MAKANA ALOHA HAWAII GIVES
MAUI STUDENTS AWARDED $32K SCHOLARSHIPS
Yuna Lee and Jaysen Akahi- Vida are named 2023 CIM Bob Poulson CIM Scholars The Construction Industry of Maui has awarded two graduating Maui high school students Bob Poulson CIM Scholarships worth $32,500 each. The recipients are Jaysen Akahi- Vida, a Lahainaluna High School athlete who challenged himself academically and physically; and Yuna Lee, a student at Maui Preparatory Academy, who belongs to the school’s Student Senate, the National Honor Society and the GSA Club.
Akahi-Vida is pursuing a degree in Architecture and Civil Engineering from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. From his humble beginnings as a fourth-genera- tion pig farmer, Akahi-Vida says, “My dream is to one day become the owner of a world-class Maui-based business. And I would like to build this dream alongside a strong crew of construc- tion, planning and design industry professionals from my community.” When she was young, Lee devel- oped a passion for building and invent- ing products or gadgets with Legos or other available materials. She plans to attend Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, where she will major in engineering and minor in construction management and business. “My intent is to return to Maui after graduation and establish a busi- ness that constructs affordable, sustain- able homes for our communities,” Lee says. “My goal is to use my educa- tion, my love for Maui and work hard to improve my community and its future.” Bob Poulson, who cofounded Arita Poulson General Contracting LLC in 1986, was a steward of the Maui community and construction industry veteran. He’s remembered as a leader who enjoyed working alongside his employees and teaching young people from diverse backgrounds about the construction industry. The CIM scholarship is offered to students who are Maui County resi- dents, seniors or graduates from a county high school, and enrolled or entering a two- or four-year degree program in construction or design. CIM’s priority is to select students in pursuit of a degree in architecture, engineering, construction, landscap- ing or other applicable programs, who then bring the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired back to Maui to serve their communities. – Paula Bender
Yuna Lee, a 2023 graduate of Maui Preparatory Academy and Jaysen Akahi-Vida, a Lahainaluna High School 2022 graduate, are this year’s Bob Poulson CIM Scholars, each receiving $32,500 for their continuing education in the construction and design fields. PHOTO COURTESY CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OF MAUI
16 | BUILDING INDUSTRY HAWAII | JULY 2023
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