Previous Scholarship Recipients
Scholarship Recipients 2024
Congratulations to all our Higher Education Scholarship Recipients and to all 2024 graduates. We wish you the best in all your future endeavors!
As part of its commitment to investing in the Maui community, Maui Federal Credit Union’s CEO and President Clayton Fuchigami announced that $1,000 higher education scholarships were awarded to five credit union members.
Angelo Mattew Balasan Air Transport Management, Arizona State University
"When I think about Maui Federal Credit Union, it is more than a place to keep my money. It is like having a friendly neighbor who genuinely cares about me and my family. Being part of Maui FCU feels different from dealing with those big, for-profit banks that seem more interested in squeezing every cent out of you. I like knowing that my money is staying local, helping to support other families and businesses in our community. There is something really satisfying about that. It is like banking with Maui FCU, and I am contributing to the well-being of my own island."
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Deanne Suehisa Hospitality Management, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV)
“As a member of Maui Federal Credit Union (Maui FCU), I can confidently affirm the significant positive change Maui FCU has brought to my family and me. Maui FCU stands as an image of community-driven financial empowerment, by providing a wide range of services customized to address the varied needs of its members. Despite the many benefits offered by Maui FCU, some may question why we continue to choose it as our primary financial institution over alternative service providers, such as for-profit banks. The answer lies in the intangible value of belonging to a community-oriented institution that prioritizes people over profits."
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Jovan Gumtang Butac General Engineering, Grand Canyon University
“Being a long-time member at Maui FCU has helped me a lot when dealing with my finances, especially as a college student. At this point in my life, I have come to terms with the fact that living life as an adult is not easy. There are simply too many tasks and priorities to keep track of, and sometimes I catch myself forgetting some things, or overworking myself to make up for the times I fall behind. But, having Maui FCU as my main bank removes the need to worry about the security of my finances, which is very important to me. With a significant amount of financial worry being lifted off my shoulders, I feel that my money is secure. Though I will be away from home for most of the year, I can confidently say that I trust Maui FCU with my banking needs.
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Marceliza Luwalhati Master of Science in Nursing (focus on Public Health Nursing), Grand Canyon University
“Maui FCU has had a significant impact on me and my family. From the time I started working during my high school years, I have been with Maui FCU when it was still Maui Land and Pineapple Federal Credit Union. I have had other banks I had businesses with, but my paycheck has always been directly deposited to Maui FCU. It is the only bank where I have felt taken cared of. Maui FCU has helped me with several personal loans that assisted in taking care of my family. They make sure that the loan and the payments are reasonable to my current financial situation. I was able to pay off all my loans with their help.
We are very satisfied with our experience over the course of 20 years. The gratitude I have for having a bank we can rely on is beyond what words can express; it is by my continued loyalty to the bank where I can show how grateful I am of being a Maui FCU member.”
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Mariz Alyanna Tumacder Nursing, University of Hawaii Maui College
“Being a member of Maui Federal Credit Union has had a significant impact on me and my family, both financially and personally. Ever since my dad came to Maui, he’s been a member of Maui FCU for 30 years. His family then expanded and he brought me and my mother to Maui and we also became a member of Maui FCU since then. I grew up with Maui FCU, I’ve always seen how they prioritize their member’s needs above all and how easy they are to work with. Maui FCU has helped us tremendously especially financially, they provided numerous benefits that have positively impacted my families financial well being. They’re so easy to approach whenever we needed help such as getting a car loan or a personal loan anytime we needed them. Maui FCU also creates this welcoming and supportive atmosphere as their staff members ”
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Maui FCU’s Higher Education Scholarship Program is open to primary members of Maui FCU in good standing for at least one year and attendance must be on a full-time basis during the award year. Applicants submitted an application form, a resume, and a media submission, along with their acceptance letter to the college of their choice.
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Scholarship Recipients 2023
Congratulations to all our Higher Education Scholarship Recipients and to all 2023 graduates. We wish you the best in all your future endeavors!
As part of its commitment to investing in the Maui community, Maui Federal Credit Union’s CEO and President Clayton Fuchigami announced that $1,000 higher education scholarships were awarded to five credit union members.
Riann Europa Delos Santos Dental, UH Manoa
Photo Submission ----"Easy Peasy! Maui FCU is the key to buying your textbooks with ease!"
