Renzy graduated with a Master of Public Health at the UH Manoa specializing in Health Policy and Management. She currently works at the Hawaii Department of Health as a Project Specialist for the Hawaii Pediatric Mental Health Care Access. Her research interest is Women’s Health specifically Maternal and Child Health and Reproductive justice.

AAUW national Fellowships and Grants

AAUW national is now accepting applications for fellowships and grants for the 2024-2025 academic year! A new record of $6.8 milliion to 285 individuals for the 2023-2024 academic year!

Since 1888, AAUW has been one of the largest funders of women’s graduate education, investing in women who go on to change the world. Fellowships, career development grants, community action grants, and research grants are available. Apply here.

The University of Hawaii recipients include:

• Valentina Alvarez, PhD student at UH Manoa
• Hannah El-Silimy, PhD student at UH Manoa
• Sasha Nealand (Kovacs), PhD student at UH Hilo.

Partnering for Women's Economic Advancement

(left: all-wahine cohort, right: AAUW Honolulu Branch president, Hope Bennett with truck simulator)

At the beginning of this year, we announced AAUW Honolulu's partnership with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) to support the first all-wahine cohort in the Hawaiian Trades Academy Commercial Driver's License (CDL) training program. We are delighted to report that 12 incredible women kicked off training on July 1st! A commercial driver's license is required to operate large, heavy, or placarded hazardous material vehicles in commerce, and in Hawai'i, licensed drivers can earn up to $91,000 a year. 

The program prepares students to obtain their truck driver's license by providing hands-on training with an experienced CDL instructor, experience in a state-of-the-art truck simulator machine, Hawaiian cultural enrichment, and financial empowerment education. This special all-wahine cohort provides unique support for women and opens up economic opportunities in an industry traditionally dominated by men. Graduation is expected at the end of August, after which students will be prepared to test for their CDL-A. Wishing this group the best for the next few weeks!



For the 2023-24 AAUW Honolulu Undergraduate Scholarship awards, we continued our efforts to reach more non-traditional students, women who are at least 21 years of age and have had their educational plans interrupted or delayed by family work obligations or challenging personal circumstances. We had a total of 25 applicants by the March 10, 2023 deadline.  After reviewing the applications based on financial need, written statements, and applicant interviews, we made 9 awards totaling $28,000.

Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) continues to administer the 2023-24 AAUW Honolulu Graduate Scholarships, 6 awards totaling $28,000 were made.



Girls Talk Back Reunion Luncheon

There were great connections made and feedback given on ways to improve the program going forward. A report on the GTB program will be posted in a future newsletter.

August 15, 2023 is Mom's Equal Pay Day. Moms working full-time, year-round are paid 74 cents and all earners (including part-time and seasonal) are paid 62 cents for every dollar paid to dads. 

August 30, 2023 is Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Equal Pay Day.

On average, all NHPI women earn only 61 cents and full time NHPI women workers earn 65 cents for every dollar that white, non-Hispanic men make. This pay gap means Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women are losing over $1 million over a lifetime impacting the women and their families.