Finding Their Voices, Serving Their Island
When Lexy Ramos arrived at UH Hilo, she wasn’t sure she belonged. Across campus, Leiya Torrano carried the same doubt, questioning whether college was the right path for her. Both started quietly, hesitant to speak up and afraid to come forward. Today, they are the ones others turn to for guidance.
That dynamic didn’t happen by accident. UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin credits the Bonner Leadership Program for Ramos’s and Torrano’s transformation. “By creating a space where young people can thrive,” Irwin added, “we empower them to lead with compassion and make a meaningful difference.”
Finding Confidence
For Ramos, growth started small. Speaking in meetings once felt intimidating. But moving through Bonner with a supportive cohort gradually shifted her perspective. Recently, when her group welcomed visiting Bonner Scholars from North Carolina, conversation flowed naturally, something that once felt impossible.
“Through our narratives, we bonded in a shared space of vulnerability,” Ramos said. “It strengthened my understanding of social justice and cultural humility.”
Torrano’s journey unfolded differently but just as powerfully. Over her four years, the shared academic journey transformed her cohort into an essential support system. Navigating the challenges of higher education side-by-side allowed them to forge an unbreakable bond, demonstrating the immense value of peer-to-peer encouragement in keeping students enrolled, engaged and on track to graduate. Weekly discussions pushed her to embrace the lived experiences behind the statistics, shaping her into a more empathetic advocate.
The 2026 Bonner cohort members include, from left, Hayden Niles, Leiya Torrano and Hina Spielman.
From Helping to Leading
Ramos dedicates 20 hours a week to training and service with groups like the ZONTA Club of Hilo and the Center for Mauna Kea Stewardship, contributing to lasting community work.
Torrano started with simple tasks at the Nani O’ Waimea Volleyball Club but gradually moved into leadership, managing social media, assisting coaches and helping train players.
“Service is not something you do for people; it’s something you do with them,” Torrano said.
Leaving a Legacy
As Torrano prepares to graduate with a degree in Business Administration and Healthcare Management, she is focused on leaving a tangible legacy. For her senior capstone, she created Kūlia i ka nuʻu (Strive for the Summit), a one-week program encouraging first-generation Hawaiʻi Island students to overcome their fears of higher education.
Just as upperclassmen once guided them, Ramos and Torrano now lift the next generation. Leadership, Torrano says, is about creating spaces where others feel seen, heard and capable of growing into their own potential.
Support Our Student Leaders
Transformative experiences like the Bonner Leadership Program are sustained by the generosity of our community. When you make a gift to support these student leaders, you are empowering young women like Ramos and Torrano to find their voices, overcome barriers and build a brighter future for Hawaiʻi
Your generosity makes a lasting impact on our students, faculty, and community. Join us in supporting this important work.
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.