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Taelor Ferrer Elementary Education, UH Manoa
“After getting my first job in high school, I needed to find a safe place to store my money. During this time, I also needed to start up my first debit card. Thanks to the help of Maui FCU, my money accounts and first debit card were able to start up fast and easily. The employees were very helpful and willing to answer any and all of my questions. Maui FCU constantly makes sure my money is safe and provides me with the best customer service whenever I need assistance with things such as money deposits and withdrawals. I can always count on Maui FCU to make sure my money is safe, secure, and in the watch of a trustworthy bank.
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Kaleo Itel Gallen Hospitality Management, UNLV
“My father immigrated to Maui in 1991 for work and a better life. He found a job withMaui Gold Pineapple Company within a year. Maui FCU was established back in 1938 as a credit union for the employees of Maui Pineapple. Working with the company he started banking with Maui FCU. The experiences my father would share were all positive. The transition of lifemy father went through to adapt to the life he lives now wasn’t an easy one. Language barriers, social norms, and culture shocks. Maui FCU’s team provided the help my father needed to adjust to his new environment. Maui FCU Being a financial service to the employees of the Maui Pineapple Company, has had a historically rich tie with my family."
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Rheannon Sardinha Exploratory Business, UH Manoa
“The most important lesson I’m learning as a member of Maui FCU is the value of saving money. I opened an account in 2020 at the start of the Covid pandemic. I was 14 years old then, and all the money I had was mostly coins or money received as gifts over the years that I kept in a jar or here and there around the house. Over time, I earned money by doing small jobs or helping others, and I would deposit all or most of it, sometimes keeping a little bit to treat myself. It feels good to know I’m developing a habit that benefits me now and in the future.”
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Jason Tagala Civil Engineering, University of Portland
“I have been a Maui FCU member since I was a child. Some of my earliest memories with the credit union was attending the annual luncheons. I looked forward to seeing familiar faces and seeing the community come together. I want to continue using Maui FCU because I find value in connecting with the community. I would prefer my financial institution to know me personally and accompany me on my journey through college and well into the future as a civil engineer.”
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Maui FCU’s Higher Education Scholarship Program is open to primary members of Maui FCU in good standing for at least one year and attendance must be on a full-time basis during the award year. Applicants submitted an application form, a resume, and a media submission, along with their acceptance letter to the college of their choice.
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Scholarship Recipients 2022
Congratulations to all our Higher Education Scholarship Recipients and to all 2022 graduates. We wish you the best in all your future endeavors!
As part of its commitment to investing in the Maui community, Maui Federal Credit Union’s CEO and President Clayton Fuchigami announced that $1,000 higher education scholarships were awarded to five credit union members.
Altene Jacob Tumacder Nursing, UH Manoa
“Maui Federal Credit Union is there to serve the community. They are there to promote a financially literate community who is ready to accomplish their goals. In my case, Maui FCU was and is the most responsible and beneficial financial institution, as they have given my parents a second chance. In fact, they are the family that my parents found, providing us with a second chance to pursue the greater things in life.”
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Celiessa Pangan Nursing, University of Hawaii Maui College
“I vividly remember the day I opened an account with Maui Federal Credit Union back in 2018. I felt a welcoming family-like atmosphere when I opened the door as the employees greeted me. From personal experience, MFCU provided the most effortless process of becoming a credit union member. It was indeed a worthy decision to become a member, which allowed me to explore the services provided by MFCU.”
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D’Marco Rabang Hospitality Management, UNLV
“I’m glad that I was able to open up an account with Maui Federal Credit Union. It was easy to do and the staff was friendly and helpful, as this was my first time opening an account. I was surprised by the other services that were offered other than just a savings account. I’m sure I’ll be able to take advantage of more of these services once I complete school, but I can certainly rest easier knowing my accounts are secure at Maui Federal Credit Union.”
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Dustin David Metzler Jr. Exploratory Business, UH Manoa
“As a proud member of Maui Federal Credit Union since the age of 14, I can say that this financial institution has some of the most important values we look for in Hawaii. As a freshman in high school, I needed to find a bank that would not only keep my money safe, but also one that could be trusted. I saw first hand MFCU’s involvement with our community. I noticed their culture. Always warm and friendly to all members, including our kupuna, is a special aspect of our culture in Hawaii.”
