Carolyn L. Wong is a diligent, disciplined mother and student dedicated to her career as a Soil Conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources in Waimea, Hawai'i. As a child, Carolyn immediately recognized her natural love for the land and spent time with her father's 'ohana planting mai'a and kalo. After graduating from Lahainaluna, a school rich with specialized natural resource career programs, she fulfilled her parents' dream and became the only person in her family to attend college. In 2002, Carolyn graduated with honors from the University of Hawai'i at Hilo's College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management with a Bachelor's degree in Agroecology and Environmental Science, as well as a minor in Conservation Biology and a certificate in Tropical Forestry.

 

"My reason for pursuing higher education is because I believe in giving back. I want to do my best to give back to the 'aina and the place that makes me who I am. I believe in doing my part to help perpetuate rural agricultural communities in Hawai'i. It is from this spirit of gratitude that I have actively volunteered in my community for the past ten years." Carolyn's commitment to the community is extensive. As founder and president of the Forestry Club at University of Hawai'i - Hilo, she led volunteer groups to complete restoration work at the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), out-planted rare and endangered species with the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, and performed maintenance work at the Ookala Lowland Community Forest. She and her six-year old daughter Ku'ulei continue to coordinate volunteer work weekends at Hakalau Forest NWR for the youth and other interested community members in North and West Hawai'i. Carolyn says, "as a mother, I feel it is important to teach her the value and importance of serving others."

 

Carolyn has been accepted into Utah State University’s distance learning master's degree program, one of the top natural resource management programs in the country. She was recruited to study in this prestigious program and although most course work and research is done here in Hawai'i, she is required to travel to Utah twice a year for dissertations and thesis defense. "As a Native Hawaiian, born and raised in Hawai'i, I have a deeply rooted respect and love for our land and our natural resources. I also understand the importance of a diversified economy and agriculture to the overall health and stability of Hawai'i. Working with agriculturalists to practice sustainable and environmentally sound stewardship on the land has birthed my passion for understanding the dynamics between plants and grazing animals in tropical grassland ecosystems."

 

Students who receive the Dennis Wong and Associates Scholarship are pursuing undergraduate or undergraduate degrees in liberal arts/science and are recognized for their well-rounded and balanced record of achievement in preparation for career objectives. Outstanding recipients like Carolyn do something exceptional in the community, because it’s the right thing to do. Carolyn's commitment to the field, to the Hawaiian populations she serves, and to her education exemplifies Dennis Wong and Associate's intentions for this scholarship.