June 13, 2008
Contributed by Thomas Yoshida
It's the latest achievement from a young man who recently received a $20,000 National Coca-Cola Scholarship and a $13,000 scholarship for being selected as the National Winner in the 2008 National Honor Society Scholarship Program. These accolades top a long list of scholarships earned during his senior year at Kamehameha.
"There are so many amazing people out there and just to get awarded one of these scholarships is amazing," said Nathan Nakatsuka, 2008 Kamehameha Schools graduate. "It helps because college is extremely expensive, so definitely being able to help pay for my first year of tuition is really good, for my parents especially." Nakatsuka is scheduled to attend Harvard University this fall, where he wants to study physical and chemical biology. He's getting lots of support from his 'ohana. 
"My parents are my biggest motivator," Nakatsuka said. "It's really feeling their encouragement that makes me want to achieve all of my goals. We have a really strong family network. That keeps me striving for more."
An avid cross country runner and accomplished tennis player, Nakatsuka stresses the need to lead a balanced life and to continually reach for the stars.
"I think you should set outrageous goals," he said. "Set your goals extremely high and always strive to get them. If you never get there, you'll at least get much further than you'd ever expect."
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 Hawai'i and across the continental United States.
The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) is a non-profit research institute dedicated to the study and application of systems biology. Established in 2000, ISB operates a 65,000-square-foot facility, with more than 220 staff members, including 14 faculty members and their laboratory groups.
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
