Chihui Yuan (pictured above) of Kalani High School, daughter of Yuan Gang of Honolulu, received the Mamoru Takitani Distinguished Student Award of $10,000. Among her achievements, Yuan is an AP scholar and received numerous awards such as the Eddy Tangen Award and the Japanese Book Award. She is co-captain of the Kalani math league, and a fellow of the Center for Tomorrow's Leaders. Yuan is also very active in the Kalani Red Cross Club, and Kalani Interact Club. Yuan will be pursuing a medical education and eventually wishes to return to Hawaii, to assist the community with the socio-economic gap facing Hawaii.

Two $10,000, one $5,000, and seven $2,000 scholarships awarded students from 49 schools receive $1,000 each

*Archived June 2006 article

The Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation has awarded scholarships to 59 exceptional seniors at every qualifying high school in Hawaii. Two students were presented Distinguished Student Awards of $10,000 each and one student received an Outstanding Student Award of $5,000. Seven high school seniors received $2,000 scholarships and 49 additional students were given $1,000 awards.

The scholarships were presented at a May 6 awards luncheon at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.

In total, the Foundation awarded $88,000 in scholarships this year. Scholarships were given based on academic achievement, community service, and financial need.

• Chihui Yuan of Kalani High School, daughter of Yuan Gang, was the recipient of the Mamoru Takitani Distinguished Student Award of $10,000.
• Yang (Allison) Xie of Kalaheo High School, daughter of Ping Xie and Zheng Fang Lin, was the recipient of the Aiko Takitani Distinguished Student Award of $10,000.
• Pamela Kumiko Mizuno of Kapolei High School, daughter of Saburo and Diane Mizuno, was the recipient of the Karen Uno Outstanding Student Award of $5,000.

Seven student finalists who received $2,000 were:

• Xiaomeng Hu of Moanalua High School, daughter of Kang Ying;
• Jay Morse Chow Jr. of Keaau High School, son of Cheryl and Jay Chow Sr.;
• Caine Jette of Maui High School, son of Michael Jette and Susan Landreth of Haiku, Maui;
• Lynnell Wright of Waimea High School, daughter of Erwin and Uilani Wright of Kekaha, Kauai;
• Karynna Asao of Iolani School, daughter of Roy and Karen Asao;
• Michael Wu of Punahou School, son of Jenny Wu;
• Valerie So of Sacred Hearts Academy, daughter of Adrian and Esther So.

Recipients of $1,000 scholarships by district are as follows:

• Honolulu District: Bao-Yen Nguyen, Farrington High School; Michelle Nguyen, Kaimuki High School; Jaime Yoshino, Kaiser High School; Jane Park, McKinley High School; Kimberly Heu, Roosevelt High School; Krystal Zheng, The Education Lab School.
• Hawaii Association of Independent Schools: Jeremy Carino, Hanalani School; Edward Saito, Hawaii Baptist Academy; Shane Patao, Kamehameha Schools on Maui; Carolyne Kama, Kamehameha Schools on Oahu; Ke Chen, La Pietra-Hawaii School for Girls; Gregory Andres, Lutheran High School; Cheryl Sun, Mid-Pacific Institute; Jessica Neel, Parker School, Myles Crandall, Seabury Hall; and Yulee Kim, St. Andrew's Priory.
• Hawaii Catholic Schools: Arthur Rabago, Damien Memorial School; Arlene Parubrub, St. Francis School; Brandon Low, St. Louis School; and Christiane Cardoza, St. Anthony Junior Senior High School.