From now until March 31, students in grades 9 through 12 (as of this fall) can apply for the Kamehameha Scholars Program, an educational enrichment program focusing on college and career guidance that culminates in merit scholarships for graduates.

It’s open to students on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Big Island who aren’t enrolled full-time at Kamehameha Schools. Last year, 98 percent of students who participated in the program were accepted into a post-high institution.

Excerpts from a KS press release:

Kamehameha Scholars is a year-round supplementary educational enrichment program with a focus on college and career guidance. The mission of the Kamehameha Scholars program is to support Native Hawaiian students in achieving a higher education degree, entering the career of their choosing and cultivating their ability to be servant leaders. 

Workshops and other guidance activities are held during non-school times at various times during the school year. Program activities aim to bridge native identity, college and career guidance and service learning to supply Native Hawaiian youth with the knowledge and skills to successfully transition to post-secondary education and young adulthood. Program activities include college and career guidance workshops, financial aid and financial literacy workshops, SAT preparation workshops, one-to one college and career advising and community service opportunities.

The program is geared for Hawai‘i high school students interesting in raising their academic and career aspirations. Through partnerships, scholars have access to resources such as E2020, for possible credit recovery and tutoring, and the AKAMAI Finance Academy, a stock market simulation competition.

Scholars may earn points for attending activities and completing required assignments during the course of their enrollment with Kamehameha Scholars. Those points are translated to dollars, and each scholar who remains in the program through high school graduation will earn a merit scholarship to be used towards his or her enrollment into and accredited college recognized by Kamehameha Schools. 

Applications are available now and must be submitted by March 31, 2012 (postmarked).  Applications may be downloaded at www.ksbe.edu/admissions. Families may also call the Admissions Office at 808-842-8800 or toll free at 800-842-4682 ext. 8800 to have an application mailed to them.  Kamehameha Schools’ policy on admissions is to give preference to children of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.