New law expands Hawai‘i Promise scholarships for UH Community College students

Honolulu CC students ‘Aukai Riemen and Kelley Caitano flank Gov. David Ige

Link to video and sound (details below): https://bit.ly/2J6T6V3

What:  More University of Hawai‘i Community College students will get financial need-based aid because of legislation signed at Honolulu Community College today for Hawai‘i Promise scholarships.

How:  The new law adds $700,000 for “last-dollar” scholarships at seven UH Community Colleges statewide for the upcoming school year.

Students who demonstrate need through filling out the FAFSA are first awarded Pell grants, UH scholarships and private scholarships before being awarded a Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship for unmet direct costs such as tuition, fees, books, supplies and local transportation.

Who:  Approximately 1,500 students benefited from Hawai‘i Promise scholarships, with an average grant of $1,200, after the program was implemented in fall 2017 at a cost of $2.2 million.

It’s estimated the new funding will allow UH to support an additional 500–600 students for the 2018–2019 academic year.

Why:  This supplemental appropriation ensures that UH can meet the projected demand for aid, in turn increasing the educational capital of the State of Hawai‘i.

Other facts:  

• There is no separate application for the Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship. Prospective students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and enroll at a UH Community College at least half time to be considered for all types of financial aid, including the Hawai‘i Promise Scholarship.

• For any questions, contact the UH System Financial Aid Office at (808) 956-8753 or uhsfao@hawaii.edu.

VIDEO:

BROLL (TRT 1 minute 44 seconds) :

0:00-0:11: Gov. David Ige signing the Hawai‘i Promise bill

0:11-0:22, 2 clips: Group shots with the Governor

0:22-0:34, 2 clips: crowd shots at the bill signing

0:34-1:44, 11 clips: various shots at the community colleges

SOUND:

‘Aukai Rieman, Honolulu CC student (13 seconds)

"The Hawai‘i Promise program helped me out.  The last two semesters I received books and I live in Nānākuli so it helped with travel that was a big thing for me.  Yeah, thank you!"

Kelley Caitano, Honolulu CC student (12 seconds)

"The scholarship itself helped me not focus on the payments I had to make on school, but actually helped me focus on school itself, so it actually took a big load off of my shoulders.”

Gov. David Ige (9 seconds)

"Hawai‘i Promise is a program to fill a gap between what a family can afford and the actual cost of attending community college here in Hawai‘i."