Hawai‘i Student Scholarships

Pacific University is a welcoming and diverse learning community dedicated to creating personal learning opportunities for our students. Though our campuses are in Oregon, we have shared a close relationship with Hawai‘i for decades. About one in five incoming freshman students are from Hawai‘i, and more than 6 percent of our 30,000 alumni live in Hawai‘i. Our students, alumni — and their families — are all part of our Boxer ‘ohana. With a dedicated location and staff in Hawai‘i, our ‘ohana grows by connecting with and supporting even more prospective and current students, family, friends and alumni.

In recognition of the importance of addressing the needs of students from Hawai‘i, Pacific donors have created eleven scholarships specifically for students from Hawai‘i. Please join us and make a gift to one of these funds and help support the strong tradition of support for Pacific’s students from Hawai‘i.

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Boxer ‘Ohana Endowed Scholarship

Established by Gary '74 and Gwen Pacarro, the scholarship is awarded to a student from Hawai‘i with financial need. The recipient may be either a junior, senior, or a full-time graduate student.

Ellen Choy Craig Endowed Scholarship

Established by Dr. Timothy Y. Choy '64 in honor of his mother, Ellen Choy Craig, the scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior student from Hawai‘i in the College of Arts & Sciences. In recognition of the sacrifices Dr. Choy's mother made as a single parent, preference is given to students from a single-parent household.

Aunty Edna and Uncle Hans Endowed Scholarship

Established in honor of "Aunty" Edna Gehring '70, MSEd '72, Pacific's longtime advisor to the Nā Haumāna O Hawai‘i (NHOH), and her husband, "Uncle" Hans Gehring '72, this scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior studying in the College of Arts & Sciences who is an active member in NHOH. The scholarship is awarded to a student in good academic standing, and preference is given to students from Hawai‘i.

Hawai‘i Optometric Association Scholarship

Established by Stanley '66, OD '66 and Joyce Yamane '65 to honor their strong ties to Hawai‘i and Dr. Yamane's relationship with the Hawai‘i Optometric Association (HOA), as a past president of the HOA and a well-respected optometrist, this scholarship will be awarded to a student in the College of Optometry who demonstrates both academic excellence and financial need. It may be renewed yearly as long as the student remains in good academic standing.

Henry Kaulia Endowed Scholarship

Established by Robert '63 and Sunny Iboshi '67 in memory of beloved alumnus, coach and teacher Henry Kaulia '82, this scholarship is awarded to a student from Hawai‘i, with preference given to a Leeward Oahu graduate entering their junior or senior year and majoring in education. 

Dina and Harry Martynse Scholarship

Established in 1964 through gifts from the United Church of Christ congregation in Hanapepe, Kauai, this scholarship provides support for students in need from that congregation, or for students from Kauai or elsewhere in Hawai‘i.

Fred Scheller Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship honors Pacific's beloved alumnus and emeritus faculty member, Fred Scheller '52. It is a merit-based scholarship awarded to undergraduate students who have demonstrated an interest in studying communications and/or have participated in debate and forensics programs at Pacific. Preference is given to students from Hawai‘i or who have been active with the Nā Haumāna O Hawai‘i (NHOH) organization on campus.

Shishido Family Endowed Scholarship

Established in 1988 by Dr. Miles and Florence Shishido '68 in honor of Dr. Shishido's years as a distinguished professor of religion and philosophy at Pacific, this scholarship is awarded to students studying philosophy with preference given to students from Hawai‘i.

Shigeo & Thelma (Torigoe) Yoshida Endowed Scholarship

Established by current Chair of Pacific University's Board of Trustees, alumnus Jerry Yoshida '73 and his wife Bonnie in honor of their family's legacy of education, leadership and racial equality, the Yoshida scholarship is awarded in the spirit of Jerry's parents, who were notable educators and activists. Recipients of the Yoshida scholarship are students from Hawai‘i who have a minimum GPA of 2.0, are part-time or full-time students, demonstrate financial need, and complete a personal statement of their educational and career goals.

Waianae Strong Scholarship in Honor of Darren M. Scheidt

Founded by David Scheidt '88 in memory of his brother, this scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior from Waianae High School, or a resident of Waianae who is transferring to Pacific from a two-year junior college. Preference is given first to students of native Hawaiian ancestry, then to male students who are part of a recognized minority population at Pacific, and may be renewed for up to four years.

Marilyn Makii Morikawa '70 & Karen Scheller Johnson '70 Endowed Scholarship for the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders

Founded by Marilyn Makii Morikawa '70, who grew up in a pineapple plantation town on Maui, this scholarship also honors her classmate, Karen Scheller Johnson '70. This scholarship is awarded to two students enrolled in the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders' master of science program in speech-language pathology. Preference is given to one student who is from Hawai'i and one student who is from Oregon.