From left, Sebastian Buenrostro, Danielle Jeffries, Katharine Ornelas and Skyler Hirsch were awarded Pueo Pilot Scholarships.

NAPILI — Maui Preparatory Academy last week announced recipients of Pueo Pilot Scholarships, an innovative new merit scholarship developed to aid deserving students.

The scholarships winners are incoming sophomores Sebastian Buenrostro, Skyler Hirsch and Katharine Ornelas, and freshman Danielle Jeffries.

The Pueo Pilot Scholarship Program was developed by a group of donors who joined together to offer four full-tuition, four-year scholarships to Maui Prep for high school students entering grades 9-12 in the 2011-12 school year.

Ornelas said, “This is a surreal opportunity, and I am amazed and grateful that a group from the community cares enough about the education of four young adults to have made this possible.”

After completing the admissions process and comprehensive scholarship application, these students stood out among the many candidates.

The scholarship recipients demonstrated leadership potential in academics and a desire to make a positive impact in other areas of Maui Prep, including fine and performing arts, community service, athletics and student government.

“I am very appreciative of the opportunity, and I am looking forward to giving 100 percent focus to my academics and athletics, and giving back to the community of Maui,” said Hirsch.

Skyler’s parents, Matthew and Rebecca Hirsch, are thrilled at the opportunity the Pueo Pilot program afforded their son.

“Since relocating to Maui two years ago, we have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of the people. The opportunity the Pueo Pilots Scholarship committee has given the students of the island is an example of this generosity,” they said in a statement.

“Maui has many talented students to choose from, and we are grateful that Skyler has been chosen to become a Maui Preparatory student. We are confident he will continually endeavor to do his best in and out of the classroom, and will actively strive to make positive contributions to both the Maui Preparatory ‘ohana and the community of Maui.”

Located in Napili, Maui Preparatory Academy is an independent, college preparatory day school for students in preschool through grade 12. It is fully accredited by the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Forty percent of the school’s students receive tuition assistance. Applications are now being accepted for all grades for the 2011-12 school year.