The Menzer Law is pleased to announce that five students have been selected as recipients of its 2021 Support the Community Scholarship. This scholarship was offered as a way to recognize students who gave back by volunteering with a non-profit organization in their community. Through these scholarships, we hope to ease some of the financial burden on the students – and support non-profits doing important work in the Maui community.Each student will receive a $2,500 scholarship for tuition and fees. In addition, the non-profit organization where they volunteered will receive a $1,000 donation from the Menzer Law. Our 2021 winners are:
- Elijah Carbajal
- Jacqueline Mulder
- Max McGrath
- Michael Wong
- Zyra Gonzalez
Please join us in congratulating each of these worthy recipients!
Elijah Carbajal
A 2021 graduate of Kekaulike High School in Pukalani, Elijah Carbajal has been accepted to the Arizona State University. At ASU, he plans to study Social Justice and Performing Arts. While in high school, Elijah volunteered at Imua Family Services for three summers. There, he worked as a camp counselor to kids with special needs. Each week-long camp was filled with exciting activities for the attendees – and lots of responsibilities for volunteers like Elijah. Through his work, he learned patience, empathy, and the necessity of community support for families and kids alike. We thank you for your work, Elijah, and wish you the best of luck at ASU!
Jacqueline Mulder
As a cancer survivor herself, Jacqueline “Jacky” Mulder understands the importance of volunteers in our community. After moving to the United States from the Netherlands in 2010, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After going into remission, she connected with the founder of Maui Cancer Wellness Retreats (MCWR). For more than 3 years, she has worked with participants – teaching free weekly yoga classes, facilitating peer support groups, and participating in the MCWR communications board. In 2019, she decided to go back to school as an adult to become a social worker. Jacky currently attends the University of Hawaii Maui College (UHMC) in Kahului, where she is majoring in Human Services and Liberal Arts. After graduating with her degree in spring 2021, she plans to attend the University of Hawaii Manoa in Honolulu to obtain a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Congratulations, Jacky!
Max McGrath
A 2021 graduate of St. Anthony High School in Wailuku, Max McGrath has been accepted to Montana State University in Bozeman. At MSU, he plans to study Ecology, with a focus on fish and wildlife ecology and management. His decision to study ecology was heavily influenced by his volunteer work for the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (HILT) at the Waihe’e Preserve. Each Friday, Max would join a team of volunteers to trek out into the coastal wetlands to remove invasive species, plant native plants, and clean up the preserves. Doing this work gave him a great appreciation for the natural wonders of Hawai’i – and convinced him to return to the islands to work in the conservation field after graduation. We appreciate your volunteer work with HILT, Max, and congratulate you on your acceptance to MSU!
Michael Wong
After graduating from Maui High School in Kahului in 2021, Michael Wong was accepted to Rice University to study electrical engineering. As a student who routinely won awards for his math and science prowess, Michael wanted to help others experience the same love of math. A former member of the Iao Middle School MathCounts team, he decided to volunteer as an assistant coach of the team. Each Saturday, he worked directly with middle school students, teaching them specific math problems, preparing them for math competitions, and developing lesson plans. In his years coaching the middle school team, Michael’s students experienced great success – including finishing at the top of many competitions! Thank you for your service to younger students, Michael, and we wish nothing but the best for you at Rice University!
Zyra Gonzalez
A 2021 graduate of Maui Preparatory Academy in Lahaina, Zyra Gonzalez has been accepted to the University of Hawaii Manoa in Honolulu. At UHM, she plans to study English. During high school, Zyra volunteered with the Maui Humane Society (MHS). At MHS, she walked and cared for dogs on the weekend. Eventually, she also helped socialize cats that came into the care of MHS. Through her volunteer work, she learned that certain animals (just like humans) require a bit more patience and compassion, and different methods may be needed to reach them. Thank you for your work with animals in Maui, Zyra, and congratulations on your acceptance to UHM!
About Menzer Law
Since 2002, the Menzer Law has represented injury victims in Hawaii. With offices in Wailuku and Seattle, our firm represents individuals who have been hurt by the negligence or carelessness of others in personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice cases. For each claim, our attorneys fight to help our clients achieve maximum compensation – and justice. If you have been injured in any type of accident, the Menzer Law is here for you. Reach out to us today at 808-400-3726 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with a Maui personal injury attorney.