The Dr. Niki Libarios #BeKindToAStudent Scholarship was established by the Tinalak Filipino Education Advisory Council in 2019 to honor the memory, professional work, and research of Dr. Niki Libarios, who was one of the co-founders of Tinalak as well as the former Director of the College of Education's Office of Student Academic Services (OSAS).
Prior to taking his position as the director of OSAS, Dr. Libarios served at different points as an academic advisor, a community college counselor, and an elementary school teacher. In addition, his research interests centered on Filipino recruitment, persistence, and community college transfer in higher education. In all of his work, he lived by the motto #BeKindToAStudent. Having been a community college transfer student himself, he believed in the power of kindness and empowerment through education.
Your gift to the Dr. Niki Libarios #BeKindToAStudent Scholarship will assist UHM COE undergraduate and graduate students who are committed to serving Filipino communities and others in Hawaiʻi through education.
