2008 Woodie Awards
Islanders enrollment dwindling
Jessica Kauhi, Staff Writer
Issue date: 11/21/06
Last Updated: 12/26/07
A number of factors contribute to the problem, but the fact is, admission of students from Hawaii decreased by 62 percent since 2001.
Director of institutional research Gary Whisenand said in the fall of 2006 the total number of students from Hawaii attending Whitworth was 23 with only three incoming first-year students.
These numbers are down from the fall of 2000 and 2001 when the total number of students from Hawaii was 50 and 61 respectively with 15 incoming first year students both years, Whisenand said.
President of Whitworth's Hawaiian Club and junior Cara Bellwood said the club, Na Pu`uwai O Hawaii, is headed by nine officers, only three of whom are actually from Hawaii. Last year's officers consisted of five students from Hawaii. Bellwood herself is from western Oregon.
Kamehameha Schools' college counselor for the Kapalama Campus Amy Sato believes that there is not one specific thing that has affected Kamehameha School, a group of high schools in Hawaii, enrollment at Whitworth.
The students there have become more adventurous in their willingness to go beyond the West Coast and are spreading themselves out over a wider number of colleges.? Students from last year's class are attending 125 different colleges in 28 states and one foreign country, which is a record for that campus, Sato said.
Sato also said that financial aid plays a big part in a family's decision as well. A better financial aid package from one school definitely has a lot to do with where the student ends up.
"If I hadn't gotten the financial aid and scholarships to support my education and my wishes of attending Whitworth, I probably wouldn't have been a graduate of such a prestigious school," 2006 alumna Casee Hoopii said.
Local connections for their students always helps, said Kamehameha Schools' college counselor for the Kapalama Campus Kathryn Kekaulike.
Whitworth used to have quite a presence at the Kapalama Campus. Kurt Kekuna, the head of their Young Life Program; Randie Fong, the former Performing Arts department head; and several dormitory advisers, are all alumni.
Director of institutional research Gary Whisenand said in the fall of 2006 the total number of students from Hawaii attending Whitworth was 23 with only three incoming first-year students.
These numbers are down from the fall of 2000 and 2001 when the total number of students from Hawaii was 50 and 61 respectively with 15 incoming first year students both years, Whisenand said.
President of Whitworth's Hawaiian Club and junior Cara Bellwood said the club, Na Pu`uwai O Hawaii, is headed by nine officers, only three of whom are actually from Hawaii. Last year's officers consisted of five students from Hawaii. Bellwood herself is from western Oregon.
Kamehameha Schools' college counselor for the Kapalama Campus Amy Sato believes that there is not one specific thing that has affected Kamehameha School, a group of high schools in Hawaii, enrollment at Whitworth.
The students there have become more adventurous in their willingness to go beyond the West Coast and are spreading themselves out over a wider number of colleges.? Students from last year's class are attending 125 different colleges in 28 states and one foreign country, which is a record for that campus, Sato said.
Sato also said that financial aid plays a big part in a family's decision as well. A better financial aid package from one school definitely has a lot to do with where the student ends up.
"If I hadn't gotten the financial aid and scholarships to support my education and my wishes of attending Whitworth, I probably wouldn't have been a graduate of such a prestigious school," 2006 alumna Casee Hoopii said.
Local connections for their students always helps, said Kamehameha Schools' college counselor for the Kapalama Campus Kathryn Kekaulike.
Whitworth used to have quite a presence at the Kapalama Campus. Kurt Kekuna, the head of their Young Life Program; Randie Fong, the former Performing Arts department head; and several dormitory advisers, are all alumni.
For this reason, The Whitworthian asks readers to be responsible and respectful in any comments posted. The responsibility for statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not the whitworthian.com. Readers are also encouraged to report questionable comments by e-mailing editor@whitworthian.com.
Be the first to comment on this story