KAMAILE AIPA’s email after she heard she was one of the HPGS scholarship recipients read: “It is from the bottom of my heart which I say mahalo to Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society for considering my story, my passions, and my dreams in selecting me as one of this year’s scholarship recipients. I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this scholarship which will help to lift a financial burden from my shoulders and allow me to continue my education as I pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing as a Junior at Chaminade University. My passion and greatest inspiration to help the geriatric population stems from the strong loving relationship I have always had with my Grandma and Grandpa. I aspire to become the kind of nurse I would want for my grandparents; to be patient, compassionate, and to provide excellent patient education. My involvement at church and in the community continues to strengthen these desire and help me to improve every day. I aim to give back to a generation that has given to us for so long.”

As a recipient of an HPGS scholarship in 2019, WHITNEY KATSUTANI said “it was such a blessing to not only receive financial support from HPGS but membership in an organization that allowed me to connect with other members of the gerontology community and receive mentorship in my specific areas of interest. Much of this contributed to my decision to apply for the PhD in Social Welfare program at the University of Hawaii to continue my academic journey and research into how to foster intergenerational connections between our keiki and kupuna along with supporting development of our local geriatric/gerontological workforce. I hope to support the perpetuation of this wonderful scholarship program by volunteering my services to the HPGS workforce development committee. Mahalo members of HPGS for everything you do!” 

UYANGA BATZOGS was born and raised in Mongolia. She is currently pursuing her PhD studies in Social Welfare and plans to develop new and better services for multi-generations, especially for older adults. She has lived in Hawaii while completing her MBA degree at Shidler School and worked for Waimanalo Health Center as the CFO for five years. She wrote in her email: “While running a business in Mongolia, I founded a non-profit, helping older adults to have a place to socialize in a senior center and assist them to get part time employment. However, sustainability is always a challenge due to funding issues. I love working with seniors and I currently volunteer and teach board games to older adults in Hawaii, at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UH. My husband and I have four children, aged from 7 to 19. My grandparents inspired me to study gerontology because they are leading active lives. Thank you very much for providing me the scholarship. This is great support for me to expand my knowledge in gerontology and follow my passion to be an active aging advocate.”

Mohammad Didar Hossa

I am from Bangladesh and currently a 3rd year PhD student at Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work. As the focus of my program, I plan to collect data from older adults in rural Bangladesh to study their nature of productive aging and how their engagements in remaining productive shape their overall wellbeing. I am thankful to HPGS for the scholarship that I received back in 2019. It was a great support to start my Doctoral education. My professional background includes seven years of experience in teaching and researching as a Lecturer, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Gerontology and Social Studies, along with Assistant Program Manager (Research). During my time in Hawaii, I also worked for Alu Like Inc. as an Intern where I served the Native Hawaiian communities.

KEHAULANI ENGLE emailed HPGS the following: “Mahalo nui loa Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society for providing a scholarship to aid in my pursuit towards a Master’s degree in Social Work. I am a full-time student at the UH Manoa in the MSW program, a single mother of four, working part time in the gerontology field, and a volunteer with Project Dana. Gerontology has always been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. I spent a great deal of time with my grandparents and remember going with my grandma to visit my great-grandma when she was in hospice regularly. Our kupuna are vital to our society and carry knowledge and experience with them that are invaluable. I love working with kupuna and look forward to a career in social work to further help this growing population.”

ANDREW ANGELES is a part-time graduate student at Hawaii Pacific University completing his final year in the Social Work program.  He has learned that working with the geriatric population is a truly fulfilling experience because the knowledge gained through therapeutic interaction is priceless.  Andrew truly wants to continue to improve the quality of life of our kūpuna in the near future.

KIMBERLY GAMALOG grew up with parents who are caregivers to the elderly, and seeing first hand how challenging it is, has inspired her to become an advocate for both the elderly and their caregivers. “To care for those who once cared for us is one of the  highest honors.”

KARI KIMURA will be starting her third year in the nursing program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.  Gerontology has always been of interest to Kari, as she has grown up being very close with her grandpa and grandma.  As an aspiring geriatric nurse, Kari hopes to give back to those who have been giving their entire life.

