Achiever Stories

Living the "Aloha" Spirit. 

The WESTOP Web directory lists her as a field counselor for the University of California Berkeley Upward Bound Program, and Hazel Amina is all that to her high school students who recognize her as  "Hazel from Hawaii."  She is much more to WESTOP, though.  She is a true Native Hawaiian TRiO achiever.

Hazel graduated from the Upward Bound program at University of Hawaii, Manoa in 1993.  With David Kong’s encouragement, she applied for the UC Berkeley Upward Bound Math/Science program between her junior and senior year.

“I was so excited to leave home and try something new,” Hazel admits.  “I wasn’t scared.  I was confident I could excel.”

She returned to the Berkeley program the next summer for their Bridge Program.

“The second summer was harder.  I felt homesick, but Keith [Hori] and Munyiga [Lumumba] were there to support me with their inspirational speeches.”

As an undergraduate at University of Hawaii, Manoa, she entered the Student Support Services program, directed by Melvin Yoshimoto.  She completed her social work degree in 1998.

She returned to the Berkeley program to work in the Upward Bound and Math/Science summer residential program.  Fortunately for the Berkeley programs and WESTOP, a vacancy opened in 1999, and she successfully competed for the permanent position.

Hazel is an active Northern California Chapter and WESTOP committee member.  She was a Co-Chairperson for the National TRiO Day (2001), NorCal Chapter Secretary (2001), and assisted with various committees: National TRiO Day, Professional Development Seminar, Student Leadership Conference, WESTOP Conference, and as a Moderator, Presenter and Volunteer.

Her advice to any TRiO participant who is considering leaving for programs and education far away from home:  “It is a great opportunity to adventure beyond the immediate.  It’s a chance to explore and become your own person.”

A story from her Upward Bound participant days comes from Keith Hori, director of the Berkeley programs: "A very tough, street-wise young man came up to me during the beginning of Hazel’s first summer with the program and said of Hazel, ‘Nobody’s that nice.’  At the end of the program when he was moving out, he said, ‘She really is that nice.’”

Hazel’s educational experience spans three TRiO programs, and through WESTOP, she influences many more programs, new members, and young professionals like herself. ~~~

Read about other achievers Wendy Sanchez, Sunshine Lawson, Jennifer Dyke, Laura Ochoa, and Michael Christiansen.

If you have a story about a participant or staff achiever, send it to Dave Ferguson. The person does not have to be nominated for the WESTOP Achievers Award. He or she is a person, in your eyes, whose story is inspirational. Afterall, if we don't tell the stories of our participants and staff, who will?

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