadership in STEM fields. While it's too early to document their achievements, the initial glimpses of their passion, ingenuity, and dedication assure us that they will continue the legacy of excellence set by their predecessors. 

We eagerly await the remarkable contributions they will undoubtedly make to science, technology, engineering, and math, and we're excited to support them every step of the way.

The 2023 Paubox Kahikina STEM Scholarship recipients are...

Where Are They Now? 

Now, let's take a moment to catch up with our past scholarship recipients and see how they're making strides in their respective fields.

Montana Lagat (2022 recipient)

• College/University: Stanford University
• Major/Field of Study: Materials Science and Engineering
• Quote: "The Paubox Kahikina STEM Scholarship encourages me to strive for both academic and personal success as well as to positively represent Hawaiʻi in new communities."

Read their 2023 update.

Allena Villanueva (2022 recipient)

• College/University: USC
• Major/Field of Study: Computer Science
• Quote: "I look forward to another amazing and exciting year ahead at USC! Thank you to Mr. Hoala Greevy and Paubox for the continued support!"

Read their 2023 update.

Taylor Moniz (2022 recipient)

• College/University: Columbia University
• Major/Field of Study: Neuroscience 
• Quote: "I sincerely appreciate Hoala Greevy and Paubox for valuing and contributing to Native Hawaiian students' college education and I encourage all Native Hawaiians in pursuit of attaining a degree in the STEM field to apply for this scholarship."

Read their 2023 update.

Dylan Dinio (2022 recipient)

• College/University: Northeastern University
• Major/Field of Study: Computer Science and Game Design
• Quote: "Currently I'll be entering my third year of college and and have already started my Fall co-op at AutonodyneLLC in Boston serving as a Software Engineer Intern. I'm very excited to be working here and know I'll be learning so much. Once again thank you so much to Hoala Greevy and the Paubox Scholarship team for helping me to pursue my education."

Read their 2023 update.

Kapaeloa Aki (2022 recipient)

• College/University: Brigham Young University-Hawaii
• Major/Field of Study: Computer Science
• Quote: "One thing that I like about BYU-Hawaii is that it is acclaimed for having a diverse population, as suggested for it being an international center of learning in the Pacific. Due to the diverse student body, and the various cultures and perspectives that come with it, I believe that my worldview has grown and I have been introduced to different ways of thinking."

Read their 2023 update.

Bryan Pontanilla (2022 recipient)

• College/University: Portland State University
• Major/Field of Study: Architecture
• Quote: "I can't believe that I will be a sophomore in college soon! Time has gone by very quickly and I plan to continue studying hard and reaching my goal of becoming an architect and coming back to our state to help our people with affordable housing."

Read their 2023 update.

Harlee Wong (2022 recipient)

• College/University: Chaminade University
• Major/Field of Study: Forensic Science
• Quote: "I decided to study forensic science because career-wise, I see myself becoming a crime scene investigator. Being able to study it here is amazing and one of the best opportunities I could get. This scholarship has really benefited me financially and takes off the stress of worrying about how I'm going to pay for my loans. It means a lot to me."

Shaley Yoshizu (2022 recipient)

• College/University: Penn State University - Harrisburg
• Major/Field of Study: Immunology & Infectious Disease
• Quote: "It's hard to believe how fast my first year of college flew by! This past year has been filled with new memories, that I couldn't get elsewhere."

Read their 2023 update.

Owali Moeai (2021 recipient)

• College/University: Brigham Young University - Hawaii
• Major/Field of Study: Computer Science

Hailey Grace Michimoto Fevella (2021 recipient)

• College/University: Kapiolani Community College
• Major/Field of Study: Biology
• Quote: "With the support of Paubox I feel motivated to work harder to really be something in this industry. As a Native Hawaiian, I feel that hard work ethic that I want to carry on throughout this educational journey and Paubox reminds me that I can do anything!"

Read their 2023 update.

Ariell Siliado (2021 recipient)

• College/University: University of Hawaii at Hilo
• Major/Field of Study: Biology: Cell, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences
• Quote: "This school year, I look forward to searching for internships as I near my senior year of college as well as volunteering on my campus to provide social and educational activities for my fellow peers. I also want to take time to learn more about Hawaiʻi Island's community and culture. 

Read their 2023 update.

Kawehi Cabuzel (2021 recipient)

• College/University: USC
• Major/Field of Study: Environmental Science 
• Quote: "I want to thank Paubox for giving me this opportunity. It's been super beneficial for me and my family, allowing me to pursue higher education and giving me the chance to interact with inspirational and knowledgeable mentors for the future. So, thank you for that; I appreciate it a lot."

Joshua Parker (2021 recipient)

• College/University: Harvard University
• Major/Field of Study: Economics, Statistics
• Current role: Credit Suisse
• Quote: "Thank you, Hoala and Paubox, for your continued support!"

Read their 2023 update.

Gabriella Kanoa (2021 recipient)

• College/University: University of Hawaii at Manoa
• Major/Field of Study: Civil Engineering
• Current role: Brown and Caldwell
• Quote: "I am very honored to have received this scholarship and cannot express my appreciation enough."

Anna Marie Puaala (2021 recipient)

• College/University: Bates College
• Major/Field of Study: Biochemistry
• Quote: "I could not have done this without the help of Hoala and the scholarship committee. I will forever be thankful for all that they have done for me. The journey continues as I go into my senior year on route to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a thesis. The dream to return home after obtaining the necessary knowledge and skills to practice medicine and conduct research to give back to the community remains."

Kyrie Bartolome (2021 recipient)

• College/University: Oregon Institute of Technology
• Major/Field of Study: Diagnostic Medical Sonography
• Quote: "In regards to this scholarship, it has reminded me to carry on the spirit "aloha." Although the word "aloha" has many meanings, I continue to embrace it through my actions of respect, kindness, and helping others. I will be working with patients during trivial times when love and aloha are most needed."

Read their 2023 update.

Taysia Morioka (2021 recipient)

• College/University: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Major/Field of Study: Chemical Engineering
• Quote: "I'm incredibly grateful for the investment that Paubox is making in me and the contribution they're putting into financing my education. It's such an amazing thing they're doing for so many Native Hawaiians and their families. It's making it easier for students like myself to pursue our passions and dreams in STEM fields."

Alyssa Lyman (2020 recipient)

• College/University: Purdue
• Major/Field of Study: Computer Science
• Quote: "I am forever humbled and grateful for the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Board and Hoala for believing in me and supporting me in my journey. I'm excited to say that I will be graduating Purdue soon and pursuing my dream career in STEM."

Kobe John Kaimikupono Lilio (2020 recipient)

• College/University: George Fox
• Major/Field of Study: Business administration
• Quote: "The Paubox Kahikina STEM Scholarship has helped me in every way possible to ensure that I can continue my college journey. Without it, I wouldn't be here where I am today."

Lauren Noelani Kwee (2020 recipient)

• College/University: Harvard
• Major/Field of Study: Physics, Computer Science
• Quote: "I've been really grateful to Paubox for connecting me with many science professionals in the Hawaii community, and I'm also looking forward to our future meetings where hopefully I'll be able to meet with more people involved in education. Shoots."

See their 2023 update.

Nick Wong (2019 recipient)

• College/University: UC Berkeley
• Major/Field of Study: Computer Science + Data Science
• Current Role: Product manager at Paragon
• Quote: "Mahalo to the organization for investing so much in the next generation of Hawaii's technology leaders. I'm really excited to continue to support this program, it really gets a lot of opportunity, allows us to get our foot in the door when breaking into the tech industry. Go Paubox Kahikina scholarship. Aloha!."