WAILUKU — The Realtors Association of Maui awards scholarships each year to young people graduating from Maui County high schools, with each honoree receiving at least $1,000 toward college expenses.

RAM Presidential Scholarships awarded to 2009 graduates include: from Baldwin High School, Chentell A. Stiritz and Tiare Pimentel; Hana High School, Aaron Friesen, Gabrial K. Von Wellsheim and Lucas Weigang; Kamehameha Schools Maui, Veronica L. Nakanelua and Keely S. Rivera; King Kekaulike High School, Celina J. Hayashi, Keali’i Ribao, Santashia Perales-Manoa and Summer Wilkinson; Lahainaluna High School, Jacqueline M. Owens, Kelsey Fortey and Myles A. Tabios; Maui High School, Eduardo Serrano, Lea Meliza Pigao, Lornalyn D. Castillo, Melanie Ragamat, Natasha-Amber M. Sensano and Tyson Suehiro; Molokai High School, Colton R. Manley and John P. A. Rosales; and St. Anthony High School, Michael Chau and Ryan Rodriguez.

Three scholars were awarded renewals this year to help them continue their successful college careers: King Kekaulike High graduate Ashley Marie Ventimiglia, who is studying at California Polytechnic; Maui High graduate Jessica Caraang, who is at Hawaii Pacific University; and Southern Oregon University student Joshua Weigang, who graduated from Hana High School.

Three RAM scholarship winners coming back for a second renewal are Baldwin High graduate Nitasha C. Stiritz, who is studying at Point Loma University; and Maui High School graduates Shane-Ann Suehiro of the University of Washington and Kristen Scarlett Neeck of the University of Portland.

Realtors Association of Maui President Bob Lightbourn said, “I want to congratulate the 2009 scholarship winners, and to especially recognize those who have stayed in school, succeeded in their studies and been recognized with extensions of their RAM Scholarships. I know that all of Maui is proud of these young people.”

Over the years, from the inception of the RAM Presidential Scholarship Fund in 1989 through 2007, a total of $235,000 was presented to scholars graduating from high school.

In 2008, $45,000 was added to the total, and an additional $30,000 was awarded in 2009. So, RAM Scholarship awards to date total $310,000.

“All of these young people have demonstrated their ability to achieve good standing academically, but equally as important, they have shown a concern for the community and an interest in improving life in Maui County once they complete their education,” said RAM Chief Staff Executive Terry Tolman.