{"id":213856,"date":"2025-04-14T10:48:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T20:48:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=213856"},"modified":"2025-04-16T13:59:09","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T23:59:09","slug":"windward-cc-senior-bash-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/04\/14\/windward-cc-senior-bash-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"High school students groove at Windward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s Senior Bash"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

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More than 350 students enjoyed a free concert by the Last Minute and college exposure at Windward Community College\u2019s 4th annual Senior Bash on April 11.<\/p>\n

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Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg said, “The purpose of today is getting all of our seniors across the entire Windward side in the schools that we serve ready to succeed in college.”<\/p>\n

The students came from Windward area high schools and schools served by Windward CC<\/abbr>, including: Kailua, Kalaheo, Castle, Kahuku, Ke Kula Kalapuni ʻŌ<\/span> Ānuenue, Ke Kula ʻo<\/span> Samuel M. Kamakau, H\u0101lau K\u016b M\u0101n\u0101 and Olomana.<\/p>\n

ʻŌlali<\/span> Wong, a Ke Kula ʻo<\/span> Samuel M. Kamakau senior, is already enrolled at Windward CC<\/abbr> through the Early College program.<\/p>\n

Wong said, “I\u2019m really excited to meet new people to be honest, especially if there\u2019s other students who are going to be continuing at Windward CC<\/abbr>, just to make friends for next year.”<\/p>\n

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The annual Senior Bash is a chance for students to discover Windward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s programs and to feel a sense of belonging to the campus. This year, students also learned that Windward CC<\/abbr> covers the first year of tuition for Windward Oʻahu<\/span> public and charter high school graduating seniors from the Class of 2025. Through a grant from the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation, the Hoʻolei<\/span> Scholarship<\/a> provides that first year of tuition not covered by other financial aid.<\/p>\n

Castle High School senior Dayeisha Tauga described Windward CC<\/abbr> as “right down the road” and has already been accepted.<\/p>\n

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“My family came here,” Tauga said. “I liked learning more about them and free tuition for the first year. It\u2019s just a really good school and it\u2019s a community that kind of reminds me of my family a little bit, so it’s a college that I\u2019m comfortable with.”<\/p>\n

Benjamin Roberts, a senior at Kahuku High School, said, “I didn\u2019t think I was gonna go here, but after coming here, I feel a lot more interested in the program and the school.”<\/p>\n

In February, Windward Community College was honored for its innovative efforts in higher education, earning the 2025 ACE<\/abbr>\/Fidelity Investments Award<\/a> for Institutional Transformation. Presented by the American Council on Education (ACE<\/abbr>), this award honors institutions that have implemented transformative changes to meet the evolving needs of students and their communities.<\/p>\n