Name: SGT Melissa
Reiko Heffner “Melika”
Semester/Year Started at WCC: Summer 2010
Semester/Year Started in TRiO SSS: Summer 2010
Expected to Graduate: 11 May 2013 / Spring 2013
My college career started in the summer of 2010, exactly 4 months after I lost my job as a Network Specialist at a financial institution due to the recession. In 2010, I re-enlisted with the Hawaii Army National Guard and enrolled at Windward Community College to get back on my two feet. Being employed part-time and going to college full time seemed to fit hand in hand. This gave me hope for a better future for me and my 8 year old son. My math professor Ms. Jody Storm announced that tutoring was available at TRIO if we were first generation college students. I was honestly excited that such a program existed; I went to TRIO right after math class and signed up. Along this journey, I have met quite a few combat veterans to include SGT Kelly Tyznik (Soldier HIARNG) a fellow Hawaiian Language student, and SGT Isaac Yuen (USMC) my chemistry partner. Yuen has since graduated from WCC. We’ve both received A’s in Chemistry, English and Math. Receiving grades like these really brighten up your life and gives you something to look forward to. TRIO not only helps traditional college students but veterans and non-traditional students like me. I was 27 when I enrolled at WCC. TRIO makes us feel comfortable attending college no matter what or which walk of life we have traveled. TRIO helps us adjust from a chaotic military environment to a happier, calm, focused, well rounded, healthy and educated lifestyle. TRIO encourages us to stay focused no matter how stressed our lives may become due to family matters or temporary military assignments. Guardsmen are constantly being called away to assist the State of Hawaii not only with APEC but to defend our country in hostile areas as well. Windward Community College is a military friendly institution and TRIO welcomes you back even if you’ve been gone on an assignment for a few months. That way we can get back into the grind of typing research papers and TRIO provides students with tutors, study groups, 3 study areas, free printing, faxing capabilities and access to the internet via their computer lab on campus. I will forever be thankful to have a place to cram for math exams with Russell Uyehara and Christy Lawes.
My sister Kelene Ku’uleialoha Heffner which is 7 years younger than myself is also a TRIO participant and still attending WCC. She’s expected to graduate in 2016. My sister and I still meet at TRIO and partake of the free food that they provide to include authentic Hawaiian food. My sister and I are part-Hawaiian and we have both taken ‘Olelo Hawai’ i courses at WCC to enrich our families knowledge on our own culture. The only way I got thru the course was by meeting up with other Hawaiian language students to wala ‘au (speak) in Hawaiian and ho’opa’a ha’awina (study) at TRIO. They support students that are investing not only their time but their lives to keep our native tongue alive. Our culture will not fade away due to programs such as TRIO SSS at WCC. Nor will the Hawaiian people. Please don’t take away this educational benefit from the people of Hawai’i.
A fellow female combat veteran and Hawaii Army National Guardsman, CPT Tulsi Gabbard has signed a letter of support of the TRIO SSS program at Windward Community College. This is greatly appreciated. Mahalo ma’am!! The TRIO SSS at WCC program has helped my progression within the Hawaii Army National Guard and every college credit is counted at a promotion point to the next rank. WCC has not only helped me with my education but with my 11 year investment of my life in the Hawaii Army National Guard. Education is the key to success and TRIO is there to assist us to reach our goals and to never give up! HOOAH.
Aloha Pumehana,
SGT HEFFNER, MELISSA, REIKO
FORWARD SIGNAL SUPPORT NCOSemester/Year Started at WCC: Summer 2010
Semester/Year Started in TRiO SSS: Summer 2010
Expected to Graduate: 11 May 2013 / Spring 2013
My college career started in the summer of 2010, exactly 4 months after I lost my job as a Network Specialist at a financial institution due to the recession. In 2010, I re-enlisted with the Hawaii Army National Guard and enrolled at Windward Community College to get back on my two feet. Being employed part-time and going to college full time seemed to fit hand in hand. This gave me hope for a better future for me and my 8 year old son. My math professor Ms. Jody Storm announced that tutoring was available at TRIO if we were first generation college students. I was honestly excited that such a program existed; I went to TRIO right after math class and signed up. Along this journey, I have met quite a few combat veterans to include SGT Kelly Tyznik (Soldier HIARNG) a fellow Hawaiian Language student, and SGT Isaac Yuen (USMC) my chemistry partner. Yuen has since graduated from WCC. We’ve both received A’s in Chemistry, English and Math. Receiving grades like these really brighten up your life and gives you something to look forward to. TRIO not only helps traditional college students but veterans and non-traditional students like me. I was 27 when I enrolled at WCC. TRIO makes us feel comfortable attending college no matter what or which walk of life we have traveled. TRIO helps us adjust from a chaotic military environment to a happier, calm, focused, well rounded, healthy and educated lifestyle. TRIO encourages us to stay focused no matter how stressed our lives may become due to family matters or temporary military assignments. Guardsmen are constantly being called away to assist the State of Hawaii not only with APEC but to defend our country in hostile areas as well. Windward Community College is a military friendly institution and TRIO welcomes you back even if you’ve been gone on an assignment for a few months. That way we can get back into the grind of typing research papers and TRIO provides students with tutors, study groups, 3 study areas, free printing, faxing capabilities and access to the internet via their computer lab on campus. I will forever be thankful to have a place to cram for math exams with Russell Uyehara and Christy Lawes.
My sister Kelene Ku’uleialoha Heffner which is 7 years younger than myself is also a TRIO participant and still attending WCC. She’s expected to graduate in 2016. My sister and I still meet at TRIO and partake of the free food that they provide to include authentic Hawaiian food. My sister and I are part-Hawaiian and we have both taken ‘Olelo Hawai’ i courses at WCC to enrich our families knowledge on our own culture. The only way I got thru the course was by meeting up with other Hawaiian language students to wala ‘au (speak) in Hawaiian and ho’opa’a ha’awina (study) at TRIO. They support students that are investing not only their time but their lives to keep our native tongue alive. Our culture will not fade away due to programs such as TRIO SSS at WCC. Nor will the Hawaiian people. Please don’t take away this educational benefit from the people of Hawai’i.
A fellow female combat veteran and Hawaii Army National Guardsman, CPT Tulsi Gabbard has signed a letter of support of the TRIO SSS program at Windward Community College. This is greatly appreciated. Mahalo ma’am!! The TRIO SSS at WCC program has helped my progression within the Hawaii Army National Guard and every college credit is counted at a promotion point to the next rank. WCC has not only helped me with my education but with my 11 year investment of my life in the Hawaii Army National Guard. Education is the key to success and TRIO is there to assist us to reach our goals and to never give up! HOOAH.
Aloha Pumehana,
SGT HEFFNER, MELISSA, REIKO
HHC 29TH INFANTRY BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM, S6
COMBAT VETERAN Operation Iraqi Freedom III
UPDATE as of Spring 2016
Melissa graduated with her AA at the end of the spring 2013 semester.
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