Scholar Spotlight: Kai DiBona
Lopez scholarship winner changes plans but keeps scholarship Originally published in The Islands’ Weekly on January 21, 2025 1:30 am “Change” is the word to describe the career path of Kai DiBona, a 2021 award recipient of the Lopez Island Community Scholarship Foundation. Originally, Kai began her educational path with a goal of attending Western Washington University for a four-year accounting degree. Kai’s scholarship application was strengthened by the letter of support from Katie Fleming of San Juan County Environmental Stewardship Department which acknowledged Kai’s “enthusiasm for acquiring new information, participating in new experiences and applying your learning to real world situations, making a difference.” Leaving the supportive island environment and opportunities, however, and moving into the larger world left Kai confused and frustrated. After two years at Western, she was able to take a break, doing a lot of hiking and reviving to her handicraft hobbies of knitting and crocheting. Kai says moving her body and working with her hands helped her to realize her love of building a career using her hands creatively. With her mom’s support and encouragement, she enrolled in the Evergreen Beauty College. Kai at work, with fellow beauty college student Janise Rands Given this sharp shift in career plans, Kai was concerned the LICSF might not wish to support her financially. In the summer of 2024, Kai submitted a letter expressing her appreciation for LICSF support and wondering if the Board would still back her. Board member Debby Hatch investigated Evergreen Beauty College’s mission learning that “Each member of the Trieu family (owners of EBC) cares deeply about the lives of their students. This same sense of care is infused throughout every aspect of the Evergreen culture. And it’s a difference you’ll feel.” For Kai, this difference matters, because of the Asian heritage she shares with the Trieus. One-year-old Kai had been brought to Lopez from China in 2004 by Patt Moore and Alan DiBona. Attending this beauty college owned and operated by Asians allows Kai to be the type of hairstylist she never found on Lopez. “Growing up, it was difficult for me to find a person to cut my hair the way I wanted,” she said. “One of my goals is to be able to learn as much as I can about other hair types so I can service all different hair types and people.” Not only did the LICSF Board enthusiastically approve Kai’s new direction in attending this award-winning certified program, but its members are also extremely pleased to support the personal growth and change this young woman has undertaken.
Scholar Spotlight: Abril Velazco
Where Are They Now? Abril Velazco Finds Community at Bellingham Tech By Gretchen Wing As part of its “Where are they now?” series, the Lopez Island Community Scholarship Foundation (LICSF) caught up with 2025 scholarship recipient Abril Velazco. Abril was the sole recipient of the CTE (Career and Technical Education) award last year, bound for two years at Bellingham Technical College to study nursing. Being at Bellingham Tech compared to Lopez was “scary at first,” Abril said. On her first day of class, she got lost. “The BTC campus isn’t that big, but coming from Lopez Island High School, it was really big to me in the moment! I walked around for about 15 minutes and ended up needing to ask for help because I was late…only to find out I had already passed the classroom twice.” Pretty embarrassing, Abril admits, “but it’s funny to look back on now.” Abril relaxing during her off time. Once inside classrooms with “20 people or so,” Abril found herself on more familiar ground, “excited about interacting with new people and making friends.” Now, with two quarters under her belt, Abril said her college experience has “gone better than I ever could have imagined.” While she has enjoyed all her classes, a favorite has been an interactive course, Interpersonal Communication, involving lots of public speaking and group work. Said Abril, “I think I particularly enjoyed it so much because I already had the necessary skills, and I owe that to my past English teachers, Mr. Carter and Mr. Tetu. They both helped me build the confidence that I didn’t always have, which now allows me to present confidently in a room full of people. This was something I struggled with in the beginning of high school, but they helped me build those skills overtime and were always there to provide support and help me improve.”The first in her family to attend college, Abril said she had no set expectations, but just hoped everything would go smoothly. Her biggest surprise at BTC has been the supportiveness of the professors, although she expects that might be due to her choice of community college. “I’m in a smaller setting, where they can provide more support. At a big university, with so many students in one room, it’s harder to get that one-on-one time with your professor.” When not in class or studying, Abril works as a Home Care Aide through a private agency, a job she started just after Thanksgiving, and which she loves. “It is so rewarding to help older adults, and know that I am making their life a bit easier by being there to provide care they need.” Besides supporting her, Abril appreciates that professional caregiving will also give her lots of valuable experience before she starts her nursing program. Abril’s attraction to nursing was born of her heritage and her own family. “Only ten percent of registered nurses are Latina,” she said. “I want to represent my community, and help other Hispanic patients whose first language isn’t English to understand what’s going on with their health.” Having needed to serve as translator at her mother to appointments only strengthened this pull, Abril said: “This was the main reason I was inspired to become a registered nurse, to be there to help and care for those with similar struggles like my mom.” For the remainder of the year, Abril looks forward to finishing off her first year of college “strong,” completing her required credits for that next step: application to the Nursing Program. Even half a year in, though, her responses exude a sense of accomplishment: “I have really found a sense of community here, and I feel like I am exactly where I need to be.” To support students like Abril, please click the button below. Support Lopez Scholars