Meet the Scholars

Mercedes Olter is a native of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). She attended school in Pohnpei until she graduated with her Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Pre-Teaching Preparation from the College of Micronesia-Federated States of Micronesia (COM-FSM). From there, she took a semester off to work as a UNICEF Coordinator in one of COM-FSM’s student services offices, the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE). While working with CFE, Mercedes applied to a Bachelor of Education (BEd) program at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (UHM). She moved to Hawai’i in August 2023 to start the BEd program in Special Education-Extensive Support Needs (SPED-ESN) with a Pre-K-3 teaching licensure track..” Read more...

Verlyne Ngkeruker Meresbang (“Vie”) was born and raised in Palau and is from Meyuns and Ngkeklau. She graduated from Mindszenty High School in Koror where she served as Secretary then President of the MHS Student Body Association. She went on to earn her Associate of Science degree in Administration of Criminal Justice from Guam Community College in 2022, graduating as a member and Guam Chapter President of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology/Sociology, with emphasis in Social Welfare, and a minor in Psychology at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande. Read more...

Weber was born and raised in the Republic of Palau on the island of Ngeaur. At eight, he moved to the mainland US for a better education, later graduating high school in 2018, he returned home for the first time in ten years. Missing application deadlines, he enrolled at Palau Community College (PCC) temporarily, but fate (and the pandemic) had other plans. Read more...

Camille is a Senior at the University of Portland majoring in Social Work and minoring in Ethnic Studies and Environmental Policy. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i until the latter years of her adolescence, which was spent growing up in Hilo, Hawai’i. She graduated valedictorian from Waiākea High School where she was very actively involved in sports and community service.” Read more...

Jayvaughn was born in Wahiawa, HI to two Pohnpeians who left their island for more opportunities in America and found each other once there. Jayvaughn spent his first 14 years as a military brat – moving every three years before his father retired and settled in Harker Heights, TX outside of Ft. Hood. Read more...

Pualani is a Chuukese undergraduate student at Arizona State University and is part of the prestigious Barrett Honors College majoring in medical studies with a minor in family and human development. She graduated from Dobson High School in 2021 in the top 1% with honors in her graduating class of 494, a New American Scholar and Obama Presidential Scholar. Read more...

Martha Aten is from Chuuk, FSM and in her second year at University of Hawaii at Hilo studying Business Administration. She was a valedictorian at Berea Christian School and later at Xavier High School. At Xavier, she received the most prestigious Bishop Kennally Award in recognition of her service, resilience, and academic achievement. Read more...

Davis Martin completed his AA degree at Honolulu Community College and transferred to the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Fall 2023 to study entrepreneurship.  He was inspired by Jojo's many achievements, but especially "his passion to spread awareness to the local community and empowered Micronesians across Hawaii and Guam." Read more...

Givanleine "Giva" Katsuta is originally from the outer islands of Chuuk and graduated from Xavier High School. She attended Solano Community College in Northern California before transferring to Sonoma State University where she's majoring in political science. Her long-term goal is to attend law school and return to her homeland of Chuuk, FSM to work in the government to create a safe environment for everyone. Read more..

Makana graduated from Waiakea High School in Hawaii and attended UH Manoa as an A+JOJO Scholar. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pacific Island Studies and currently works at UH Manoa.  Makana volunteers at not-for-profit organizations and events that contributed to a better understanding of Pacific Islanders. Read more...

Axel graduated from the Seventh Day Adventist School in Yap, earned a BA from University of Hawaii at Hilo,  and a Master’s degree in Pacific Studies at UH Manoa. He returned to UH Hilo to serve as Project Manager of the Islands of Opportunity - LSAMP Program and will be starting a Ph.D in Pacific History at UH Manoa. Read more...

Pearlnalin is a graduate of Marshall Islands High School and graduated in 2022 from UH Hilo with a degree in Biology.  She hopes to go on to medical school to serve her community. Read more...

Srue is a graduate of Kosrae High School and currently completing her last semester in her Master of Public Health degree at UH Manoa. She works to promote community health through an internship at the UH Cancer Center. She wants to "pass on his [Dr. Joakim Peter] legacy, by helping the Micronesian community in Oahu thrive.” Read more...