HFC raising funds now to bring back journalism scholarship program -

by HFC Staff

As the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle begins its 32nd year of publication, the newspaper is raising funds to bring back the state’s only journalism and mass communication (JMC) scholarship program for local Filipino students pursuing higher education here at home.

From 2019-2022, the Chronicle has awarded a total of $10,000 to students. The newspaper, which first published on Oct. 1, 1993, wanted to give back to the community by helping students finish their college degrees and jump start their careers by continuing its scholarship program.

“The Chronicle hosted a gala back in 2019 to celebrate our 25th anniversary and introduce our first scholarship recipient to everyone. People generously donated to our scholarship program through the nonprofit Filipino Media Foundation,” said Dr. Edna Bautista, chair of the scholarship committee. “Unfortunately, the pandemic had affected our efforts to raise enough funds to sustain the scholarship since then. So we had to put our program on a pause after 2022.”

However, the Chronicle is already preparing to revive the scholarship in 2026. Details on eligibility and application requirements will be provided later. But between now and then, the newspaper is actively seeking “dollars for scholars” to fill its reserves and be able to offer a financial reward to more students.

PURPOSE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The journalism scholarship was created because Chona A. Montesines-Sonido, publisher and managing editor of the newspaper, was concerned about the under-representation of Filipinos in JMC in general.

Declining enrollments in JMC schools negatively impact the number of qualified graduates entering the field. The Chronicle hopes that the journalism scholarship program would be a good motivator for local Filipino students to study and work in Hawaii’s media and reverse the situation.

“We need future Fil-Am writers and leaders in the field of journalism and mass communication. We are short of Filipino journalists who will continue our work and serve the Filipinos and our community-at-large in the future,” Sonido said.

“The scholarship award serves as a powerful and constructive opportunity that strengthens our commitment and pursuit of a voice and advocacy for the Filipino community. It empowers Filipino youths to transform their dreams of a journalism career into reality,” she continued. “Ultimately, the Filipino community will benefit from these efforts by fostering a new generation of passionate writers who are prepared to articulate our concerns, share our rich narratives and address our essential needs for a brighter future.”

FOUR FILIPINAS WIN $2,500 SCHOLARSHIPS

Since the scholarship program’s inception, the Chronicle awarded $2,500 each to the following:

2019: Alyssa Laureta (née Acob), Kapolei
2020: Brenna Flores, Waipahu
2021: Jasmine Sadang, Ewa Beach
2022: Lizette Nolasco, Aiea

Laureta double-majored in Integrated Communications and Mass Communications and graduated (virtually at the height of the pandemic) in May 2020 from Hawaii Pacific University (HPU). She got married in December 2022 to Vien Laureta and both serve as campus ministers for Every Nation Campus. Laureta uses her JMC skills to share the “Good News and the gospels”. She also worked as the digital media manager for Pearlside Church.

Flores, a Communication major with a Marketing emphasis, graduated in May 2021 from Chaminade University. She currently works as a local-based project coordinator for TransPerfect, a global company that provides translation and language services.

Sadang was a Communication Studies and Practices major who graduated within 3½ years in December 2022 from HPU. She did a couple of marketing internships and was a corps member for Teach for America Hawaii before becoming a 7th grade English teacher at Ewa Makai Middle School.

Nolasco, the Chronicle’s most recent scholar, graduated this past May from Chaminade with a degree in Communication with a Mass Communication concentration. After graduation, she worked on a project on the Sustainable Development Goals with the United Nations CIFAL Center as Director of Photography. She now works in creative marketing, using her JMC skills to do web design and development, photography and videography.

All the scholars were honor graduates. Links to their biographical profiles, articles they wrote for this newspaper and feature stories about their graduation may be searched on the Chronicle’s website.

$UPPORT THE $TUDENT$

The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle, Inc., journalism scholarship program is administered through the Filipino Media Foundation, a public 501(c)(3) charity non-profit organization. Donations are welcome in any amount and are 100% tax deductible. To donate, please contact the Chronicle office at filipinochronicle@gmail.com or call 808-284-4185 or you can send your donation to Filipino Media Foundation, c/o 46-471 Holonui Place, Kaneohe, HI 96744.