Supplement your personal and professional development this summer with a unique mentorship and innovation program intended to put you in the middle of the state’s discussion on the future of Hawaii.
This eight-week program is open to students who seek to grow into servant leaders, engage in community issues, and build their professional networks. Students will have the opportunity to work in teams alongside driven peers and receive guidance from established leaders and professionals, as they learn about complex issues affecting our state and country.
A large component of the Next Gen Leaders program is the Capstone Project. Over the course of the program, students will contribute directly to the state's Hawaii 2.0 initiative by providing ideas and feedback on the direction of the state's economy and analyzing the various barriers to making systemic changes. Students will then present their findings and proposals to leaders in the community. The program will be held virtually and is capped at 24 students. |
important datesProgram Duration:
June 7, 2021 - August 2, 2021 Application Deadline: April 25, 2021 |
see what our past participants had to say
“This program was a truly unique experience that I'd do all over again if I could. I got to develop my professional skills and meet new people all while working on a solution to a community issue. I've completed the program feeling inspired by my peers and the high level of support our teams received from working professionals.” |
“When I applied for this program, I was trying to get some experience to put on my resume. But after completing this program, I left with much more. I left with a professional network, knowledge and experience that can prepare me for my career. It has also given me a drive to want to help people in my community.” |
“I would highly recommend this program to students due to the immense opportunities to grow professionally and personally. This internship challenged me to find a real-world solution that would positively impact my community and broadened my career network by being part of the Odo ohana.” |
“I highly recommend applying for the Jordan & Cara Odo Scholarship Foundation's virtual summer program! You will challenge yourself while juggling multiple facets of the program, building critical skills and connections with your peers and established professionals.” |
We're building on the success of last summer's program. |
Participants in last year's program were tasked with innovating potential solutions to community issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Five teams of undergraduate students presented their ideas to a panel of business executives.
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program schedule
June 7, 2021 - August 2, 2021
We have a lot in store for our student participants. Here is a tentative schedule:
Week |
Week of |
Events |
1 |
June 7 |
Kick off celebration on June 7, 2021, at noon |
2 |
June 14 |
Discussion on climate change and environmental issues |
3 |
June 21 |
Discussion on racial and social justice |
4 |
June 28 |
Discussion on homelessness |
5 |
July 5 |
Discussion on public education |
6 |
July 12 |
Presentation on business plans and pitches |
7 |
July 19 |
Mock interview and job search preparation |
8 |
July 26 |
Teams pitch solutions to leaders of the Hawaii 2.0 initiative |
9 |
August 2 |
Debrief and end-of-program celebration on August 2, at noon |
available scholarships
Students participating in the Next Gen Leaders Program are eligible to receive the following scholarships:
Community Exploration Award - $150 (four available) -- students have the option of writing short essays on the topic of the week in Weeks 2-5. Our Scholarship Selection committee will select one student each week.
Individual Merit Scholarship - $500 (two available) -- two outstanding students will receive an Individual Merit Scholarship based on their leadership and individual performance.
Changemakers Scholarship - $500 (four available) -- one team of students will receive $2,000 worth of scholarships, to be divided equally among the team members
Community Exploration Award - $150 (four available) -- students have the option of writing short essays on the topic of the week in Weeks 2-5. Our Scholarship Selection committee will select one student each week.
Individual Merit Scholarship - $500 (two available) -- two outstanding students will receive an Individual Merit Scholarship based on their leadership and individual performance.
Changemakers Scholarship - $500 (four available) -- one team of students will receive $2,000 worth of scholarships, to be divided equally among the team members
eligibility & application
To be eligible for the Next Gen Leaders Program, applicants must: (1) be entering or continuing college in Fall 2021; (2) have graduated from a Hawaii high school; and (3) have at least a 3.0 GPA.
To apply, please submit the following by Sunday, April 25, 2021, at 11:59 PM:
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leadership team
Mentorship Director
Jeff Berlin, Ph.D. Owner, Jeff Berlin Consulting Capstone Director John Doyle Technical Director, U.S Pacific Command Program Administrator Jordan Odo Associate Counsel, American Savings Bank |
Networking Coordinator
J. J. Bernardo Student, University of Hawaii at Manoa Capstone Coordinator Katarina P. Matayoshi Venture Associate, Sultan Ventures Scholarship Coordinator Crystal Cebedo Owner, Crystal A. Cebedo Photography |
About Us
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Mission
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