The vision of the Faith C. Ai Memorial Scholarship Fund is
“helping teachers fulfill their quest for
excellence as educators.”
“helping teachers fulfill their quest for
excellence as educators.”
Our goal is to assist those who are or who will become teachers. We want to alleviate some of the financial burdens incurred as a result of their requisite years of study and to enable them to join the community of teachers (hopefully, but not necessarily, in Hawaii.) We hope our “Faith Scholars” will cultivate exceptional skills, knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication to the art of teaching. Ultimately, we hope that, with the knowledge and abilities gained in school and as a result of excellent teachers, their students will become responsible, contributing, thinking, members of their communities and will display a strong work ethic.
Faith C. Ai Memorial Scholarships are available for:
- undergraduates majoring in Education;
- graduate students in any major as long as they intend to teach; and
- certified teachers who are pursuing graduate degrees.
In memory of Faith C. Ai, the Board of Directors of the Faith C. Ai Memorial Scholarship Fund annually awards scholarships of up to $5,000 each to students currently enrolled in an accredited American college or university. The number of scholarships and amount of each scholarship awarded varies from year-to-year.
About Faith C. Ai (1915 to 1997)
Faith, who attended Hawaii's public schools and the University of Hawaii, had a long and distinguished career as a teacher, administrator, and community volunteer. She made significant contributions to public education in Hawaii through her work as an elementary school teacher in Special Education; as the Vice-Principal at two Oahu elementary schools; and from 1964 until her retirement in 1980, as the Principal of Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in Honolulu. During her tenure, the enrollment grew to over 1,000 students. “Lincoln Elementary” developed a reputation for having outstanding teachers, providing superior curricula, and offering enriching extracurricular activities.
Faith was known for her dedication to improving the education available to Hawaii’s youth, and for her concern about the education and welfare of children everywhere. She had a straightforward manner, a sense of humor, and an appreciation for creativity. Faith believed that one is enriched by expanding beyond the confines of one's own language, country, culture, and religion. She enjoyed travelling extensively and maintained that it is the best form of "continuing education" because it develops a sensitivity to other cultures, an appreciation for diversity, and an awareness of global issues.
Faith also believed that we should “give back” to our community; in doing so, we provide important role models and legacies for future generations. After retiring, she devoted herself to community service and became a tireless volunteer in numerous professional and non-profit organizations.
Since Faith's death in 1997, three types of scholarships in her memory have been established. First, we are grateful to Kathleen K. Ai (the beloved stepmother of Faith's daughter, Cynthia), who inspired and helped to fund the initial scholarships. We are also indebted to the Hawaii Education Association staff and its Executive Director, Carol Yoneshige; from 1997 to 2012, their invaluable help made it possible to award the first 40 scholarships to Hawaii undergraduates majoring in Education.
Second, in 2012, Faith’s daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia Ai, Esq. and Ronald L. Embry, M.D. established a Faith C. Ai Endowment at Cynthia's alma mater, the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Seven (7) or more grants are awarded annually to graduate students from the United States, Asia, and Pacific Island Nations who teach or who intend to teach. As of 2019, over 50 of these special scholarships have been awarded.
The Faith C. Ai Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 2013, offers the third types of scholarships to help current and future educators. These scholarships are available for undergraduates majoring in Education; for graduate students in any field, as long as they intend to teach; and for certified educators who are pursuing graduate degrees. The initial funding for these scholarships comes from a generous bequest from Faith's longtime friend, George H. Wong, CPA of San Francisco, California. As of 2019, 49 of these types of scholarships have been awarded.
About George Hu Wong (1921 to 2011)
George was born in China in 1921 and, with his father, immigrated to San Francisco, California, at the age of nine. Despite numerous hardships and poverty, George’s intelligence, excellence in mathematics and sciences, and work ethic were qualities soon recognized by his teachers. He graduated from a high school in San Francisco renown for mathematics and sciences, where he excelled in his studies and also became the editor of the school yearbook. After high school, George was drafted into the U.S. Army. As a soldier in World War II, he served as an interpreter in China, India, and the United States. After receiving an honorable discharge, George enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley, where the "G.I. Bill” provided help with his tuition. While he was a student, he also had several part-time jobs in San Francisco’s Chinatown to support himself and his father.
George became a certified public accountant (CPA) and was the first American of Asian descent to be employed in that capacity by a major international oil company. George specialized in audits and was given assignments abroad which took him to many European countries, where he developed an appreciation for Italian and French cuisines, wines, and opera. He was also fond of smooth cognacs and aromatic cigars.
The Faith C. Ai Memorial Scholarship Fund is the legacy of life-long friendships between George and three generations of women in Hawaii: Mrs. Leen Jun Siu; her daughter, Faith C. Ai; and her grand-daughter, Cynthia Ai. When Cynthia was very young, "Uncle George" served as a babysitter when Faith was taking advanced education courses during summers in San Francisco. For the ensuing 65 years, George and Cynthia maintained a close relationship which came to include Cynthia's husband, Ronald L. Embry, M.D.
Despite a cerebral aneurysm at the age of 52, which resulted in a paralysis of the left side of his body, George continued to work and to enjoy a productive, happy life. For several decades, Ron and Cynthia cared for George and were with him when he peacefully passed away at the age of 90.
George was born in China in 1921 and, with his father, immigrated to San Francisco, California, at the age of nine. Despite numerous hardships and poverty, George’s intelligence, excellence in mathematics and sciences, and work ethic were qualities soon recognized by his teachers. He graduated from a high school in San Francisco renown for mathematics and sciences, where he excelled in his studies and also became the editor of the school yearbook. After high school, George was drafted into the U.S. Army. As a soldier in World War II, he served as an interpreter in China, India, and the United States. After receiving an honorable discharge, George enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley, where the "G.I. Bill” provided help with his tuition. While he was a student, he also had several part-time jobs in San Francisco’s Chinatown to support himself and his father.
George became a certified public accountant (CPA) and was the first American of Asian descent to be employed in that capacity by a major international oil company. George specialized in audits and was given assignments abroad which took him to many European countries, where he developed an appreciation for Italian and French cuisines, wines, and opera. He was also fond of smooth cognacs and aromatic cigars.
The Faith C. Ai Memorial Scholarship Fund is the legacy of life-long friendships between George and three generations of women in Hawaii: Mrs. Leen Jun Siu; her daughter, Faith C. Ai; and her grand-daughter, Cynthia Ai. When Cynthia was very young, "Uncle George" served as a babysitter when Faith was taking advanced education courses during summers in San Francisco. For the ensuing 65 years, George and Cynthia maintained a close relationship which came to include Cynthia's husband, Ronald L. Embry, M.D.
Despite a cerebral aneurysm at the age of 52, which resulted in a paralysis of the left side of his body, George continued to work and to enjoy a productive, happy life. For several decades, Ron and Cynthia cared for George and were with him when he peacefully passed away at the age of 90.