Honor, Encourage & Make a Difference
Founding History
The Church ‘Ohana founded this Scholarship Fund in honor of our wife and mother, Coleen Church, who passed on February 16, 2021. She was a native Hawaiian, born and raised in Maui, Hawai’i, who resided in Hana for over 46 years. She was a beloved teacher at Hana High & Elementary School and an active community member.
Coleen embodied the following attributes and values. She was Courageous while facing a debilitating autoimmune disease, smiled at life with Optimism, Loved her family fiercely, and always practiced Empathy for others. Coleen was also Enthusiastic about Nature. In her younger years, she competed in skimboarding contests and enjoyed longboarding. As an adult, she enjoyed cultivating her land, swimming at Hamoa, hiking ‘Oheo, and walking in her beautiful neighborhood.
She was and always will be an inspiration to her family, friends, and community. Read more about Coleen’s Story.
Purpose
This annual scholarship will be awarded to graduates of Hana High School to help pay for their tuition and fees towards a vocational certificate or undergraduate degree.
The Coleen Church Scholarship Fund has two goals:
We aim to encourage young adults of Hana to continue their education after graduation and practice being positive members of their community.
We offer our Hana community an outlet to honor their loved ones by sharing their story and donating in their memory.
Donate to Make a Difference on our GoFunddMe Page
Your donation will help Hana High School graduates further their education! All donation sizes are welcome. When you donate you can also choose to honor a loved one of your choice on our website! Learn more about donation options and how you can feature your loved one’s story.
Scholarship Requirements
In addition to meeting the GPA and admissions requirements, Scholarship applicants will need to submit an essay explaining how they successfully practice the above C.O.L.E.E.N. attributes or how they intend to do so in the future.
This year we are excited to share that we are expanding our support and look forward to providing scholarships for Academic Achievement and Athletic Achievement. Learn more about the scholarship program.
Mahalo, for taking the time to read about the Coleen Church Scholarship Fund.
We hope that you will Honor, Encourage & Make a Difference in our Hana community.
—
Leyla Church
Daughter of Coleen Church, Scholarship Manager, Former Hana High School Teacher & Hana High School Graduate