LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Filipino Community Council (KFCC) distributed $12,500 in scholarships on Saturday during the 64th annual Miss Kaua‘i Filipina Scholarship Pageant that unfolded before several hundred people at Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall. LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Filipino Community Council (KFCC) distributed $12,500 in scholarships on Saturday during the 64th annual Miss Kaua‘i Filipina Scholarship Pageant that unfolded before several hundred people at Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall. “We have $6,000 set aside for the three public high schools — $2,000 for Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i and Waimea high schools, and another $6,500 that will be shared by the three Miss Kaua‘i Filipina candidates — Aaliyah Nero, Jaslen Valdez and Aleah Yano,” said Nancy Apalla, president of the KFCC.
“We’re also letting the younger people take a greater part in the pageant. Marie Mindoro was the scholarship committee chair.” The KFCC scholarship recipients included Sophia Badua, Adrianne James Ruz, Jaysha Silva, Talan Miranda, Benedict Deris Uri, and De’Andrei Gonzales.
Among the cache of prizes and awards, Miss Kaua‘i Filipina, Jaslen Valdez was presented a $3,000 scholarship. The First Princess, Aleah Yano was presented a $2,000 scholarship and the Second Princess, Aaliyah Nero, was presented with a $1,500 scholarship. Valdez was crowned by 2023 Miss Kaua‘i Filipina Victoria Perreira, who got help from County of Kaua‘i Managing Director Reiko Matsuyama.