Grace Hagemann Scholarship

To support and inspire the future healthcare workforce serving Native Hawaiians

About the Scholarship

Grace Haaheo Kaawakano Hagemann was born at Pukoo, Molokai on December 1894 and died on January 16, 1969, at age 74. Today, she rests in peace near the front entrance of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Church.

Grace had four daughters, Anna, Leonie, Katherine, and Anita. After a troubled marriage and the death of her husband in 1928, she became the sole supporter of her family. She was a cleaning lady for a doctor at a clinic at Pukoo, near Kilohana School, and grew most of her family’s food in her home garden. She also enjoyed gathering limu and making lauhala mats, baskets, and hats.

A self-educated woman, she was fiercely independent. Today, many of her descendants, including Nā Puuwai’s founder, the late Billy Akutagawa, work in the health industry. The Grace Hagemann Scholarship honors the legacy she left her ʻohana, of the value of education and service to others.

Scholarship Award

One (1) $1000 scholarship award will be presented to a Molokai student to be used for academic studies.

Eligibility

  • High school graduate
  • Resident of Molokaʻi
  • Dedication to apply training to improve the health status of Native Hawaiians
  • Acceptance into a postsecondary program OR training in a healthcare profession that leads to a degree or certification

*A postsecondary program or training in a healthcare profession refers to educational pathways that individuals can pursue to obtain a degree or certification in a healthcare field.

2024 Grace Hagemann Scholarship Recipients

Mallory Go, Brown University

“As I prepared to enter my final year of undergraduate education, I recalled my own experiences and encounters within healthcare and am constantly surprised by how accustomed I was to evident inequities. I hail from Molokai, Hawaii, a rural community that, like the rest of Hawaii, is disproportionately affected by physician shortage, inadequate prenatal care, and unintended pregnancies.”

Mallory Go is planning to complete a PhD in epidemiology after fulfilling her Five Year Undergraduate/MPH with her master’s thesis focused on the variation of outcomes and
healthcare service utilization among neonates. Mallory is looking to continue her research on health disparities among API and NHPI populations. 

Her exposure to the health disparities of her community has motivated her to address
mechanisms, such as aggregated data, that underlie and contribute to health inequities that impact adverse neonatal health outcomes.

Clara Merkel, Grand Canyon University

“Growing up on the Island of Molokai, I have always harbored a deep-seated aspiration for higher education. Witnessing the unwavering dedication of my parents to provide for me and encourage my personal growth has instilled in me a profound sense of determination. From a young age, my dream of becoming a nurse has been steadfastly supported by my parents, who have consistently guided me towards achieving the best version of myself. The scarcity of accessible healthcare services on Molokai serves as a powerful motivator for me to pursue nursing as my chosen field of study.“

Clara Merkel is currently pursuing nursing in order to achieve her long term goal of returning to Molokai and contribute to her community by delivering exemplary healthcare services. As she progresses in her nursing career, she aims to build confidence and expertise that will support her transition to becoming a Nurse Practitioner.

Her aspiration to become a Nurse Practitioner reflects her desire to further elevate her role in healthcare delivery and showcases her passion to advocate for her community, ensuring they receive the highest standard of care possible while contributing meaningfully to healthcare provision on Molokai.