Private Scholarships Offer Micronesians Access to Opportunity

(Colonia, Yap) A dozen Micronesian students are headed to prestigious private schools this fall, thanks to Habele K-12 tuition scholarships. These students will attend the independent school of their family’s choosing.

Described as “an investment in human capital,” these grants are funded by donations from former Peace Corps Volunteers, tourists, and other Americans with a personal connection to Micronesia.

Top Grades for Micronesia's Habele Scholars

Habele scholarship recipients in three Micronesian States are reporting their first quarter grades and have much to be proud of!

The students attend private primary and secondary schools in the FSM capitols through k-12 tuition scholarships awarded by the Habele Outer Island Education Fund.

"This is an exciting time and the hard work of these ambitious students is a source of great pride," explained Stephen Replogle, a Habele Director. "Investments in human capital are essential to growth and prosperity in Micronesia, a strategic US ally spanning the Western Pacific."

Ambitious Micronesians awarded private tuition scholarships

A dozen students from across Micronesia will enroll in prestigious private schools this fall with the help of Habele tuition scholarships. Attendance at these schools radically increases the children’s’ chances of completing school and moving on to higher education.

The investment isn’t coming from a top-down government aid program or an influence peddling foreign conglomerate, it arrives care of Habele, a tiny all-volunteer charity funded entirely by individual Americans with a personal commitment to Micronesia.

Small Cost, Big Impact: DONATE NOW!

For a decade, we've served ambitious students from the most remote Micronesian Islands.

This past year presented new challenges to Habele. Super Typhoon Maysak uprooted many of the communities and schools we support. A new category of educationally-displaced students emerged.

Outer Island schools remain in disarray. Most families lack the resources for alternatives. Habele continues to receive scholarship applications from these displaced students, as well as families across Micronesia seeking the best classroom for their child. As in years past, demand greatly exceeds our limited resources.

For under $600, Habele can place ambitious students in top schools in the state capitals for an entire school year. Our goal is to award twenty, K12 student scholarships in 2016. With your help we can make it happen.

In addition to funding scholarships, money raised now sustains the only high school robotics league in the Central Pacific, a vibrant traditional skills mentorship program, and direct-to-schools library donations.

This yearly plea is the only time Habele raises money. As an all-volunteer nonprofit, we channel contributions to our locally-defined programs, not aggressive fundraising efforts. By contributing, and urging friends and family to get involved, you empower ambitious Micronesian students to define and pursue their own futures.

Please make a donation to Habele today. We are an IRS-recognized nonprofit, so you may be eligible for a tax deduction.

Thank you for your continued support!

or send check or money order to  Habele, 701 Gervais St, STE 150-244, Columbia, SC 29201.

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Good Grades, Kind Words from Student in Yap, Micronesia

Great news reaches Habele from Francis Yarofalyango, a junior at Yap Catholic High School (YCHS). Francis has earned honors for perfect attendance and a high average across all six of his first quarter courses!

Francis is a native of Lamotrek an isolated, low lying coral atoll in Micronesia. Through his Habele Scholarship, he is able to attend a prestigious independent school on Yap Proper, the more populous State Capital.

Like many Habele scholars, Francis also participates in Habele sponsored enrichment and extracurricular programs, such as sports leagues and robotics teams. He even had a hand in the crafting of the US-FSM Friendship Canoe, which just arrived in South Carolina.

Francis -or "Cisco" to his teachers and close friends- is emblematic of the ambitious, driven students Habele seeks to support.

"Cisco had a tremendous quarter," explained Mr. Wiencek, the Yap Catholic Algebra II and Trigonometry Instructor. "He worked very hard for his grade and was a great help to his classmates during collaborative assignments." Social Studies teacher Mr. Mailen adds "Francis' passion to learn about history is obvious and it has driven him to excel."

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Habele Awards Tuition Scholarships Throughout Micronesia

Photo: Four Habele scholars in Yap State, Micronesia.

(Colonia, Yap) A dozen promising students from three FSM States are headed to the private school of their families choosing this year.

These exceptional students received K-12 tuition scholarships from Habele, a nonprofit founded by former Peace Corps Volunteers that operates exclusively in the FSM.

“Investing in the future of these bright and ambitious children is a real pleasure,” explained Matthew Coleman, a Habele Project Director. “It’s exciting to participate in empowering the future leaders of the FSM. Habele knows there are many other gifted students for whom educational opportunity is still just a dream, and we remain committed to the mission of reaching them.”

Among the 2015-16 Habele scholars are students attending Saint Mary’s, Yap SDA, Yap Catholic High School, Xavier High School, and Calvary Christian Academy. The six boys and six girls come from a number of island communities across the FSM.

Habele Scholar Winner in International Essay Contest

Decyann Pete, a junior at Yap Catholic High School, earned a third place finish in the prestigious 2014 Maryknoll International Essay Contest.

The contest's theme centered on a quote of Pope Francis. Speaking to young people as "architects of the future," the Holy Father implored them to, "Have courage. Go forward. Make Noise."

Students worldwide were asked to write a letter to Pope addressing that topic. Over 7,000 high school students from around the globe submitted their works.

