USA Scholarships
Francis and Phyllis Chun Scholarship 2027 - Pauahi
The Francis and Phyllis Chun Scholarship honors a family commitment to STEM education through the Pauahi Foundation. One award is listed each cycle for classified full-time undergraduates earning a bachelor's degree in science, technology, engineering, or math at an accredited U.S. institution. You may live and study anywhere in the country; the fund is not limited to Hawaiʻi schools. Applicants need at least a 3.0 GPA and should show strong academics plus community service or extracurricular leadership. BigFuture lists the scholarship as merit-based rather than need-based, though you may still upload FAFSA summaries if you apply to other Pauahi funds in the same cycle. Pauahi gives preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. For 2027-2028, plan on an October 1, 2026 portal opening and a mid-December application close.
What is the Francis and Phyllis Chun Scholarship?
Francis and Phyllis Chun wanted STEM undergraduates to have a Pauahi-backed boost whether they study in Mānoa or Michigan. The fund names one recipient per cycle, so your file competes on merit: a 3.0 GPA minimum, full-time enrollment, and a bachelor's path in science, technology, engineering, or math. Need-based scoring is not the headline here, though many applicants still bundle this fund with other Pauahi awards in the same portal.
Nationwide eligibility is the feature people miss. Pauahi's public listing says plainly that state residency and campus location do not matter. What matters is that you are a classified full-time undergraduate at an accredited U.S. school and that your major fits STEM as Pauahi defines it. Engineering, computer science, biology, mathematics, and allied fields all belong in that bucket if your transcript and essay prove the focus.
Community service still shows up in the requirements. Pauahi wants extracurricular depth, not just lab grades. Robotics captain, math tutoring, conservation projects, or hospital volunteer shifts all give reviewers context. Pauahi may prefer applicants of Hawaiian ancestry where the law allows, but the listing stays open to qualifying residents everywhere. Mark October 1, 2026 on your calendar, aim for a mid-December submission, and treat the single award slot as a reason to polish your STEM story early.
Eligibility
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✓Classified full-time undergraduateYou must be enrolled full time as a classified undergraduate in a degree-seeking program at an accredited postsecondary institution in the United States.
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✓STEM major or degree pathYour studies must focus on science, technology, engineering, or math fields eligible under Pauahi's listing, from engineering and computer science to biology, mathematics, and related applied sciences.
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✓Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPAMaintain at least a 3.0 GPA on the transcript you upload. The Chun fund targets students with strong academic standing rather than open enrollment.
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✓U.S. residencyApplicants must be residents of the United States. The scholarship is open regardless of which state you live in or where your campus is located.
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✓Community service or extracurricular activitiesDemonstrate involvement outside class through volunteer work, clubs, research, internships, or leadership roles that your personal statement and activity list can describe concretely.
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✓Pauahi Foundation applicationSelect the Francis and Phyllis Chun Scholarship in the online Pauahi postsecondary application and satisfy every requirement for the 2027-2028 cycle.
Benefits
- Number of awards One scholarship per cycle
- Award amount Varies with fund income; merit-based
- Eligible expenses Postsecondary costs per Pauahi disbursement rules
- Geographic scope Any accredited U.S. campus
- Combined Pauahi applications Apply to multiple Pauahi funds in one cycle
- Graduate tuition Undergraduate STEM bachelor's only
- Part-time enrollment Full-time classified status required
Document checklist
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✓Pauahi Foundation online applicationComplete the unified postsecondary application on pauahi.org when the 2027-2028 cycle opens October 1, 2026, and add the Chun scholarship to your fund selections.
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✓Official or unofficial transcriptUpload a transcript with final grades for completed terms so reviewers can verify your 3.0 GPA and full-time STEM enrollment.
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✓Personal statement essayAnswer Pauahi essay prompts with a focused story about your STEM goals, academic record, and how you serve your community.
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✓Extracurricular and community service listProvide the structured activity list Pauahi requests, highlighting STEM projects, tutoring, robotics, research labs, or related leadership.
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✓Supplemental documents if requiredUpload letters of recommendation, FAFSA summaries, or portfolios only if you also apply to funds that require them or if your dashboard lists them for the Chun selection.
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✓Kamehameha senior recommendationCurrent Kamehameha Schools high school seniors are the only group that must submit a recommender letter through Pauahi; continuing college students follow the standard checklist.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Francis and Phyllis Chun Scholarship?
It is a Pauahi Foundation merit scholarship established by the Chun family to support one full-time undergraduate each cycle who is pursuing a STEM bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 GPA at an accredited U.S. college.
How much is the Francis and Phyllis Chun Scholarship?
Pauahi and BigFuture list the amount as variable. The final figure depends on fund income and committee decisions. Plan on partial support toward tuition and related costs.
When is the Francis and Phyllis Chun Scholarship deadline?
Expect the 2027-2028 Pauahi portal to open October 1, 2026 and close around December 15, 2026 based on recent cycles. Always confirm the live date on pauahi.org.
Do I need to attend college in Hawaiʻi for the Chun Scholarship?
No. The listing states explicitly that applicants may live and study anywhere in the United States. Residency in Hawaiʻi is not required.
Is the Francis and Phyllis Chun Scholarship need-based?
BigFuture classifies it as merit-based. Strong grades and STEM focus drive selection, though you may still supply financial documents if you apply to need-based Pauahi funds in the same application.
What GPA do I need for the Chun Scholarship?
You need a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on the transcript you submit. Higher achievement helps in a one-award fund, but 3.0 is the published threshold.
Can graduate students apply for the Francis and Phyllis Chun Scholarship?
No. The fund is limited to classified full-time undergraduates working toward a bachelor's degree in a STEM field.
Can I apply for other Pauahi scholarships with the Chun application?
Yes. Pauahi allows multiple fund selections in one postsecondary cycle. Choose every scholarship you meet and upload documents that satisfy the strictest criteria among them.
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