Pacific Islanders in Communications Awards Encourage
Pacific Islander Media Talent Growth

HONOLULU - Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC), a national media arts nonprofit organization, is helping to grow the field of media talent throughout the Pacific Islands. This year, PIC has awarded $15,000 in scholarships to six students pursuing college degrees in media and/or communications.

The recipients come from the continental United States and throughout the Pacific, including Hawai'i, Guam, America Samoa, and Saipan. Each recipient has strong ties to Pacific Island culture and is embarking on an educational journey to enhance awareness of indigenous peoples through a career in film, video, or new media. Recipients of $3,000 awards are:

• Kapi'olani Lee of San Francisco State University, daughter of Richard and Katherine Lee of Poulsbo, Washington
• Kevin Ka'ahanui of Menlo College, daughter of Kevin, Sr. and Dana Ka'ahanui of Ho'olehua, Hawai'i
• Hotavia Gingerlei Porter of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, daughter of Marsten and Wilma Porter of Pago Pago, American Samoa

Recipients of $2,000 awards are:

• Tanya Oscar of Northern Marianas College, daughter of Damigo Oscar and Oscar Henry of Saipan, MP
• Angela Sablan of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, daughter of Vincent and Agnes Cruz Sablan of Dededo and Agana Heights, Guam
• Sophia Suda of Northern Marianas College, daughter of Mark and Yuri Suda of Saipan, MP

"Not only are these talented students dedicated to advancing Pacific Island culture through film, video and new media," says Ruth Bolan, Executive Director of Pacific Islanders in Communications, "but they represent the next generation of storytellers. Like their ancestors before them, they will preserve Pacific Island customs and traditions through a visual medium instead of an oral tradition. We are proud to assist these students, their stories will inspire and remind future generations of the strength and brilliance of the Pacific Island people."

The students awarded have lofty ambitions. With goals ranging from becoming a Hollywood producer (Kevin Ka'ahanui) to opening a theatre in Saipan (Sophia Suda), the students are well on their way to cultivating interest and promoting the history of their indigenous cultures.

Hotavia Porter, a recipient of a $3,000 scholarship, is committed to bridging the geographical gap between American Samoa, her homeland, and the Northern Marianas Islands. "Through education and career focus, I hope to document the development of distance education programs for cultural enrichment in American Samoa," Porter says. With the assistance of the Telecommunications and Information Policy Group, a group Porter has collaborated with, she has already learned the program utilizing Satellite technology (PEACESAT.) Recently obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies, Porter, with the help of the PIC scholarship, is currently pursuing a Masters degree at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, studying Communications.

For information to apply for next year's scholarship, please visit www.piccom.org. Pacific Islanders in Communications is based in Honolulu, Hawai.i and was created to support, advance and develop Pacific Island media content and talent that results in a deeper understanding of Pacific Island history, culture and contemporary challenges. Scholarships are supported by the PIC endowment fund. Primary funding for the organization is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. For more information, go to www.piccom.org or call (808) 591-0059.

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2005 Scholarship Awardee Biographies