LEILANI MAXERA, MPH, LCSW, recipient of an HPGS scholarship in 2017, went on to obtain her clinical license for social work (LCSW) in 2021. Her career has focused on advance care planning and end-of-life issues through work with Kokua Mau, Death Café Honolulu, and the Board of the National Home Funeral Alliance. This led her to start her own private practice, Kaipuokaualoku, LLC (kaipuokaualoku.com), where she offers community care and death doula work to all islands, plus individual harm reduction therapy and support groups with a focus on grief and bereavement. In updating HPGS on her current work, Leilani offered her gratitude and noted that her “HPGS scholarship was incredibly helpful” to her.

RUBY YOUNG 

“I am currently working as a nurse practitioner hospitalist in Seattle, Washington. I treat adult and older adult patients that are hospitalized for various illnesses. I am grateful for the impact that I am making as a healthcare professional. Working in the last two years during the pandemic has been challenging, to say the least. I am reminded of the support I have received in the past and present, including the support I have received from organizations like HPGS. I hope that I will continue to make a positive difference in the lives of my patients, particularly the geriatric population. They are the reason that I went into the healthcare field in the first place. ”

ADRIAN SERBU 

“Thank you for choosing me to be a recipient of the Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society’s scholarship this year. I have just begun my journey this fall in the healthcare field as a student in the Kapiolani Community College Nurse Aide Course. I am excited to work with the residents in a local hospital and be exposed to the opportunities available among our aging community. I plan to complete my Prometric Certification over winter break and obtain a Certified Nurse Aide position. This will allow me to expand my experience and identify the area of study I’d like to focus my career on. This scholarship will help me achieve this goal by allowing me to focus on my studies, rather than my tuition. With my background in hospitality, customer service, and prosthesis, I hope to immerse myself in school and work towards my degree in the healthcare field. Thank you again for this opportunity.”

MEL COCKETT

““As the recipient of the Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the tremendous support that you have provided me through this scholarship. I am so humbled to have been chosen for this award knowing that there were many qualified applicants. Your generosity will allow me to pursue my dreams and no words can’t express how thankful I am. I have recently been accepted into the long term nurse aide program at Kapiolani Community College which begins in January, 2018. I am very determined to work hard in fulfilling my lifetime goal and career in taking care of those who are in need. This award I have obtained allows me to concentrate more on my academic studies without worrying to much about my financial burden. I look forward to successfully completing my academic year and continuing my education in my nursing career. Once again, thank you so much to HPGS from the bottom of my heart for their generosity and support.”

PHOEBE HWANG 

PHOEBE HWANG   Since graduating with my DrPH in 2017, I started a health research consulting company, Omniworks. Through my work as a research consultant, I was able to work with many organizations and projects across the state such as Kahua Pa’a Mua, Pacific Survivor Center, MALAMA Aquaponics, DOH Center of Disease Prevention, DOH Falls Prevention Consortium, American Lung Association, USDA, Kokua Kalihi Valley, and more. Recently, I took up a position with the Department of Psychiatry at Queen’s Medical Center and JABSOM as the Director of Quality Improvement Research and Scholarship. Still very grateful for HPGS’s scholarship! 

LESLIE-ANN KONDO

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the generous scholarship you haven given me.  I feel so fortunate to have been selected as a recipient of this honor.  Your generosity will allow me to pursue my dreams, and for that, I cannot thank you enough.  Chaminade University has strengthened my skills and knowledge and provided me with the education I need to succeed in my nursing profession.  I am dedicated, highly skilled at what I do, and work effectively and efficiently in collaboration with my colleagues.  I have set for myself in earning a Bachelor degree in Nursing by May 2017 and obtaining a position where I can be a positive influence on others.  By awarding me with the HPGS Scholarship, you have enlighten my financial burden, which allows me to focus more on the most important aspect of school: learning.  Your generosity has inspired me to help others and give back to the community.  I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goal just as you have helped me.”

RUBY YANG

“I am currently working as a nurse practitioner hospitalist in Seattle, Washington. I treat adult and older adult patients that are hospitalized for various illnesses. I am grateful for the impact that I am making as a healthcare professional. Working in the last two years during the pandemic has been challenging, to say the least. I am reminded of the support I have received in the past and present, including the support I have received from organizations like HPGS. I hope that I will continue to make a positive difference in the lives of my patients, particularly the geriatric population. They are the reason that I went into the healthcare field in the first place.”