Lexie Tilton came to University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Hilo from Oʻahu‘s ʻIolani School on a softball scholarship¡ªand somewhere between the diamond and the dean¡¯s list, she found her real fight. This spring 2026, she graduates with a and a , headed to UH¡¯s law school with one clear mission: helping local families afford to stay in Â鶹´«Ã½.
Initially drawn to UH Hilo for the opportunity to play Division II softball on scholarship, Tilton quickly fell in love with the island’s welcoming environment.
“I love the community here. They say this campus is the most diverse in the world, and it has always felt very inviting and supportive, especially for the athletic community,” shared Tilton, UH Hilo¡¯s #4 outfielder and 2025 PacWest Conference Co-Defender of the Year.
The transition from a structured high school to the freedom of a university setting allowed Tilton, who has repeatedly earned recognition for maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher as a student-athlete, to flourish.
Tilton holds great pride in the world-class education she received. She emphasizes the prestige of the , which is accredited by the AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), the highest standard for business schools worldwide.
Tilton reflected on the close-knit but powerful nature of the entire university.
“We¡¯re small, but we¡¯re feisty, and we get it done,” she said.
Tilton shared that her academic trajectory was profoundly shaped by UH Hilo¡¯s dedicated faculty. These academic connections proved vital for Tilton, who is already a licensed real estate agent. Inspired by her mother, a first-generation college graduate and realtor, she has sights set on an incredibly noble goal.
This fall, she will attend the to become a real estate attorney. Her mission is to combat the state¡¯s soaring housing prices.
“We want to be able to empower locals to become homeowners by creating more affordable housing so they¡¯re able to stay here,” Tilton explained, citing sobering statistics of how many Â鶹´«Ã½ natives are forced to move away to make ends meet.
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