In an effort to better prepare incoming freshman for their college experience, the BYU–Hawaii Admissions office has initiated a new program called Holomua. “We decided to provide this program so we can better work with students on a personal level on our campus,” says Assistant Director of Admissions Asai Gilman. The program gives high school juniors the chance to experience university life while preparing for entrance exams and enjoying the beauty of the campus for a week during the summer.
The idea for Holomua began about ten years ago but has not been a reality until now. “The question was funding, but President Wheelwright was able to provide some support and graciously accepted the responsibility to find funding for the program,” says Gilman. The program has a capacity of 100 students for this year, a number that Gilman anticipates reaching quickly. Information regarding the program has been relayed to seminary and institute teachers across Hawaii and is expected to be popular among high school students from the islands, but Gilman was also pleasantly surprised to see a strong interest in the program from students from the U.S. mainland.
The curriculum for Holomua was influenced by a similar program at BYU (Provo) called SOAR, and the agenda includes ACT test preparation, financial aid workshops, team building activities, and more. To qualify for this first session, students must be juniors in high school (graduating in 2012) and have a 2.8 or higher cumulative GPA. Interested students may register at admissions.byuh.edu/holomua. The cost is $130 and covers all meals, lodging, and activities for five days from June 6-10, 2011.