Thank you to HPH Members, Brian, Josh, Kim and Dennis for assisting with this difficult but rewarding decision. All seven applicants were very impressive. I am pleased to announce the winner of the $5,000 HRYF scholarship that will be awarded on behalf of the Rotary Club of Hickam Pearl Harbor.
The recipient of the HRYF Scholarship is Sacred Hearts Academy senior, Geralyn Agunat. She has been accepted by George Fox University, Loyola Marymount University and Columbia College Chicago in hopes to study audio engineering. Not only was the interview team impressed with her academics, community service and compassion, she was the only student who researched our club website before the interview.
She will move forward to a second interview in which she will be competing for a $10.000 scholarship, in lieu of the club's $5,000. That decision will be made by the end of March where only two students from the state will receive the $10,000 scholarship.
Emilie Smith, HRYF Scholarship Chair
Geralyn Agunat's Personal Statement: Making Dreams Reality
It started in middle school when I was first introduced to anime. The clinks of swords and swooshes of volleyballs whipping through the air caught my attention. The way sound was able to bring me into the world of anime inspired me to pursue a degree in audio engineering. With a burning passion for sound and audio, I intend to further my education in order to make my dreams a reality.
Since I was young, I have always been interested in producing sound effects for film and television. I want to explore this field of audio purely because I love watching anime, Korean dramas, movies, and any type of TV series. I love hearing the different sound effects that sound editors choose within a film to display a certain sound. Hearing how the music and audio displayed sets the mood for a specific scene is mind blowing and enlightening. I am inspired by the films and TV series I’ve watched to create audio and music that deliver the emotions expressed through the film to the audience allowing them enter a world of possibilities. With that being said, I intend to use the skills I learn to help make a difference in my community.
The job of an audio engineer is to mix and balance the sound for a film production. Therefore, I plan to apply this same concept to benefiting the people of Hawaii. I want to illuminate the voices of Hawaii and the talents that they harbor. I no longer want the Hawaiian culture to be suppressed by that of others but shared with the world. I intend to shed light on the people of Hawaii using the skills I learned to develop film productions specifically showcasing Hawaii’s beauty and talents. By doing so, I am able to share Hawaii’s culture and people with the rest of the world.
Sharing Hawaii’s culture internationally will open up an opportunity for me to travel. There are very limited opportunities for me to explore the field of audio when living on an island. Given that the job of an audio engineer stretches locally, nationally, and internationally, I hope to use that opportunity to make my dreams of traveling a reality. With the intention to expand my learning environment, I hope to further my education in the direction of producing audio for film productions internationally. With a dream to travel, I want to further my education and study abroad.
However, using the skills I acquire now, in high school, will set a foundation for my success in the future. Throughout high school, I have steadily maintained a 4.0 GPA. The rigorous courses that I participated in helped to improve my time management skills and pushed me to become the best student I can be, both in and out of the classroom. Sacred Hearts has taught me to be kind, compassionate, determined, and driven. Such characteristics encouraged me to join the National Honors Society in which I am able to demonstrate the skills that my teachers have taught me. The material I learn in class is preparation for what I will learn outside of class. No matter what career path I decide to take, I know that my studies have brought me to where I am today and will forever keep me driven and determined to reach my goals. Alongside my studies, I want to continue my passion for community service.
I value giving back what you owe. Throughout high school, I participated in various different volunteer programs including those at the Queen’s Medical Center of West Oʻahu and the Hawaiian Humane Society. Additionally, at New Hope Leeward’s Awana ministry, I served as a student leader to the younger students helping to guide them down their journey with God. At school, I participated in various different clubs including the all girls Sacred Hearts Marching Band, Liturgical Corporations, Eco Club, and LIFE team (a leadership team composed of seniors to lead retreats and various campus activities). Throughout these community services and extracurricular activities, I am able to give back to my community that helped shape me into the person I am today. Community service and social activities allow me to better understand the community I come from and value them all the more. As such, I intend to continue giving back to the community and serve the people around me with the utmost respect.
With influences from my community, teachers, peers, and media, I am inspired to keep dreaming. The education I receive in high school will set a foundation for my future successes. Alongside my studies, I will continue to involve myself in the community that helped shape me into the person I am today. With a goal and a dream set in sight, I will use the opportunities given to me to make my dreams a reality.
