USA Scholarships
Big Blue and White K Scholarship 2027 - Pauahi
The Floro and McCarthy Family Big Blue and White K Scholarship supports students who plan to serve in the military or build careers in medicine and healthcare. Pauahi Foundation lists two awards each cycle for residents of Hawaiʻi and the continental United States enrolled at accredited postsecondary institutions. You can pursue nursing, dental science, healthcare administration, pharmacy, emergency medical technology, radiology, or related health programs at a four-year university or a technical or community college. Half-time and full-time enrollment both qualify, and you need at least a 2.5 GPA. Veterans and military family members receive special consideration, and Pauahi policy gives preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. For the 2027-2028 academic year, expect the portal to open October 1, 2026 with a mid-December close matching recent Pauahi cycles.
What is the Floro and McCarthy Family Big Blue and White K Scholarship?
The Big Blue and White K name comes from the Floro and McCarthy ʻohana, and Pauahi Foundation channels their gift toward students who see the military or a white-coat career as the next step after high school. You do not have to live in Honolulu to qualify. The listing is open to residents across Hawaiʻi and the continental United States as long as your college is accredited and your major or service plan fits the fund.
Two awards go out each cycle, which makes this one slightly less lonely than single-recipient Pauahi funds. Reviewers still expect a clear story: ROTC interest, nursing clinical hours, EMS certification, or a community college radiology program all count if you connect them honestly in your essays. A 2.5 GPA is enough to enter the pool, but competitive files usually show steady grades plus service that matches the healthcare or military theme.
Half-time enrollment is a real differentiator here. If you are working while studying nursing or completing a pharmacy technician certificate, you can still apply where other scholarships would shut the door. Stack this fund with other Pauahi selections in one portal submission, watch for the October 1 opening, and plan on a mid-December finish line unless Pauahi posts new dates for 2027-2028.
Eligibility
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✓U.S. resident at accredited postsecondary schoolYou must live in the United States and attend an accredited college, university, or health science program. Pauahi opens this fund to applicants in Hawaiʻi and on the continental U.S., not only Hawaiʻi campuses.
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✓Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPAMaintain at least a 2.5 GPA on your transcript when you apply. Higher grades help your file, but the listing sets 2.5 as the floor.
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✓Military service, medicine, or healthcare focusYour plan must connect to military service or to certification or degrees in medicine and healthcare, including nursing, dental health, healthcare administration, pharmacy, emergency medical fields, radiology, or direct patient care programs.
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✓Half-time or full-time enrollmentUnlike many Pauahi funds that require full-time status, this scholarship explicitly allows classified half-time students as well as full-time undergraduates and graduate students.
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✓Community service or extracurricular involvementPauahi expects participation in community service or meaningful extracurricular activities. Your application essays and activity list should show sustained involvement, not a single event.
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✓Pauahi Foundation applicationSelect the Floro and McCarthy Family Big Blue and White K Scholarship inside the online Pauahi postsecondary application and complete every shared requirement for the 2027-2028 cycle.
Benefits
- Number of awards Two scholarships listed each cycle
- Award amount Varies with fund income; set at notification
- Enrollment flexibility Half-time or full-time classified status
- Eligible programs Healthcare degrees and health science certificates
- Combined Pauahi applications Select multiple Pauahi funds in one portal cycle
- Guaranteed full tuition Partial fund; amount depends on endowment payout
- Graduate eligibility Graduate students in qualifying healthcare fields may apply
- Military pathway Students planning military service may apply at any level
- Renewability Reapply in future Pauahi cycles; not automatic
- Part-time below half-time Less than half-time enrollment does not qualify
Document checklist
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✓Pauahi Foundation online applicationApply through the Pauahi postsecondary portal when it opens October 1, 2026. Add the Big Blue and White K fund to your selected scholarships before you submit.
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✓Official or unofficial transcriptUpload current academic records showing your GPA, enrollment status, and progress toward a healthcare, military-related, or general postsecondary goal.
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✓Personal statement essayComplete essay prompts in the unified application, explaining your military or healthcare career path and how community service shapes your plans.
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✓Extracurricular and community service listDocument activities in the format Pauahi requests so reviewers can see leadership and service outside the classroom.
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✓Supplemental materials if requestedSome Pauahi funds ask for extra letters, portfolios, or financial forms. Upload anything your dashboard flags for this fund or for need-based awards you stack in the same cycle.
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✓High school senior letter (Kamehameha only)Current Kamehameha Schools seniors are the only applicants who must supply a letter of recommendation through Pauahi's system; other postsecondary students follow the live checklist.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Floro and McCarthy Big Blue and White K Scholarship?
It is a Pauahi Foundation fund that awards two scholarships per cycle to U.S. students interested in military service or careers in medicine and healthcare. The Floro and McCarthy family established the fund to support post-high school education across accredited programs nationwide.
How much is the Big Blue and White K Scholarship?
Pauahi does not publish a fixed dollar amount in the public listing. Award size depends on fund income and your application strength. Treat it as partial funding toward tuition and related costs rather than a full ride.
When is the Big Blue and White K Scholarship deadline?
For the 2027-2028 academic year, the Pauahi portal opens October 1, 2026. BigFuture and CareerOneStop list December 15 as the close date for recent cycles; confirm the exact timestamp on pauahi.org when the application goes live.
Can half-time students apply for the Big Blue and White K Scholarship?
Yes. The Pauahi listing explicitly allows half-time enrollment, which is unusual among postsecondary funds. You still must be a classified student in an eligible healthcare or military-related path at an accredited institution.
Do veterans get preference for the Big Blue and White K Scholarship?
Yes. Pauahi gives special consideration to veterans and to family members of military service members, alongside its policy of preferring applicants of Hawaiian ancestry where the law allows.
What healthcare majors qualify for the Big Blue and White K Scholarship?
Examples include nursing, dental science, healthcare administration, pharmacy, emergency medical technology, radiology, and other direct patient care or health science programs at four-year colleges or technical and community colleges.
Can graduate students apply for the Big Blue and White K Scholarship?
Yes. The listing includes graduate students as well as undergraduates, provided you meet the GPA, enrollment, and military or healthcare focus requirements.
Can I apply for other Pauahi scholarships with the same application?
Yes. Pauahi encourages you to select every fund you qualify for within one postsecondary application. Upload documents that satisfy the strictest requirement among your chosen scholarships.
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