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A Kaua‘i nonprofit has awarded three graduating high school seniors each $20,000 for their continued education.
This is the 16th consecutive year the Grove Farm Foundation has awarded these scholarships. This year’s recipients were selected from nine of the most accomplished seniors on Kaua‘i.
Two recipients came from Kaua‘i High School: Michaela Alcaraz and Lauryn Hashimoto. The third recipient, Margarita Lomongo, is graduating from Waimea High School.
The six finalists who were not selected as 2025 Grove Farm Scholars will each receive $1,000 toward their college education.
Alcaraz, who will be attending the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa this fall, will be the first Kaua‘i High School candidate for the Seal in Biliteracy in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i. She also speaks conversational German and Tagalog.
She plans to study medicine and become a primary care physician.
“My enthusiasm alone cannot make my dreams a reality,” Alcaraz said. “The Grove Farm Scholarship will allow me to overcome the only obstacle standing in my way of achieving my goals —a giant price tag that neither I nor my family, could ever pay alone.”
Alcaraz has been an active volunteer with the Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i at the Līhu‘e Clubhouse and with service organizations including Key Club and National Honor Society. She also plays multiple instruments, both wind instruments and the violin, performing in her high school’s marching band and earning college credits as a member of the Kaua‘i Community College Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra.
Alcaraz’s classmate, Hashimoto, holds many accolades for her scientific research projects and has held leadership roles as a class officer throughout all four years of high school, including serving as class president for the last three.
Hashimoto was a dedicated scholar-athlete, serving as captain of her paddling team and also participating in cross country and track and field.
Hashimoto was accepted by her dream school, the University of California at Berkeley, where she will study molecular biology and work towards a career in scientific research.
“I value hard work, perseverance, and using mistakes as learning opportunities,” Hashimoto said. “Science is a field where I can apply these aptitudes to address issues I care about, such as climate change and environmental protection.”
Lomongo, born and raised in Chuuk, Micronesia, Margarita moved to Kaua‘i in 2018. The teen took early college courses and earned a certificate in competency in Hawaiian botany. She is also an active volunteer through her church and school clubs, and she was a co-founder in the revival of Waimea High School’s Key Club.
Lomongo intends to pursue her studies in dietetics and is deciding between the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Her interest in nutrition began when she interned with a nonprofit entity that had a partnership with her high school to grow, distribute, and sell fresh vegetables through their aquaponics program.
“My mind was determined to do well in school to make my family proud,” Lomongo said. “I want to make a meaningful impact on others’ lives and help them navigate their relationship with food to build a healthier lifestyle.”
Each public high school appoints a Scholarship Screening Committee that completes an initial round of review and chooses its top three qualified candidates. After the schools complete their initial round of review, the Grove Farm Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee reviews the applications of the nine finalists, conducts interviews, and determines the final scholarship awards.
This year’s judges shared their high praise for the finalists, saying, “These are all remarkable students,” “It’s very uplifting to participate,” and “I appreciate the opportunity to meet our future leaders.”
