Attn: We Are Oceania (WAO), 720 North King St., Honolulu HI 96817ajojoscholars@gmail.com (808) 430-2017
Our Story
“I want us to go into this great test of democracy and sovereignty without the shackles of intimidation nor the false pretense of passive victimization.”
Joakim Peter, Ph.D
The Dr. Joakim Peter Memorial Scholarship was created by a group of friends and colleagues of the late Dr. Joakim “Jojo” Peter. On June 1, 2019, the day after Jojo’s funeral, his friends gathered at Zippyʻs on Vineyard in Honolulu for one final farewell breakfast at Jojoʻs favorite table where he spent endless hours working on his dissertation. After tearful remembrance of how he brought people together from different areas to serve alongside him in the work of social justice, the group (Team AJOJO) agreed to create a scholarship to keep his legacy alive among the young generation of COFA college students.
The Hilo-based non-profit organization, Micronesians United – Big Island (MU-BI), served as the founding fiscal sponsor for the scholarship. In 2022 that responsibility transitioned to the Honolulu-based non-profit organization, We Are Oceania (WAO), to honor Jojo who was one of the co-founders.
Funding for the scholarship is dependent on private donations. The seed funding was pledged by Dr. Michael Levin, Ph.D for an annual donation of $1,500. The generous donation was soon matched and surpassed by the Founders and friends of Jojo which funded the first four scholars. The second campaign is scheduled for June 2022 to build the sustainability of the scholarship.
In 2022 the Founders decided to formally organize the project with the creation of the Scholarship Board to serve as the official leadership for the fund. The board formally appointed Dr. Vid Raatior to serve as the Scholarship Director to manage the day-to-day operations of the scholarship and support for the A+JOJO Scholars.
The scholarship recipients are inducted into the A+JOJO Scholars Program. The A+JOJO Scholars receive a one-time award of $1,500 and on-going mentorship and professional development opportunities during the course of their college careers.
This scholarship was founded by volunteers as a work of love inspired by a man who we all loved. Except for the paid staff at WAO who manage the fund, the scholarship is fully operated by volunteers. We invite others to volunteer with us. We also extend a special invitation to COFA-serving agencies, organizations, businesses to partner with us.
Our Story
The Dr. Joakim Peter Memorial Scholarship was created by a group of friends and colleagues of the late Dr. Joakim “Jojo” Peter. On June 1, 2019, the day after Jojo’s funeral, his friends gathered at Zippyʻs on Vineyard in Honolulu for one final farewell breakfast at Jojoʻs favorite table where he spent endless hours working on his dissertation. After tearful remembrance of how he brought people together from different areas to serve alongside him in the work of social justice, the group (Team AJOJO) agreed to create a scholarship to keep his legacy alive among the young generation of COFA college students.
The Hilo-based non-profit organization, Micronesians United – Big Island (MU-BI), served as the founding fiscal sponsor for the scholarship. In 2022 that responsibility transitioned to the Honolulu-based non-profit organization, We Are Oceania (WAO), to honor Jojo who was one of the co-founders.
Funding for the scholarship is dependent on private donations. The seed funding was pledged by Dr. Michael Levin, Ph.D for an annual donation of $1,500. The generous donation was soon matched and surpassed by the Founders and friends of Jojo which funded the first four scholars. The second campaign is scheduled for June 2022 to build the sustainability of the scholarship.
In 2022 the Founders decided to formally organize the project with the creation of the Scholarship Board to serve as the official leadership for the fund. The board formally appointed Dr. Vid Raatior to serve as the Scholarship Director to manage the day-to-day operations of the scholarship and support for the A+JOJO Scholars.
The scholarship recipients are inducted into the A+JOJO Scholars Program. The A+JOJO Scholars receive a one-time award of $1,500 and on-going mentorship and professional development opportunities during the course of their college careers.
This scholarship was founded by volunteers as a work of love inspired by a man who we all loved. Except for the paid staff at WAO who manage the fund, the scholarship is fully operated by volunteers. We invite others to volunteer with us. We also extend a special invitation to COFA-serving agencies, organizations, businesses to partner with us.
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