After 13 years of being away from college, Sasha Tanaka returned in 2024 to enroll in the Fall Nursing Program at University of Hawai‘i Maui College. A mother of three children, Sasha symbolizes resilience and ambition, becoming the first person in her family to earn a college degree. When she is not parenting and working, she is a competitive hula dancer who has had the privilege of competing in the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival.
Sasha is the recipient of the Alice Sakata Nagata Scholarship and Hawaiʻi's Promise Scholarship. This is an excerpt from her letter to donors.
My goal has always been to care for my local community. And equally important, I will be able to care for my close loved ones, if ever needed.
After graduating, I intend to work in the ICU at Maui Memorial Medical Center where I currently work as an overnight aide. I will be caring for people in our community experiencing critical, life-threatening conditions or who have undergone extensive surgeries.
However, my dream goal would be to one day become a recovery nurse in the ICU providing care to those who have undergone heart procedures.
To my donors
Being accepted into the 2024 Nursing Program at UH Maui College is one of the most significant milestones of my life. However, as a mother of three, pursuing a full-time education without the ability to work initially seemed daunting because of financial uncertainty. Your generosity has profoundly impacted my life by easing the financial burden, allowing me to dedicate more time and energy to my studies.
Your support extends beyond me; it benefits my entire family. After earning my degree, I will be able to provide greater stability and opportunities for my keiki. Not only does it benefit my family, but your kindness will also ripple through our community. Maui has a growing need for nurses, and I am honored to soon contribute to caring for our community as a nursing professional. Mahalo for being a part of my journey and helping me to make my dream a reality.
Questions? / More Information
If you would like to learn how you can support UH students and programs like this, please contact us at 808-956-8700 or send us a message.
