Two UH Hilo seniors receive scholarships from Hilo Orchid Society
The Hilo Orchid Society honored its 2016 Yasuji Takasaki Memorial Scholarship recipients Rochelle Nowaki and Miguel Bravo, seniors at UH Hilo.
The Hilo Orchid Society recently honored its 2016 Yasuji Takasaki Memorial Scholarship recipients Rochelle Nowaki and Miguel Bravo, seniors at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
Nowaki is planning for a career in the agriculture industry in East Hawaiʻi and wants to write a history of the industry on Hawaiʻi Island, in particular the development of orchids and ornamental plants.
Bravo plans to pursue a doctorate in plant pathology and to expand the connections between Hawaiʻi and Colombia, his native country, for the benefit of both places.
- RELATED: UH Hilo senior and agriculturalist Miguel Bravo Escobar hopes to make a difference in the Colombian economy (UH Hilo Stories, Jan. 21, 2026)
The scholarship is named for Yasuji Takasaki, who had a strong belief in the power of a college education, made many contributions to the Hilo Orchid Society, and did pioneering work in orchid culture on this island.
Scholarships are awarded annually to one or more UH Hilo sophomore, junior or senior students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management, or in the Division of Natural Sciences. Preference is given to students who have demonstrated an interest in orchid culture.
Recipients are awarded a $1500 scholarship for each semester of the academic year, assuming they maintain their eligibility. They also receive a free one-year membership in the Hilo Orchid Society.
-Media release
