Uh Recognizes Hawaii's Brightest

>>Narrator: The 2012 University of Hawai'i Regent Scholars and Presidential Scholars have big plans. >>Presidential Scholar Tyler Blair: Right now I am going after my bachelor of science in chemistry and a I plan on continuing on to getting my PhD in chemistry and possibly becoming a professor. >>Regents Scholar Britny Ching: I'm going to be majoring in Hawaiian studies and also doubling in psychology probably. >>Presidential Scholar Dane Kurohara: The plan is to go to premed and go to med school one day and hopefully become a doctor, come back home to Hawai'i and move back to Maui. >>Narrator: The scholarship program is an effort to keep state's best and brightest in Hawai'i. More than 300 students submitted applications. The lucky 30 who were selected were recently honored at an awards banquet. [applause] >>Narrator: The 20 Regent Scholars are incoming freshman who just graduated from Hawai'i high schools. To apply, they had to have a minimum 1950 on all three sections of their SATs, a 3.5 grade-point-average and an impressive list of extracurricular activities. Each will receive a full tuition scholarship for four years, 4,000 dollars a year and a one time 2,000 dollar travel grant. Waiakea graduate and 2012 Regents Scholar Lauren Hill plans to major in chemistry. >>Regents Scholar Lauren Hill: It's a really great honor to have been selected. It also means that I get to go to UH Manoa which I consider to be a really good school and get a good education for an affordable rate for my family. >>Narrator: The presidential scholars are awarded to 10 incoming college juniors in the UH system with a 3.7 grade-point-average and a record of substantial academic progress and superior achievement. Presidential Scholar Tyler Blair of UH Manoa says the recognition means a lot. >>Tyler Blair: I remember having to take out my first loan this past year and to have that financial stability over these next two years it means a ton to both me and my family. >>Narrator: The fact these students are in the UH System means a great deal to the university, according to UH President M.R.C Greenwood. >>UH President M.R.C Greenwood: These Regents Scholars and Presidential Scholars are among the best students we have here in Hawai'i. We want them to have a great experience here at the university and we them to stay here in Hawai'i and contribute to our growth and development. >>Narrator: The UH Regents and Presidential Scholarship Program is in it's 25th year.