June 17, 2008
Contributed by Thomas Yoshida
Between June 21 and 24, Cummings joins 138 outstanding graduating high school seniors from across the country to celebrate their academic accomplishments. In addition to seminars, workshops and tours, the students are awarded the Presidential Medallion at a White House-sponsored event.
The Cummings family celebrates an evening of food, fellowship and fun at Kamehameha's Senior Luau. Front row: Ciera Cummings, father Abe, and sister Kawai. Back row: mother Carol and brother Michael.
Cummings credits family as her prime motivator for success. "I really do it for my 'ohana," said Ciera Cummings, 2008 Presidential Scholar. "Doing all the scholarship applications and dealing with the stress of senior year, you're just trying to hang in there. My family makes it all worth it."
A 2008 honors graduate of Kamehameha Schools, 17-year-old Cummings plans to attend Mills College in Oakland, Calif. and study business economics.
"Math and economics are wonderful to me, they're my friends," Cummings said. "I really want to go into something like finance. I find it so exciting."
The 139 Presidential Scholars include one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from families of U.S. citizens living abroad. This also includes 15 chosen at-large and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts. A 29-member Commission on Presidential Scholars appointed by President Bush selected the scholars based on their academic success, artistic excellence, community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.
Since 1983, each Presidential Scholar has had the opportunity to select his or her most inspiring and challenging teacher to travel to Washington, D.C., to receive a Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education and to participate in the recognition events. Cummings chose Kamehameha High School social studies teacher Jay Kauka and his family to attend the festivities.
Hawaii's other 2008 Presidential Scholar is Punahou School's Christopher Burniske.
Kamehameha Schools is a private, educational, charitable trust founded and endowed by the legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Kamehameha Schools operates a statewide educational system enrolling more than 6,700 students of Hawaiian ancestry at K-12 campuses on O'ahu, Maui and Hawai'i and 31 preschool sites statewide. Thousands of additional Hawaiian learners are served each year through a range of other Kamehameha Schools' outreach programs, community collaborations and financial aid opportunities in Hawaii and across the continental United States.
The Presidential Scholars program was created in 1964 to honor academic achievement and was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts. This prestigious program has honored more than 5,000 of the nation's top students. For more information, visit www.ed.gov/programs/psp.
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