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Korey Hanaike Travel Industry Management, UH Manoa
“[T]he quality of service at Maui FCU is what sets this institution apart from the others. Maui FCU has proven to be reliable, while continuing to be warm and welcoming each time I walk through the door. The employees at Maui FCU have made it a point to create personalized experiences with members by creating and maintaining relationships. Such small gestures can make all the difference for members and Maui Federal Credit Union makes sure that they do it.”
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Maui FCU’s Higher Education Scholarship Program is open to primary members of Maui FCU in good standing for at least one year and attendance must be on a full-time basis during the award year. Applicants submitted an application form, a resume, and a media submission, along with their acceptance letter to the college of their choice.
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View Press Release: Maui Federal Credit Union Announces 2022 College Scholarship Recipients
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Scholarship Recipients 2021
Maui Federal Credit Union CEO and president Clayton Fuchigami announced $1,000 higher-education scholarships were awarded to three credit union members who were chosen during a random drawing.
“It’s been a tough year and we wanted to continue helping our members reach their higher education goals,” Fuchigami said.
The recipients and their respective university programs are:
- Jerome Butac, Pacific University, Applied Sciences
- Mary Jicel Butac, UH Maui College, Nursing
- Kainalu Yoshida, Seattle University, Biology
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Maui FCU’s Higher Education Scholarship Program is open to primary members of Maui FCU in good standing for at least one year and attendance must be on a full-time basis during the award year. Applicants submitted an application form, a resume, and a media submission, along with their acceptance letter to the college of their choice.
View Press Release: Maui Federal Credit Union Announces 2021 College Scholarship Recipients
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Scholarship Recipients 2020
Five members of Maui Federal Credit Union were awarded $1,000 scholarships to help them pursue higher education, Maui FCU President and CEO Clayton Fuchigami announced.
“It was important to make sure we continue this program during the pandemic. The awardees, who were selected by random drawing were diligent about submitting their completed applications by the deadline so we felt it was equally important for us to notify them in a timely manner,” said Fuchigami. “We’re proud to be able to award scholarships to these deserving students.”
The recipients and their respective university programs are:
- Jeannyne Palecpec, UH Maui College, Accounting
- Breanna Alviedo, UH Maui College, Education
- Bryant Nakagawa, Saint Martin’s University, Civil Engineering
- Ashley Anne Andres, UH Manoa, Business Management
- Lennel Joy Alvarez, UH Maui College, Nursing
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Maui FCU’s scholarship program is open to primary members of Maui FCU in good standing for at least one year and applicants must be a full-time student during the award year. They submitted an application form, an essay or video, along with their acceptance letter to the college of their choice.
View Press Release: 2020 Maui FCU Scholarship Recipients Announced
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Scholarship Recipients 2019
“We are happy to continue this program and provide financial support to our members pursuing higher education,” Fuchigami said.
The recipients and their respective university programs are:
- Mary Joy Butac – University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Accounting
- Katrina Mae Tolentino – University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Molecular Biology
- Lindsay Lau – Linfield College, Nursing
- Chealeen Obrero – University of Hawai’i Maui College, Nursing
- Jacqueline Agorilla – University of Hawai’i Maui College, Nursing
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View Press Release: Maui Federal Credit Union Announces 2019 Scholarship Recipients
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Scholarship Recipients 2018
Five members of Maui Federal Credit Union, selected at random drawing, were awarded $1000 scholarships to help them pursue higher education.
Qualified applicants for the scholarship program, which includes this year’s recipients, are primary members of Maui FCU in good standing for at least one year. They submitted an application form, an essay or video, along with their acceptance letter to the college of their choice.
“As a credit union, the scholarship program is another way that we give back to our membership,” said Maui FCU CEO and president Clayton Fuchigami. “We are proud to be part of our scholars’ educational journey and we will continue to serve them at every milestone of their careers.”
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The awardees are:
- Micah Jio - Oregon Institute of Technology, Pre-medical Imagining
- Lisa Morton Whitten – Liberty University, Education Specialist in Curriculum & Teaching
- Jaymar Quedding – Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Doctor of Pharmacy
- Taylor Pazcoguin – Pacific University, Exercise Science
- Kiley Pazcoguin – Saint Martin University, Environmental Science
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“We are happy to continue this program and provide financial support to our members pursuing higher education,” Fuchigami said.
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