Queen Charlotte Secondary School student Thea Borserio won this year's Kane Fernandez scholarship to study at the University of Hawaii.
The scholarship is given every second year to an islands student in memory of Hawaiian businessman Kane Fernandez who visited the islands to fish. Preference is given to students interested in science, especially marine biology. In order to ensure no one is left out, students from two graduating years may apply for the scholarship. Interested students write essays and a resume of their community work. From the applicants, four are chosen for interviews and then one is awarded the scholarship.
Ms Borserio will travel to Hawaii August 26 for her first semester in U of H's biology program where she plans to get a four year science degree. She attended islands schools from Kindergarten to Grade 12, and thinks her education was equal to what she would have received anywhere. "We've got an awesome math teacher and a really good science teacher," she says.