McKinley HS Graduate Receives 2020 FCCH Scholarship
By Jim Bea Sampaga
McKinley High School graduate Magnolia Basoc received the 2020 Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (FCCH) Scholarship during the 2020 Filipino Entrepreneur of the Year Awarding Event on July 11. Basoc was awarded $3,000 in scholarship and will be majoring in Biology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM).
Basoc said she’s honored to be recognized by the Hawaii-Filipino community leaders in FCCH. She further added that the scholarship will “relieve some of my financial burdens when I begin my studies this upcoming academic year as well as provide me with a wider array of resources and options.”
As an aspiring research geneticist and biomedical doctor, Basoc said genetics has always been interesting to her. “I hope to plant roots in cellular biology and its medical applications in ways that would further both my theoretical and empirical knowledge,” she said.
Born and raised in the Philippines, she hopes to open research facilities in the Philippines that will fund research, scholarships and job opportunities in Filipino biomedical technology.
“I am aware of the hardships and obstacles that often hinder many students in my motherland to pursue their interests, especially for young women like me in the STEM field,” Basoc explained.
Basoc is an excellent student who prioritizes serving the Hawaii and Filipino community, according to one of the scholarship judges, Dr. Belinda Aquino, Professor Emeritus and Founding Director of the Center for Philippine Studies at UHM.
“We need young people like Magnolia to pursue careers in science and technology given the changes that are rapidly happening in the society at large,” Dr. Aquino said. “She is a gifted student who can serve as a role model for students of her generation as well as for future generations.”
As the 2020 FCCH Scholarship awardee, Basoc encourages high school seniors to apply for the scholarship. “My experience with the FCCH community has been nothing short of warm, welcoming, and inspiring. I know it may be daunting to compete with other equally qualified students but my ultimate advice is to always be genuine and passionate about what you do,” she said.
The FCCH Scholarship is awarded to students graduating from a high school in Hawaii with at least a 3.5 GPA who will be pursuing a four-year college degree. The scholarship judges’ decision is based on the applicant’s academic record, activities, awards, honors, recommendations and one-page short essay. For more scholarship details, visit filipinochamber.org.
