The Paubox Kahikina Scholarship helps Native Hawaiian students pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and Tech in general. Its purpose is to offer financial support and create a strong network for these students. The scholarship makes education more affordable and connects students with professionals, giving them valuable opportunities to learn and grow in their chosen STEM or Tech fields. This scholarship is about more than just money; it's about building a community and empowering Native Hawaiian students to succeed in STEM or Tech careers.

See also: The big ideas behind the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship

 

Dane, is a 2023 scholarship recipient and a rising senior at Yale University. He is currently studying Computer Science. Here is a word from Dane:

“This past year has been one of the most impactful and memorable of my college journey so far. Academically, I had the opportunity to dive into courses that genuinely excited me. Computer System Security challenged me to think critically about how we build and protect the systems that the world increasingly depends on, which feels more relevant than ever in today’s landscape. I also got ot explore the intersection of two of my biggest passions through Computer Music: Sound Representation and Synthesis, a course that blended my love of music with the technical depth of computer science in ways I never expected. It was a reminder of why I fell in love with this field in the first place.

Outside of the classroom, this year was filled with adventures and moments I’ll never forget. I got into bouldering at the local climbing gym in New Haven, then took that new passion all the way to Guatemala, where I summited Acatenango and watched a live volcano erupt right before my eyes.

I’ve also kept up with basketball and volleyball, and continued jamming on my ukulele and guitar. One highlight that meant a lot to me was performing at Yale’s Pasifika Fest this year with Kaimana Kau (another recipient of this scholarship).

This summer, I’m thrilled to be returning to Microsoft as a Software Engineering Intern on the Azure Kubernetes Services team. Getting to go back and build on what I learned last summer is something I don’t take for granted, and I’m excited to keep growing as an engineer in the cloud infrastructure space.

None of this would have been possible without the generous support of the Paubox Foundation. The Paubox Kahikina Scholarship has meant so much more than financial assistance; it has given me the freedom and confidence to fully invest in my education, pursue opportunities I’m passionate about, and show up as my whole self in everything I do. I am deeply grateful to Paubox for believing in Native Hawaiian students and for making this scholarship a reality.”

Read more: Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Recipient Reflection | Dane Keahi