In her letter, Decyann wrote about her involvement with the Ocean One Choir, The First Friday Planning Team which helps plan youth events in churches throughout Yap, as well as "the Flying Proas," the YCHS traditional sailing team which won its first race at this year's Canoe Festival.

Decyann, a native of Satawal, attends Yap Catholic with the help of a Habele Scholarship.

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Scholarship Winners: Report Cards Highlight Achievement

With the second quarter of the school year well underway, first quarter report cards from Habele Tuition Scholarship winners have begun to arrive.

Habele's merit- and need-based scholarships allow students from the most isolated islands and villages of Micronesia (FSM) to attend prestigious independent schools in the district capitols. Recipient families provide Habele with report cards, photos, letters, and other indicators of their students' progress over the course of the school year.

Private Scholarships for Top Micronesian Students

A dozen bright young island students are headed to top private schools across the central Pacific nation of Micronesia. Their tuition scholarships, awarded by the Habele charity, were announced during a small ceremony at the Micronesian Embassy in Washington DC earlier this week.

Among the winners was Griselda Muut of Yap. She will be a sophomore at Yap Catholic High School (YCHS) this fall. Giselda lives with her mother Mary Layan and younger sister Margo in the Village of Kaday, a part of Weloy Municipality. Their father is deceased. Mary is an engaged parent who describes her daughter’s school enthusiastically as “challenging” and “demanding.” Rev. Michael Corcoran, the Jesuit headmaster of YCHS, explains Griselda, “worked extremely hard and earned 1st honors for the last quarter of her freshman year.” Miss Mutt is also active in village and school based athletic programs, in addition to participating in her village’s traditional cultural dance ensemble.

The scholarships are privately funded and cover roughly three-fourths of tuition and fees at primary and secondary schools. More than 150 students from Yap, Chuuk, and Pohnpei States of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) applied, seeking to attend independent, mostly religiously affiliated, elementary and high schools in the State Capitals.

Scholarship Fundraising Drive

Habele needs your help in keeping our commitments to the ambitious students of Micronesia.

Since January, we’ve delivered dozens of boxes of books to students throughout Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei States. We’ve also provided specialized adze blades to master carvers in the Waa’gey canoe carving mentor program. And we’ve partnered with schools in Yap to orchestrate our third annual high school robotics competition and our first statewide sports competition.

Now we are looking toward August 1st, when Habele announces its 2014-2015 Student Scholarships – and we need your help!

These scholarships offer students from remote islands and low-income families equal access to the quality instruction provided by Micronesia’s most effective independent schools.

Scholarships Help Low Income Students Across Micronesia

Photo: Students working at Yap Catholic High School. YCHS is one of eight schools across Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei where Habele supports students through it's tuition scholarship program.

US-based charity Habele has announced issuance of its annual tuition K-12 scholarships to students across the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) this week. The scholarships are awarded to low-income and high-performing students to attend the K-12 school of their family’s choosing.

The scholarships cover seventy-five percent of a student’s tuition at one of eight participating schools in three of the FSM’s four states. The students primarily come from rural communities and remote outer islands. Habele’s scholarships allow them to attend the highest quality private schools in the country, which tend to be located on the larger islands that serve as state capitals.

“Habele is very proud to announce our 2013 scholarship recipients,” said Neil Mellen, a Habele Director. “Thanks to our generous donors, we’re going to help over forty students this year; nearly twice the number that we supported last year.”

Scholarship Workshop for Micronesian Families

Non-profit organizations Habele and Waa’gey conducted a workshop for parents interested in obtaining Habele scholarships for their children in the 2013-2014 school  year.

The workshop was held in the afternoon at the community center in Colonia, Yap (Micronesia). Interested parents arrived throughout the day, and volunteers from Habele and Waa’gey were on hand to assist them in the application process. The workshop was the first of its kind for Habele, and around forty applications were received during the course of the event.

The workshop also marked the first time that Habele accepted scholarship applications from students from the main island of Yap. Previously, scholarships had been limited to outer island students only, due to Habele’s limited finances. This year, however, the contributions of several generous donors, especially the Germany-based financial services corporation Yapital, have made it possible for Habele to expand its scholarship program to Yapese students as well.

Charity Raising Funds for Scholarships in Micronesia

A letter from the Habele Board President to donors and volunteers:

This has been a great year for Habele, and now we need your help in keeping our commitments to the ambitious students of Micronesia.

Since January, we’ve delivered dozens of boxes of dictionaries to students throughout Yap and Chuuk States. We’ve also provided specialized adze blades to master carvers in the Waa’gey canoe carving mentor program. Most exciting, we’ve partnered with schools in Yap to orchestrate our second annual high school robotics competition.

Now we are looking toward August 1st, when Habele announces its 2013-2014 Student Scholarships – and we need your help!

These scholarships offer students from remote islands and low-income families equal access to the quality instruction provided by Micronesia’s most effective independent schools.

Habele Scholar Earns Straight A's

All of Habele’s scholarship recipients have a lot to be proud of, but no one more than 2nd grader Kyle Taitiw.

