Leanne Osorno from Maui High School, who represented the five Central Maui Rotary Clubs, and Maya Ploi-Blasi of Hana High School. who represented the five Coastal Maui Rotary Clubs, were chosen by their respective area clubs to be considered for two $10,000 statewide scholarship awards.

Each of the ten Maui County Rotary Clubs offered a $5,000 Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation (HRYF) scholarship to a deserving graduating senior. Each club interviewed numerous candidates and selected their award recipient.

These recipients were then interviewed by representatives from the area clubs, and Osorno (represented by the Rotary Club of Kahului) and Ploi-Blasi (represented by the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset) were selected to move forward in the scholarship awards program.

Final statewide interviews were held via Zoom at the end of March, and the Maui Rotary Clubs are proud to announce that both students were selected as the 2022 Rotary District 5,000 Top HRYF Scholars and awarded $10,000 scholarships.

Osorno was selected to receive the Joanna L. Sullivan Scholarship. She will be attending the University of Hawaii Maui College with a declared major of Nursing.

Ploi-Blasi, who was selected to receive the Sully Sullivan Award, will attend the University of Colorado at Denver with a double major of Fine Arts and Environmental Studies.

Osorno said, “I am truly honored to receive the Joanna L. Sullivan Scholarship. I will forever cherish the Kahului Rotary Club and the Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation for their generosity. Their continual support for our community is inspirational. Now I’ll be able to pursue my higher education and serve the people of Hawaii as a nurse practitioner in the future.”

Ploi-Blasi said, “High school has been full of many lessons and some of the best moments that I will never forget. Growing up in my community, I’ve been taught to cherish those we love and hold on to the connections we create along the way. I am honored to represent my school and community and am excited for what my future holds. This scholarship has granted me the security and confidence to further my education and better the lives of those I love most. I am humbled and grateful for such an opportunity.”

The following students were selected by their respective clubs and will receive a $5,000 scholarship: Natalie Dzuiban, King Kekaulike High School, Rotary Club of Upcountry Maui; Kaylee Cordeiro, Baldwin High School, Rotary Club of Wailuku; Camry Gach, Seabury Hall, Rotary Club of Maui; Kaydence Lilio, Kamehameha Schools Maui, Rotary Club of Valley Isle Sunset; Andrei Umali, Kihei Charter School, Rotary Club of Kihei Wailea; Mark Ruaburo, Lanai High School, Rotary Club of Lanai; Maile Cacal, Lahainaluna High School, Rotary Club of Lahaina; and Grace Martin, Maui Preparatory Academy, Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise.

The Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation (HRYF) was founded by Maurice J. “Sully” Sullivan during his year as Rotary’s district governor in Hawaii, 1976-1977.

It was Sully’s desire to assist Hawaii’s high school graduates to realize their potential by attending a college or university of their choice here in Hawaii or on the Mainland.

Scholarship awards are $5,000 for graduating Hawaii high school seniors.

For more information about the HRYF Scholarship program, contact HRYF Maui Trustee Joanne Laird at mamalrd01@gmail.com or visit https://www.hawaiirotaryyouthfoundation.org.