Scholarship Awards
Providing scholarships to students with Rapanui ancestry who wish to further their education is a mission objective of the Easter Island Foundation. We’re proud to be able to sponsor the following scholarship awards in 2013:
The Fraternal Order of Moai Tangata Manu Award: $2,500
The Fraternal Order of Moai Award: $3,000
The Mildred R. Donoghue Scholarship Award: a two-year award of $2,500
The Brian Scothorne Memorial Scholarship Award: $2000
Ananda Foundation/Sheree Lipton Award: Two awards of $1000 each
A list of current and past scholarship recipients can be found below. We thank all our partners and donors who have contributed to our successful scholarship award program. Since our program began in 2002, we have awarded scholarships totalling over $100,000. Donations received in 2013 will be used for scholarships awarded the following year. To make a donation to the scholarship program, please download the form below or contact us:
scholarships “at” islandheritage.org
Important Information for Applicants
• Applicants must be of Rapanui ancestry and preferably under the age of 30.
• Scholarships are awarded on a competitive bases: past academic performance and 2 short essays describing the goals of the student and how he/she hopes to apply his/her education are required.
• A recent digital photograph of the applicant must accompany the application; the image may be used to promote the EIF scholarship program and will not be used for any other purposes.
• Scholarship applicants selected will receive one-half of the award at the beginning of the year. Each recipient must file a formal report to the EIF scholarship committee at the end of the first term, describing his/her progress in the area of study. After the report is received, the second-half of the award will be disbursed. Students who do not submit a report after the first term may not be awarded the second half of their scholarship.
Occasionally the Scholarship Committee, on its own initiative and with the approval of the Board of Directors, will recommend a scholarship outside of the normal application process to an especially deserving Rapanui student.
2013 EIF Scholarship Winners Announced!
2103 award winners, left to right: Pamina Olivares Paoa, Lafquen Passalcqua Hucke, Laura Tarita Alarcon Rapu, Marla Wold (EIF Scholarship Chair), Cecilia Hormzabal Araki
Rafael Simón Paoa Rapu (above) Brian Scothorne Award ($2000) and Ananda Foundation/Sheree Lipton Award ($1000)
Rafael is studying archaeology at the Universidad Internacional SEK in Santiago. He has now completed his major studies and is working on his professional practice and undergraduate thesis. His research includes the analysis of a lithics collection while researching the presence of Polynesians in South America based on genetic analysis to see if these relationships, through the study of lithic technology, can determine cultural patterns present in the production of stone tools. His advisory team includes Elisabeth Matisoo-Smith, Jose Miguel Ramirez and Andrea Seelenfreund. Rafael, who received the EIF Annual Award in 2012, noted that EIF’s support has been crucial to the success of his studies.
Lafquen Passalcqua Hucke (above) Fraternal Order of Moai Award ($3000)
Lafquen is in her fourth year in social anthropology at the Universidad Católica de Temuco. Her studies include recognition of the importance of the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples. It is her belief that cultural knowledge should not only be preserved, but also transmitted to future generations to encourage pride in their ancestry. Through her education, Lafquen wants to document the cultural traditions and the ancestral knowledge of the Rapa Nui elders.
Pamina Olivares Paoa (above) Fraternal Order of Moai Tangata Manu Award ($2500)
Pamina is in her fifth year at the School of Architecture and Design, Pontifica Universidad Catolica, Valparaíso. The study of architecture has enabled her to combine two subjects she is passionate about: art and history. After she completes her studies, she would like to work towards reinforcing two of the island’s economic mainstays: fishing and tourism. One of her ideas is to develop a long term project working with other disciplines towards creating a marine reserve on the island for endangered species, with the goal of having a sustainable ecosystem. She is also interested in preserving the ancestral methods of fishing to both revive these traditions and use them for tourism. She envisions development of an interpretive trail along the coastline that emphasizes the importance of fishing and marine resources to the ancestral Rapanu that will help educate visitors about the island’s coastal resources.
Laura Tarita Alarcon Rapu (above) has been awarded the Ananda Foundation/Sheree Lipton Award ($1000)
Tarita is in the final stages of completing her degree in physical anthropology at the Universidad de Chile. She hopes her research will contribute to a better understanding of the island, both for visitors and at the community level. Tarita is grateful that her 2012 Fraternal Order of Moai Award enabled her to focus on her fourth year of studies. In 2013 Tarita will be working on an internship at the Fowler Museum at UCLA with Professor Wendy Teeter, Curator of Archaeology.
Cecilia Hormazabal Araki (above) Mildred R. Donoghue Award ($2500)
EIF Award Scholarship Award Winners, Past and Present
A gathering of past and current scholars and family members, EIF committee members and governors (present and former) on 10 February 2013.