That’s because Kyle is the only Habele scholarship student reporting a perfect 4.0 GPA on his second-semester report card!

Thanks to excellent instruction from the staff at St. Mary’s School in Yap, and a lot of hard work, Kyle is off to an inspiring start to the school year. Habele’s directors look forward to seeing more great things from Kyle in the future.

Without scholarship assistance from Habele, it is unlikely that Kyle’s academic aptitudes would ever be developed. That’s because Kyle is a native of the tiny undeveloped atoll of Woleai, which lies more than 400 miles east of Yap. There is incredible natural beauty on Woleai, but few opportunities for academic growth.

Micronesian Scholarship Winners Report Progress

"My family joins me in extending our deepest appreciation for your generous support. I'm looking forward to work extra harder (sic) throughout this school year. in return for your support and to make good use of the money's you've spent on my tuition. Thanks!"

That's what Habele scholarship student, Charlene Regalishyei, had to say after earning high marks on her first semester report card.

Recipients of the 2012-13 Habele Tuition Scholarships are proudly reporting their academic progress by sending copies of their first semester grades and awards to the US-based charity. Most recently, Habele directors received the enthusiastic letter from Charlene Regalishyei, a sophomore attending the Yap Catholic High School. Regalishyei is a native of the remote Atoll of Eauripik, an island that has enjoyed support from Habele through its libraries and literacy program.

Midwestern Family Renews Support for Micronesian Student

Photo: Leona Peterson (seated) enjoying a coconut in TTPI-era Micronesia.

A Midwestern family has renewed their support for a Micronesian girl attending a small private school thousands of miles away in the State of Yap.

Orpha Hapdei is a seventh grade student at Saint Mary's School in Colonia. Her family is from the Atoll of Ulithi, a remote outer island of Yap, Micronesia.

Orpha began attending St. Mary’s in 2011, through the Leona Peterson (1926-2011) Memorial K-12 Scholarship. The scholarship pays for three-fourths of her tuition and expenses at the private school in Yap’s capitol city “Colonia.” The money was raised entirely by the descendants of Mrs. Peterson. This last Christmas, the family committed to do the same for the 2012-13 school year.

Leona Peterson was native of Waterloo, Iowa. She led the Department of Aging in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) during the late 1970s and early 80s. At that time Micronesia was one part of the larger US-administered TTPI which spanned the Central Pacific. In the 1980s, the region transitioned to political independence. Today, Yap and its outer islands comprise one of the four Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).

Habele Awards Additional Scholarships (25 Total)!

Thanks to a pair of generous last-minute donations, Habele has awarded two additional K-12 scholarships for the 2012-13 school year.

The announcement brings the scholarships total to 25, with winners attending independent schools in three of the FSM’s four states.

“We’ve let the families know and we’re always happy to convey that good news,” explained Neil Mellen, a Habele Director. “Every year we face the same challenge of soliciting donations from private individuals in the US to support our programs. The need and interest in Micronesia always outpaces our ability to raise money, but we do our best.”

Habele was founded in 2006 by a group of former Peace Corps Volunteers. They’ve been supporting low-income students at independent, non-public, K-12 schools through tuition scholarships for six years. The group also supports after school programs such as high school robotics clubs and the Waa’gey canoe-carving project. Last month they donated a thousand English dictionaries to the middle schools across Yap State.

“This is another small step in our journey to empower students in Yap," said Regina Raigetal, a Yap-based Habele Director. “While we can’t always support every deserving student, we’ll keep doing the best we can!” 

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Scholarships for Micronesian Students to be Announced

A US-based charity is awarding twenty-three students in Micronesia scholarships to attend the K-12 school of their parents’ choosing.

The scholarships, which cover three-quarters of each students’ tuition fees, will allow low-income children from rural communities and distant outer islands to attend prestigious private schools in the Micronesian State Capitals. The nearly two-dozen students were selected from a pool of sixty new applicants and former winners who sought the financial assistance.

 “Habele is exceptionally proud to be supporting twenty three students from nine different islands attending six separate schools in three Micronesian states,” explained Alex Sidles, a Habele Director. “Each year we receive more worthy applications than we have the money to support, which makes our decisions quite difficult,” Sidles continued. “We target that support at the elementary and high school level because that is where we see the starkest need.”

Thank You Letter from Pohnpei Student

A kind thank you letter was received this week from Shania, a Habele scholarship recipient in Pohnpei, Micronesia.

Shania is enrolled at Pohnpei Catholic School and earned an "A" average for the third quarter of this 2011-12 school year. She is in the seventh grade and is being raise by her loving grandparents, Moses and Gregoria Marpa.

Shania is one of twenty-four students attending nonpublic K-12 students across the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) this year through the support of Habele's tuition scholarship program. We wish her best of luck in the fourth quarter!

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Habele Honor Roll at Yap Catholic High

Four students who attend Yap Catholic High School with support from Habele K-12 tuition scholarships earned "Second Honors" certificates for their work in the third quarter.

"We're proud of their hard work and commitment to success in the classroom," explained Alex Sidles.