MEDIA RELEASE

Students entering grades 9 through 12 in Fall 2012 who are not currently enrolled full-time at one of Kamehameha Schools’ three campuses, and who reside on the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui or Hawaii are now eligible to apply for Kamehameha Scholars.

Kamehameha Scholars is a year-round supplementary educational enrichment program with a focus on college and career guidance. The mission of the Kamehameha Scholars program is to support Native Hawaiian students in achieving a higher education degree, entering the career of their choosing and cultivating their ability to be servant leaders.

Through active participation in the program, students have the opportunity to:

* Develop leadership skills to assist them throughout their high school careers and beyond

* Increase awareness and commitment to lifelong service to their communities

* Explore, match and take action on post-high plans

* Gain skills needed for effectively competing in the 21st century

* Earn a Merit Scholarship

Workshops and other guidance activities are held during non-school times at various times during the school year. Program activities aim to bridges native identity, college and career guidance and service learning to supply Native Hawaiian youth with the knowledge and skills to successfully transition to post-secondary education and young adulthood.

Program activities include college and career guidance workshops, financial aid and financial literacy workshops, SAT preparation workshops, one-to one college and career advising and community service opportunities.

The program is geared for Hawaii high school students interesting in raising their academic and career aspirations. Through partnerships, scholars have access to resources such as E2020, for possible credit recovery and tutoring, and the AKAMAI Finance Academy, a stock market simulation competition.

Scholars may earn points for attending activities and completing required assignments during the course of their enrollment with Kamehameha Scholars. Those points are translated to dollars, and each scholar who remains in the program through high school graduation will earn a merit scholarship to be used towards his or her enrollment into and accredited college recognized by Kamehameha Schools.

To be eligible for Kamehameha Scholars, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and be in good standing at their current school. Kamehameha Scholars gives priority to students who have fully participated in a Hoolauna or Kulia I Ka Pono Explorations Series program the prior year.

For applicants meeting the minimum requirements, final selection to Kamehameha Scholars is done by random computer selection (lottery).

Applications are available now and must be postmarked by March 31, 2012. Applications may be downloaded at www.ksbe.edu/admissions

Families may also call the Admissions Office at 808-842-8800 or toll free at 800-842-4682 ext. 8800 to have an application mailed to them.

Kamehameha Schools’ policy on admissions is to give preference to children of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.

Kamehameha Schools is a private, educational, charitable trust founded and endowed by the legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. The year 2012 marks the 125th anniversary of the opening of Kamehameha Schools, which today operates a statewide educational system enrolling more than 6,900 students of Hawaiian ancestry at K-12 campuses on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii and 31 preschool sites statewide.

More than 40,000 additional Hawaiian learners and caregivers are served each year through a range of other Kamehameha Schools’ outreach programs, community collaborations and financial aid opportunities in Hawaii and across the continental United States.