Grace Pacific Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Outstanding Keiki Program
60 students honored for making a positive difference in their community
KAPOLEI, O‘AHU – Grace Pacific, Hawaiʻi’s largest vertically-integrated materials and paving contractor, celebrated 25 years of their Outstanding Keiki program on Saturday. Grace Pacific welcomed 60 fifth-grade students who were named Outstanding Keiki this year, their families and teachers to the event at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, where they participated in activities and received their award certificates.
Since its inception in 1997, the Outstanding Keiki program has honored keiki that are making a positive difference in their communities. Participating school administrators, counselors and teachers select fifth-grade students who have displayed the characteristics of good citizenship, academic excellence, leadership skills and community service.
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"We believe in the unlimited potential of the youth in our West Oʻahu community,” said Jerrod Schreck, president of Grace Pacific. “As we recognize this milestone anniversary, we are recommitting ourselves to investing in their future and encouraging them to continue to learn, grow and thrive. Showing leadership at a young age, these keiki will guide us toward a brighter tomorrow for our community and our island home.”
Grace Pacific hosted fifth-grade students from Kapolei, Makakilo, Mauka Lani, Barbers Point and Ho'okele Elementary Schools for a day full of activities, including games, field activities and art. In the afternoon, the recipients and their families and teachers gathered for a certificate presentation to honor their accomplishments.
Upon graduation from high school, the awardees become eligible to apply for a Grace Pacific Outstanding Keiki Scholars Fund scholarship to pursue higher education. Caitlyn Estanique, a former Outstanding Keiki, was awarded four years of scholarship support to pursue her bachelor’s degree in forensic science from Chaminade University before earning her master’s degree in forensic science from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. After completing her education, she returned to Hawaiʻi, where she serves as a criminalist at the Honolulu Police Department.
"Being an Outstanding Keiki has helped me build a future for myself because I was able to go to college, and going to college has helped me be where I am today,” Caitlyn Estanique said. “It really helps the families and the children pave a path for their future. I was able to learn new skills, and I also have a lot more opportunities in front of me.”
Since 2006, Grace Pacific has awarded $280,000 in college scholarships to 89 Leeward Coast youth. Outstanding Keiki Scholars have received degrees in finance, law, science and medical fields.
To learn more about Grace Pacific and the Outstanding Keiki program, please visit www.gracepacific.com.
About Grace Pacific
Grace Pacific LLC is Hawaii's largest vertically integrated materials and paving contractor, with operations on Oahu, Hawaii, Maui & Kauai. Grace Pacific owns quarries, asphalt mixing plants, a road paving and maintenance business, a structures and utilities division, and a specialty construction group that specializes in guardrails, road signs and traffic barriers.
Grace Pacific has been serving Hawaii since the 1930s by enhancing airport runways and taxiways, harbor wharves and container yards, interstate freeways, highways, bridges, roadways, bike paths, tennis courts, driveways, and parking lots across the state.
