Kolohe Scholarships

Application opens Fall 2023

The Kolohe Scholarship is for female students who have experienced personal challenges and adversity but who still have the drive to succeed in entrepreneurship or creative arts. 

Examples of personal challenges include, but are not limited to:

• family issues: divorce, death, lack of income, homelessness, foster care, abuse, etc.
• medical issues
• peer issues: bullying, change of school, minority status, etc.

When in doubt, students are encouraged to apply; this scholarship is meant to be inclusive.

Awarding: Two $1,000 scholarships

Judging Criteria:

• Displays a hardworking attitude
• Displays perseverance throughout challenges
• Demonstrates financial need
• Intent to pursue entrepreneurship or creative arts

Evaluation & Process

Applicants will be evaluated based on their essay (personal statement), a short answer application and letters of recommendation; there is no GPA requirement. Please note: letters of recommendation must directly reference the student’s challenges. If the applicant does not wish to share their challenges with their recommender, then the recommendation must reference the student’s personal character.

Extra credit (optional): Submit an entrepreneurial or creative art project that you've pursued. For example: selling baked goods at school or sewing clothes to sell to friends.

What is the Kolohe Scholarship? The Donor Explains

I had a very challenging upbringing. I got kicked out of the house when I was 13 years old, saw my mom homeless and my older siblings unable to go to college. I started washing cars to get money for school supplies, got my first job at 15 years old and then started my business at 16 years old, determined to send myself to college and to help my mom. My business gave me the hope for a better future. The Kolohe Scholarship is a way for me to give back to my community and to help students who are just like me. My goal is to inspire others that it's possible to pave our own path despite adversities.