COURTESY PHOTO
Project Graduation coordinator Judy Giacobello and members of the Sacred Hearts Academy graduating class of 2003 -- Kira O'Connor, Malia Blumhardt, Kristle Akau, Lindsey Mau and Amanda Correia -- along with Project Graduation coordinator George Fernandes present a check for $15,000 for a scholarship endowment fund to Academy Principal Betty White, far right.
Sacred Hearts gets
$15,000 gift from gradsMoney from the Class of 2003
will go toward creating a scholarship
Many senior classes leave a gift to their school like a koa bench or a plaque, but Sacred Hearts Academy's class of 2003 left $15,000 for scholarships -- a school record.
By working a concession stand during football games at Aloha Stadium for three years, 124 girls and their parents earned $40,000 for Project Graduation, an alcohol-free party after graduation, and about $15,000 left over.
"At first, I thought we could give $5,000 for the scholarship, and the rest of the committee just laughed at me," said Judy Giacobello, grandmother and co-chairman of Project Graduation. "Now we just look back to that first meeting and laugh because we did it."
The class earned the money "one hot dog and beer at a time," said Joe Gardwin, senior class adviser.
The students signed up to work shifts at the concession stand during ILH, University of Hawaii and Pro Bowl games for three seasons, selling everything from hot dogs to french fries and beer.
"For a 6 o'clock game, the girls came to work at 1 p.m. and stayed until at least 10 p.m.," said Giacobello. "They had to work just six games to go to Project Graduation for free."
George Fernandes, father and co-chairman of Project Graduation, was impressed with the students' determination. "There were times when girls were crying because of customers, but they hung in there and went back out there with a smile," he said.
Although the class only took home 10 percent of the profits minus shortages and overages, they got tips.
"One night, at a big game, the students earned $300 in tips because people really wanted to help," said Giacobello.
Along with the dedicated students, the class had lots of help from parents.
"It was wonderful. There was a nucleus of parents we could depend on," said Giacobello. "We honestly became an ohana, in every sense of the word."
Some of the parents even gave up UH football season tickets to work at the stadium instead of watching.
"We had one hell of a committee, and these parents are just the best," said Fernandes. "It just shows you how close the parents and girls are."
All the hard work has paid off. The money for Project Graduation was spent on an evening filled with bowling, swimming, magic, massages and karaoke at the Officers Club at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe.
Generosity is not unfamiliar to this class. "In freshman year, the class alone gave as much food as the rest of school combined," said Gardwin. "This class has heart and passion."
Sacred Hearts Academy will not forget the class of 2003. Its scholarship will continue to help Sacred Hearts students further their education.
"I was taken aback with pleasure that the class and their parents would honor Sacred Hearts," said Principal Betty White.
"Maybe down the road, their daughters can benefit from this gift," said Fernandes.
