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

 

As a 2025 recipient, Tatum Thompson is a rising junior at Rice University studying Bioengineering with a minor in Data Science. Here is a word from Tatum Thompson:

“Aloha!! I am incredibly grateful to be entering my second year as a Paubox Kahikina Scholarship recipient. As a general introduction, my name is Tatum Thompson and I am a Native Hawaiian student who grew up in Las Vegas and am currently a rising junior at Rice University studying Bioengineering with a minor in Data Science. This past school year was transformative, to say the least. It came with many highs and lows, but looking back, I know I grew tremendously as both a student and a person.

Academically, sophomore year was significantly more challenging than freshman year, but it was also much more exciting because my coursework became increasingly focused on my major. While I still took more advanced foundational engineering courses, like Mechanics/Statics and Electronic Measurement Systems, the most impactful class by far was BIOE 252: Fundamentals of Bioengineering.

BIOE 252 challenged me in ways I hadn’t experienced before. Throughout the semester, my team worked on three interconnected project-based learning (PBL) assignments centered around chronic kidney disease. I was honored to be elected one of our team leaders and present our final project while also earning an A+ in the course. By the end of the semester, our team had developed a mathematical model comparing healthy and diseased kidney function and designed a prototype wearable biosensor aimed to help monitor patients with chronic kidney disease. Beyond the technical knowledge I gained, this class strengthened my leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, and ultimately solidified my confidence that Bioengineering is the right path for me.

Outside of class, I stayed involved on campus by working as a manager at the Rice Recreation Center and serving as the Treasurer for the Women’s Club Volleyball team. These activities gave me an opportunity to step away from academics, socialize with friends, and maintain a healthy balance throughout the demanding school year.

Last August, I also joined a research lab at Rice, an experience that has been instrumental in shaping my future career goals. Working alongside my PhD student mentor, I have been researching and characterizing ways to leverage the mechanobiological properties of T cells to improve the manufacturing process for CAR-T cell therapies, an area of research with tremendous potential to improve cancer treatment. While I enjoy running experiments and working in the lab, what excites me most about research is knowing that every project contributes toward something much bigger than myself.

Since my experience last summer conducting breast cancer research at the University of Hawai’i Cancer Research Center, have become increasingly passionate about cancer research and the development of innovative therapies. These experiences have helped me realize that after completing my undergraduate degree, I hope to pursue a PhD focused on immunology and cancer therapeutics, with the long-term goal of working in the biotechnology industry to help develop treatments that improve patients’ lives.

The support of the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship has allowed me to focus on opportunities like undergraduate research and professional development experiences that are shaping my future career. Because of that support, I was able to pursue an internship this summer, and I am proud to be working in Houston as a Research & Development Intern at BrYet Pharma, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing new therapies for metastatic cancers. This summer, I have been contributing to research along new pipelines revolving around the company’s nanoporous silicone microparticle targeting platform, while gaining firsthand experience in the biotechnology industry. Being able to work in the very field I hope to enter after graduate school has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I am excited to continue learning throughout the rest of the internship.

Looking back on the past year, I am amazed by how much I have learned, both inside and outside the classroom, bringing me one step closer to discovering the type of scientist and engineer I hope to become. None of these opportunities would have been possible without the generosity of the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship. I am deeply grateful to everyone who supports this program and invests in Native Hawaiian students with dreams of making a difference in STEM, like me. Your support has allowed me to pursue opportunities that are preparing me for graduate school and a future dedicated to advancing cancer research and biotechnology. As I look ahead to my junior year and beyond, I am excited to continue learning, growing, and working toward a career developing innovative therapies that improve patients’ lives.”

Read more: Paubox Kahikina Scholarship Recipient Reflection | Tatum Thompson