{"id":20099,"date":"2026-05-20T11:15:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T21:15:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/?p=20099"},"modified":"2026-05-20T15:19:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T01:19:57","slug":"2026-hidoe-graduation-highlight-seven-lana%ca%bbi-high-seniors-to-graduate-with-associate-degrees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/zh_tw\/2026-hidoe-graduation-highlight-seven-lana%ca%bbi-high-seniors-to-graduate-with-associate-degrees\/","title":{"rendered":"HIDOE Graduation Highlight: L\u0101na\u02bbi High celebrates new record number of seniors graduating with associate degrees"},"content":{"rendered":"

The seven L\u0101na\u02bbi High School seniors graduating with both a high school and college diploma (from left to right): Kimora Agliam, Hannah Mae Lee, Myah Doolin, Kelly Raqueno, Jake Ropa, Spencer Chew and Micah Kahihikolo. Photo credit: Talia Agliam<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A record number of seniors at L\u0101na\u2018i High & Elementary School are graduating this year with both a high school diploma and an associate degree from the University of Hawai\u02bbi Maui College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This is a landmark moment for L\u0101na\u02bbi High and Elementary School. Seeing seven of our 48 seniors earn their associate degrees from UH Maui College is a win for these students and for our entire community,\u201d LHES Principal Douglas Boyer said. \u201cThese seven have proven that geography is no barrier to academic excellence. My hope is that our younger students look at their tenacity as the true meaning of being a TORCHbearer.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of LHES seniors earning their associate degrees while in high school has been steadily growing over the past decade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have been building the college-going culture here at the school over the last 10 years,\u201c LHES Vice Principal Michele Holsomback said. \u201cNow, students and parents filling out the FAFSA form is becoming routine. Students have their post-high school plans, whether it is college, work, military or trade school.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dual enrollment program began at L\u0101na\u02bbi High 10 years ago with support from P\u016blama L\u0101na\u02bbi and UHMC\u2019s on-island annex, the L\u0101na\u02bbi Education Center<\/a> (LEC). Between 2021 and 2025, a total of seven students graduated with their Associate of Arts degree. The Class of 2026 matched that four-year count in a single year and the Class of 2027 is on track to repeat that feat. Momentum is growing \u2014 15 incoming freshmen will begin their degree journey this summer. LEC offers L\u0101na\u02bbi students advanced educational opportunities to further their college and aspirational career goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie Ropa, satellite manager for LEC and a parent of one of the graduating seniors, attributes the program’s extensive benefits as a reason for the increased interest. The program offers seamless, viable credits at the university level at a third of the price, saving families two years of time and tuition while exposing students to college-level academics. Another byproduct of the cohort is the tight bond the students create with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Classmates, friends and now dual high school and college diploma earners.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese students have been together since preschool and elementary school and the parents know and trust each other. The biggest thing has been hosting their distance learning at LEC. They challenge and push each other,\u201d Ropa said. \u201cIn a rural community, families talk. I see a bright future ahead with students wanting access to the pre-college pipeline.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a small town like L\u0101na\u02bbi City, these students are teammates on the field, study partners in the library and classmates for life. Their dual credit pathway inspires younger students, showing them that earning a college degree while still in high school is both an exceptional and attainable goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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