Our Fellows
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“When Food Vault Hawaii first launched I became intrigued with its mission as it aligned with my beliefs to serve others. Food insecurity is a major issue within Hawaii as cost of living skyrockets and raises concerns to provide for ourselves and our loved ones. As I learned more about the pantry, my desire to help became stronger as the food insecurity crisis needed to be addressed”
Major: Finance and International Business
Organization & Position: Former Fellow, Food Vault Hawai‘i
What did you learn/are you learning as an FVH Fellow? How did or might the FVH Fellowship opportunity help prepare students for the future (graduate school and/or career)
“Serving as a Fellow allowed me to learn many important skills that has transcended to my current career and everyday life. Working at Food Vault Hawaii ignited an entrepreneurial spirit within that I never knew of. During my fellowship, I oversaw daily operations and learnt of ways to run a successful pantry which involved becoming a social media marketer, stocker, cashier, and cultivating my customer service and data analysis skillsets. There are many valuable lessons and skills gained from my fellowship that I will always be grateful for. The Food Vault Hawaii Fellowship opportunity is advantageous in helping students prepare for the future by providing invaluable skills in learning how to manage business operations, analyze data metrics, initiating improvements towards processes, and developing customer service skills.”
Brenda Ly
Honolulu, HI
“As a dietetics student, I wanted to improve the quality of diets in students by providing a variety of options offered at the vault. Ultimately, the goal of FVH is to address food insecurity by providing food and toiletry items for students. As a fellow, it is very rewarding to know that my work has a direct impact on other people’s lives.”
Major: Dietetics, Psychology minor
Organization & Position: Fellow, Food Vault Hawai‘i
Why did you decide to become a Fellow at FVH?
“I started volunteering at FVH my freshman year at the recommendation of a friend who was a fellow at FVH at that time. Also, when I started as a volunteer, I was a food science and human nutrition major and naturally was interested in what Food Vault Hawaiʻi had to offer. After a few years of volunteering at the vault, I applied to become a fellow because I enjoyed working there and wanted to continue helping fellow students.”
Athena Apalis
Pleasanton, CA
“I hoped to address student food insecurity, as well as any way I could help to branch out to the community at large. I think we did accomplish that, from getting the pantry up and running, to even working on food drops that benefit more than just the student body.”
Major: Hawaiian Studies: Mālama ʻĀina
Organization & Position: Former Fellow, Food Vault Hawai‘i
What did you learn/are you learning as an FVH Fellow? How did or might the FVH Fellowship opportunity help prepare students for the future (graduate school and/or career)?
“I have since been a food pantry coordinator with a Hilltop Food Pantry in Indiana. I certainly have much to learn, but the experience of being a FVH introduced me into the community of addressing food insecurity and providing community relief.”
Alexandria Osborne
Saint Joseph, MI
“I learned specific gardening techniques (e.g. soil mediums/amendments, fertilizer applications, tillage, seed germination, etc.) that I can use in both my personal and professional life.”
Major: Natural Resources and Environmental Management
Organization & Position: Garden Fellow, Food Vault Hawai‘i
What did you hope to accomplish in this role? Did you accomplish it?
“I hope to gain knowledge on how to grow food and using that skill to eventually feed people.”
Valentine Santarone III
Hilo, HI