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.
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The program will be held virtually and is capped at 24 students. ​

important dates

Program 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.” 
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-- Graduate of Nanakuli High School and current student at American University
“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.” 
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​-- Graduate of Hilo High School and current student at the University of Hawaii at Hilo
“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.” 

-- Graduate of Punahou School and current student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa
“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.” 

-- Graduate of Kamehameha Schools and current student at Stanford University

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.  

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 ​

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:
  1. Online application (click on the button to the right)
  2. Resume
  3. Essay that answers the following questions:
    1. What is an issue that you feel affects our island communities? 
    2. How are you addressing the issue now?
    3. How do you plan to expand on that later while or upon earning your college degree?

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