Left to right, front row: Catalina Hey (Grandmother of Tiare de la Puente Bernacer); Carolina Hotu Hey (former Governor of Easter Island); Elaine Crumpley (EIF scholarship committee); Barbara Tuki Gaete (Mildred R. Donoghue Award, 2010, 2011, 2012). Back row: Tahira Edmunds (2005); Merahi Atam (Fraternal Order of the Moai Award, 2011, 2012); Charlie Love (EIF Board of Directors); Tiare de la Puente Bernacer (EIF Award 2009, 2012); Tavake Riroroco Cabezas (Mildred R. Donoghue Award, 2010, 2011, 2012); Lafquen Passalacqua Hucke (Fraternal Order of Moai Award, 2013); Marla Wold (EIF Scholarship Chair); Tarita Alarcón Rapu (Fraternal Order of Moai Award 2012; Ananda/Sheree Lipton award 2013); Rafael Rapu (EIF Award 2012; Brian Scothorne Award and Ananda Foundation/Sheree Lipton award 2013); Carmen Cardinali, Governor of Easter Island.
Updates on some of our past scholarship recipients:
Ana Huke Fuentes (Fraternal Order of Moai Award, 2010) is now working at the Hare Noi Hotel on Easter island.
Tiare Carolina de la Puente Bernacer (EIF Award, 2009) has been studying medicine at the Universidad de Chile in Santiago; her EIF scholarship helped to make possible her dream to study medicine at one of the most prestigious schools in Chile. She wants to return to the island and work within the community in the local hospital. She is grateful for the EIF scholarship program as it enables Rapanui students to continue their studies. In 2012, the EIF held a special fundraiser at the welcome banquet at the Easter Island and the Pacific Conference in Santa Rosa, CA, and raised enough money to present Tiare with a second scholarship to assist with continuation of her studies in medicine.
Alan Tepano Haoa (Directors Award, 2008) is now working on the island with archaeologist Sonia Haoa.
Antonio Fernando Muñoz Tuki (Directors Award, 2007; EIF Award, 2006)
Complete List of Past Scholarship Recipients
2012
Rafael Simón Paoa Rapu (EIF Award – $2000)
Laura Tarita Alarcon Rapu (Fraternal Order of Moai Award – $3000)
Mauricio Tamaru Hey Salas (EIF Directors Award – $2000)
Barbara Gaete Tuki (Mildred R. Donoghue Award – $2500)
Tavake Riroroco Cabezas (Mildred R. Donoghue Award – $2500)
Merahi Atam Lopez (Fraternal Order of Moai Tangata Manu Award -$2500)
Cecilia Hormazabal Araki (Nicolas Haoa Haoa Sr. Award – $2000)
2011
Vaitiare Tucki Rengifo (Fraternal Order of Moai Award – $2000)
Merahi Atam Lopez (Fraternal Order of Moai Tangata Manu Award – $2500)
Cecilia Hormazabal Araki (Nicolas Haoa Haoa Sr. Award – $2000)
Tavake Maria Consuelo Riroroco Cabezas (Mildred R. Donoghue Award- $2500)
Barbara Gaete Tuki (Mildred R. Donoghue Award – $2500)
2010
Tavake Maria Consuelo Riroroco Cabezas (Mildred R. Donoghue Award- $2500)
Barbara Gaete Tuki (Mildred R. Donoghue Award – $2500)
Tamaru Pakarati Gonzalez (EIF Award – $2000)
Ana Huki Fuentes (Fraternal Order of Moai Award – $2000)
2009
Tiare Carolina de la Puente Bernacer (EIF Award – $3,000)
Jose Mario Fati Tepano (EIF Award – $3,000)
2008
Juana Luna Atamu (Weigand Award – $2,000)
Alan Tepano Haoa (Directors Award – $3,000)
Maria Eugenia Huke Fuentes (Nicolas Haoa Haoa Sr. Award – $3,000)
Rutiranghi Tuki Paoa (EIF Award – $3,000)
2007
Juana Luna Atamu (Weigand Award – $2,000)
Ioan Haumoana Soler Hotu (Weigand Award – $2,000)
Antonio Fernando Munoz Tuki (Directors Award – $3,000)
Viviana Ana Hereveri Figueroa (Nicolas Haoa Haoa Sr. Award – $3,000)
Akivi Hanga-Ho’onu Atan Soto (EIF Award – $3,000)
2006
Juana Luna Atamu (Weigand Award – $2,000)
Ioan Haumoana Soler Hotu (Weigand Award – $2,000)
Tiare Aguilera Hey (Directors Award – $2,000)
Daniela Macarena Araki Gonzales (Nicolas Haoa Haoa Sr. Award – $2,000)
Antonio Fernando Munoz Tuki (EIF Award – $2,000)
2005
Juana Luna Atamu (Weigand Award – $2,000)
Ioan Haumoana Soler Hotu (Weigand Award – $2,000)
Noelani Rapahango Lagos (Nicolas Haoa Haoa Sr. Award – $2,000)
Tahira Edmunds (Nicolas Haoa Haoa Sr. Award – $2,000)
2004
Ioan Haumoana Soler Hotu (Weigand Award – $2,000)
2003
Alberto Patricio Genkowsky (EIF Award – $2,000)
2002
Alfonso Rapu Cardinale (EIF Award – $2,000)
For more information about the EIF Scholarship Program or to make a donation, please contact us or download the form below:
scholarships “at” islandheritage.org
Easter Island Foundation P.O. Box 6774 Los Osos CA 93412
805-528-8558 (telephone)
805-534-9301 (fax)
