Kalaeloa Partners Funds Scholarships

Leeward Community College accepts $100,000 for student scholarships from Kalaeloa Partners. Pictured (from left) are: LCC director of financial aid Aileen Lum-Akana, Kalaeloa Partners executive secretary Wilhelmina ‘Bili’ Young, Kalaeloa Partners general manager Hans ‘Ruedi’ Tobler, LCC chancellor Manny Cabral and UH Foundation director of development for community colleges KC Collins. Photo courtesy UH Foundation.

Electrical energy supplier Kalaeloa Partners L.P. recently donated $100,000 to Leeward Community College to create the Kalaeloa Partners Scholarship. The scholarship will assist LCC students who have graduated from Kapolei, Campbell, Nanakuli, Waipahu or Waianae high schools.

Located in Pearl City, LCC is the third largest campus in the University of Hawaii system. The school reports a record high student enrollment, which has increased 34 percent in the last four years.

Kalaeloa Partners general manager Hans “Ruedi” Tobler explains that the company was inspired to fund scholarships after witnessing the success of LCC’s fine dining culinary training restaurant, The Pearl, under the leadership of culinary arts professor Tommylynn Benavente.

“We were impressed with Tommylynn’s commitment to the community and the caliber of students we encountered at The Pearl, and wanted to make a difference in the community by helping to make quality higher education affordable for Leeward residents,” Tobler said.

“More than one-third of our students are supported by either private or federal aid, and often it is a combination of the two,” LCC financial aid director Aileen Lum-Akana stated in a recent press release. “Another third of our student body is seriously struggling, often dropping out of school to support children of their own, or even their parents. The support of Kalaeloa Partners will play a large role in the future success of many of our students.”

“We are thrilled to accept this generous commitment by Kalaeloa Partners to help our students with much-needed new scholarship opportunities,” said LCC chancellor Manny Cabral. “Ruedi Tobler and the Kalaeloa Partners ohana have stepped forward to give a college education to a significant number of students. On behalf of all those who will benefit, I express my mahalo nui loa.”