Charting new horizons: A first-generation scholar’s profound thanks

As a first-generation college student and immigrant from the Philippines, Lexy Kaye Ramos’s pursuit in higher education is both a personal milestone and a deeply meaningful journey.

Lexy is a Biology major on the pre-medical track at UH Hilo. Her dream is to become a physician serving Hawai‘i Island – a place that has become home and where she hopes to make a lasting difference in the community.

Lexy is the recipient of the John M. Ross Scholarship. This is an excerpt from her letter to donors.

Receiving the John M. Ross Foundation Scholarship has been such a rewarding experience. It has helped me pursue my academic and career goals with greater confidence and reminded me of the incredible impact that community support can have on a student’s journey.

Learning about Mr. Ross’s lifelong dedication to agriculture and Hawai‘i’s sugar industry is both inspiring and humbling. His values of hard work, perseverance and service to community are ideals I strive to embody in my own path.

To my donors

This scholarship has not only lightened the financial burden of college, but it has also reminded me that I’m part of a larger community that believes in and invests in students like me. It also deepens my connection to Hawai‘i’s history and strengthens my resolve to give back.

Beyond the classroom, I stay involved in campus life as a Bonner Leader and active member of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) Future Health Professionals. I’m constantly seeking new ways to grow, including participating in a research project on soil epigenomics at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and attending a recent HI-INBRE (Hawaii IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence) biology workshop centered on molecular cloning.

Thank you for your generosity and support. I carry this gift with deep appreciation and a commitment to serve my community in the future.