The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa offers several prominent scholarship opportunities, totaling more than $1.3 million each year to incoming and transfer students to help finance their education. Administered through the Office of Admissions, these highly sought after scholarships provide significant financial support to high-achieving freshmen and transfer students for their exemplary academic, extracurricular and community contributions.
With the new student in mind, the New Warrior Scholarships (NWS) are comprised of:
- Regents
- Provost Achievement (formerly Chancellor’s)
- Mānoa Excellence
- Mānoa International Excellence
- Presidential
The Office of Admissions hosted its annual Scholar-to-Scholar recognition event on April 10, 2021, welcoming nearly 100 newly awarded NWS recipients for the incoming class of 2021. Scholars were celebrated for their academic/community achievements and connected with other incoming scholars from Hawaiʻi, the continental U.S. and various countries around the world. Current scholars were also in attendance to offer knowledge, experience, guidance, encouragement and the support of one another.
“The Scholar-to-Scholar event successfully allows students to interact and build connections, set a platform for fellowship, and gain an in-depth understanding of the student lifestyle on campus,” commented Justin Lau, scholarship coordinator and Mānoa Scholars Club (MSC) advisor. “We look forward to connecting with these scholars and welcoming them to the Mānoa campus in the fall.”
Lilian Marie Shibata, Provost Achievement Scholar said, “I received the news that I was a scholarship recipient a little while after a family member was diagnosed with cancer. Not only did receiving this scholarship help with the financial aspect of college, but it was a bright and proud moment for my whole family to celebrate. Through this scholarship and the Mānoa Scholars Club I have been given the opportunity to make the most of my college experience. I have made new friends, connections and memories that will stay with me through college and beyond.”
Helping new students succeed
MSC, a Registered Independent Organization, was founded and initiated by the Office of Admissions for recipients of the New Warrior Scholarships. “During the height of the global pandemic, our scholarship students found a way to create a community amongst one another and created the Mānoa Scholars Club,” said Lau.
MSC has become a student organization for members to meet regularly to perform charitable works for the university and local community. Students collaborate as a club to plan, participate, and serve in workshops and social events to give back to the community. MSC has successfully partnered and executed many community service projects.
The New Warrior Scholarships are more than just a financial benefit for students. These scholarships provide opportunities for students to make positive impacts in society, focus on personal growth and discovery, as well as encourage students to carve their own paths towards their educational and career goals beyond their time at UH Mānoa.
“Despite the absence of test scores this year as it was not a requirement, our pool of scholarships recipients demonstrated a high level of scholastic aptitude and performance. Awardees of these scholarships have extensive opportunities to become integral members of the university by serving as inspiring club leaders, successful undergraduate researchers and lifelong learners,” said Ryan Yamaguchi, interim assistant vice chancellor for enrollment management and director of admissions.
This work is an example of UH Mānoa’s goal of Enhancing Student Success (PDF) and Excellence in Research: Advancing the Research and Creative Work Enterprise (PDF), two of four goals identified in the 2015–25 Strategic Plan (PDF), updated in December 2020.
