Announcing the Women’s League 2025 Scholarship Awardees

On behalf of the Women’s League Scholarship Committee we are pleased to share this year’s 19 scholarship awardees:

Ruth C. Scudder Scholarship recipients:

  • Ariana-Nalani Sumajit (home schooled), University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

The Ruth C. Scudder Scholarship Fund was established by the Women’s Society of Central Union Church in 1915 in memory of Mrs. Ruth C. Scudder, who was the wife of CUC Pastor Dr. Doremus Scudder. This scholarship is awarded to a woman of Christian affiliation from Hawaii, with preference to the United Church of Christ, and who is a student in the University of Hawai‘i system, with preference being given to upperclassmen.

Kenneth O. and Doris A. Rewick Educational Aid Fund recipients:

  • Maming Bacxa (Kealekehe High School), Tulane University
  • Rain Hannsz (Kapa‘a High School), Harvey Mudd College
  • Zsusza Rose Horvath (Mid-Pacific Institute), University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  • Melenie Ignacio (Honoka‘a High School & Intermediate), University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
  • Katherine Keizer (Kealakehe High School), University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
  • Avery Hannah Kirkham (Maui Preparatory Academy), McGill University
  • Shyloh Mahealani McCann (Kapa‘a High School), University of California Los Angeles
  • Catalina Naki-Alforte (Nanakuli High School), Southern Oregon University
  • Nicole Qina (Konawaena High School), University of Hawai‘i Community College – Pālamanui
  • Sienna Jolie Racoma (Maui High School), University of Hawai‘i Maui College
  • Logan Riehle (Mililani High School), Baylor University
  • Tanalei Rivera (Konawaena High School), Washington State University
  • Christopher Salem (Maui Preparatory Academy), University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
  • Jazel Santana (Waianae High School), Fordham University
  • Leah Sardine (Kamehameha Schools Maui), Seattle University
  • Caroline Sloper (Kamehameha Schools Maui), Yale University
  • Tori Seiko Tokuda (Mid-Pacific Institute), University of Arizona
  • Benedict D. Uri (Waimea High School), Arizona State University

The Rewick Educational Fund. Central Union Church’s Women’s League established an educational aid grant In 1968 and later renamed it to honor Senior Minister Dr. Kenneth Rewick and former Central Union Church Preschool Director Mrs. Doris Rewick. The Rewick Educational Scholarship is awarded to students from Hawai‘i. who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in any accredited school for undergraduate or graduate college training or for other specialized training beyond high school. The students may be full time, part time, or on-line students.

The Women’s League held a reception, open to all, in honor of the awardees on Sunday, August 3. Two of the scholarship recipients were present—along with one awardee’s sister who was there on the awardee’s behalf as she was studying abroad. They shared about their plans and goals for the future. We are blessed to be able to play a small part in supporting their continued education!

The certificate presented by the Central Union Church Women’s League to all the 2025 awardees reads:
We congratulate you on your outstanding achievements—your hard work, dedication, and perseverance! It is an honor to support you in your pursuit of higher education. May you seek knowledge and cherish wisdom, embrace new challenges with courage, find and fulfill your purpose in this life. “Purpose is the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s needs.” –Frederick Buechner

Awardees Share Messages of Thanks

Several awardees that could not be present sent messages that were read aloud at the reception by our CUC youth group:

 

Hi, my name is Logan Riehle, a recent graduate of Mililani High. Highlights of my senior year included positions as the Mililani senate chairperson, Hawaii state student council vice chair or operations and varsity swim team captain-through these groups as well as other service clubs,  I’ve had the opportunity to learn, grow and give back to my community.
 
My goal is to become a professional airline pilot. Excited to launch this pursuit, I decided to start while in high school … completing dual credit college courses  such as physics for aviation, passing my FAA Class 1 Airman Medical Certificate, ground school, flight training, and studying everything from weather systems to emergency procedures.  I will be attending Baylor university in Waco Texas majoring in aviation science. 
 
I wanted to thank the scholarship  committee and all of you supporting me and my fellow graduates- helping us move towards our goals, and I’m excited for what comes next. I’m blessed to have these opportunities representing the 808 state and sharing the aloha spirit while away at college.  
Thank you
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Hi everyone, I wish I could be with you all today, but I am incredibly honored to be a recipient of this scholarship.
My name is Shyloh McCann, and I’m currently a student at UCLA, originally from Kauai. I grew up surrounded by natural beauty, but also with the realities of a mother who struggled with addiction, along with the challenges of being raised by a single dad. Still, he always supported me and reminded me that I could turn my story into something meaningful.
My long-term goal is to return home and start a nonprofit that supports children growing up in households affected by addiction. There are so many kids on the island facing instability and being overlooked by systems that don’t have enough resources to help. I want to be someone who shows up for them and makes them feel like they have a purpose.
At UCLA, I’m studying Business Economics with a minor in Communications, where I’m learning everything from digital marketing to nonprofit structure. I truly believe we can use our experiences, especially the hard ones, to create change in our communities.
Thank you again to the scholarship committee. This award really helps ease the financial burden of paying for my own education and brings me closer to pursuing my dreams. I’m incredibly grateful.
Best,
Shyloh
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Dear Women’s League of Central Women’s Church,

My name is Rain Hannsz, and I am a recipient of the 2025-2026 Kenneth O. and Doris A. Rewick Educational Aid Fund. With this letter, I would like to formally thank you for your support through this wonderful scholarship program.

I have spent most of my life on Kaua‘i, where I fostered a love for learning and discovered my passion for the environment. I have always known that I wanted to pursue higher education and expand my knowledge of it. This fall, I will leave for California to attend Harvey Mudd College, where I have the opportunity to study a combination of engineering, environmental analysis, and fine arts at the
renowned institution. There, I hope to hone my current interests as well as explore new ones. Afterwards, I will build my career in environmental engineering and work towards a more sustainable future every day. If all goes
to plan, I will eventually return to Hawai‘i where it all began, using my work to protect our natural systems.

The cost of college has always been a worry of mine, and I have been saving paychecks for it since I was 14. Now, entering my first semester, I can proudly say that my first year of college will come at an affordable cost to my family. That
would not be possible without the incredible support of local outside scholarships. So, I would like to give a big MAHALO to the Kenneth O. and Doris A. Rewick Educational Aid Fund Committee; your support means the world to
me.

I will continue to be grateful to the Central Union Church Women’s League as I progress through all four years of college and beyond!

With aloha,
Rain Hannsz