Education PartNER Highlight: Hawaii Pacific University

Valor Partners board member General Greg Gardener, USAF Ret., recently made a special visit to Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) in Honolulu. Maurine Silvan, VP of Advancement, and Jen Contrades, Director of Campus Engagement, were wonderful hosts. They gave the General a tour of the Aloha Tower Campus and introduced him to four Valor Partners scholarship recipients: Asina, Orianna, Jena, and Nicolas.

The students shared their experiences in seeking financial aid for college. Some had spent many hours applying for outside scholarships, including writing essays and submitting documents– all to no avail, often not receiving a response of any kind from the scholarship organizations. At HPU, students who are eligible for a Valor Partners Foundation scholarship do not have to complete an application. University staff identify all enrolled Dependence Education Assistance (DEA), or Chapter 35, students and utilize the FAFSA to determine those with the greatest unmet financial need. The deserving students chosen for awards were thrilled when they learned of their surprise scholarships.

The VA offers 2 educational benefit programs to dependents of service members. The Post 9/11 GI Bill includes Chapter 33, the John David Fry scholarship, for spouses and children of service members killed in the line of duty. This robust benefit provides for tuition, fees, books, and a living stipend. Chapter 35, or Dependents Education Assistance (DEA), is for spouses and children of 100% disabled or deceased veterans. This Vietnam-era benefit is a monthly stipend paid directly to the student. It’s enough to cover only a small portion of the growing full cost of higher education achievement. For this reason, we hear from school representatives in military and veteran centers across the country that it is the Chapter 35 student who is struggling the most and in need of assistance.

It is the Chapter 35 student who is falling through the cracks.

Valor Partners believes the families of our nation’s heroes deserve better. Not only are we filling a crucial gap for this underserved population of veteran dependents, we are doing so in a way that eliminates the added burdens created by traditional scholarship models. By partnering directly with schools, we strengthen the protective environment for these students and their families, already facing crises levels of poverty, food and housing insecurity, and suicide. They are drawn into a community of peers, mentors, and service providers who enhance their higher education experience and outcomes.

Did you know that Hawaii Pacific is the most diverse college in the United States? There is no racial or ethnic majority, and in-person undergraduate and graduate-level classes are held on seven Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard installations across Oahu, in addition to the Aloha Towers campus and the Sealife Park Research Campus on the windward side of the island.

We are proud to partner with Hawaii Pacific University to support the educational dreams of disabled veterans' spouses and children.

“Your generosity plays a pivotal role in advancing our mission to provide quality education and empower future leaders. 

Through this scholarship, specifically designed to meet the needs of students who are DEA qualified, you help ease the financial burdens faced by family members of veterans. These deserving students, often impacted by the sacrifices of their loved ones, are given the opportunity to pursue higher education and fulfill their academic and career aspirations with confidence.

Your commitment goes beyond financial support—it serves as a testament to the enduring value of service and sacrifice. For these students, who often face unique personal and financial challenges, your scholarship provides not only financial relief but also a profound sense of belonging and encouragement. Your support empowers them to focus on their studies, engage fully in campus life, and strive for excellence in academics.”

-Maureen C. Silva, Ph.D.