Charles R. Kendall Scholarship and Education Fund

Scholarship Sponsored by Hawaii Government Employees Association

Background In 1966 the HGEA created the Charles R. Kendall Scholarship and Education Fund as a tribute to the late Charles R. Kendall, HGEA’s first Executive Director, in recognition of his lifelong work to advance the interests of Hawaii’s public employees. HGEA sustains that legacy by offering educational assistance to members and their immediate families. To date, the program has awarded in excess of 2,000 scholarships. Who may apply Scholarships are open to HGEA members and their dependents who are enrolled or plan to enroll full-time at a college or university. Applicants must have been HGEA members in good standing for a minimum of one year. Application process and scoring Applications are scored on a 100-point scale. Applicants are ranked by their total composite score. The point breakdown is: - Application form (required) - Complete the Charles R. Kendall Scholarship & Education Fund application online and sign where indicated. Submit any additional forms and transcripts to the HGEA office as part of the online application process. - Financial need — maximum 30 points - Submit the Financial Statement with complete responses. Any blank fields or entries marked “not applicable” must include an explanation. You may attach a short narrative if you wish to further describe your financial situation. - Academic achievement — maximum 40 points - Official high school and/or college transcripts must be mailed directly to HGEA and either received or postmarked by the application deadline. First-year college students must provide their high school transcript in addition to any college transcript. If financial hardship prevents you from sending official transcripts, include a copy; an official transcript may be requested later if your application is selected. - Personal statements — maximum 20 points - The online application will ask you to provide brief written responses on topics such as: - Involvement in HGEA events or activities - Support for HGEA’s mission and union values - The role of HGEA in your ‘ohana - Your academic and career goals - Also include a list of HGEA activities (with the year(s) of participation) in which you or your parent(s) have been involved. There is no set minimum or maximum length for each response; keep answers concise. - Recommendations — maximum 10 points - Provide contact information for at least three recommenders. Each recommender will receive an email containing a recommendation form pre-filled with your application details; they must complete and submit their recommendation electronically. Acceptable recommenders are current or former coaches, employers, teachers, or professors. Recommendations from other sources will not be accepted. - Photo - Upload a high-resolution headshot (JPEG or TIF) during the online application. Photos are required, will not be returned, and will be used only if the applicant is selected. Deadlines - All completed application materials must be submitted by January 20, 2026. - Recommendation forms must be submitted by February 10, 2026. Additional notes All submitted application materials and recommendation letters become the property of HGEA and the C.R. Kendall Scholarship & Education Fund and will not be returned.