A Leeward Community College student was selected to share his journey with 2,300 attendees at the Achieving the Dream national conference, February 19–22 in Long Beach, California.

Marc Douglas Kahala-Earley was one of eight community college students chosen for the 2019 DREAM Scholars program. Participants attended conference sessions, participated in a plenary panel presentation and toured the city. The program culminated with a presentation by the DREAM Scholars.

Kahala-Earley, the current president of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaiʻi at Leeward CC , wants to help others who are unable to help themselves. As an openly gay man, the 2016 elections sparked a light inside of him to be a voice for the voiceless.

“If I can inspire others to stand up for themselves and if I can do that by standing up for them, then I’m going to do it,” said Kahala-Earley. “It was shortly after the election, I decided that I would go into politics one day and fight for those who can’t fight.”

Kahala-Earley was awarded a $1,000 scholarship by Leeward CC ’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society to help cover his educational expenses. Achieving the Dream covered his hotel costs and Leeward CC covered his travel expenses.

—By Kathleen Cabral