The importance of giving back through community service is an integral part of student life at Island Pacific Academy from the youngest grade (annual IPA Trike-a-thon) to alumni. Students in the secondary division, grades 6-12, have a number of volunteer hours required each year encouraging them to seek out ways to be involved in the community and beyond.
Summer volunteering offers the chance to gain experience and insight on a future career or an opportunity to help at unique events. New alumna Gina Bacal (’15) is continuing her volunteer work over summer at Queen’s Medical Center West O’ahu where she works in the nursing department, intensive care unit and emergency room. Bacal says, “Volunteering in your high school years will give you a great deal of experience and an advantage within the competitive medical community.” She will be attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa this fall.
Several IPA students were on hand for the second annual West Oahu Pet Walk and Summer Fair held in Ewa Beach. Over 500 pet owners and their pet dogs (and some cats) joined in for the fun walk and pet expo; proceeds from the event will support Poi Dogs and Popoki a local animal welfare program. “The walk and fair were terrific this year and for a good cause too,” explained IPA parent Heather Manuel, owner of Tails of Hawaii which was one of the event sponsors and organizers. “At events like this volunteers are essential. Our students were enthusiastic hard workers helping with registration, in the information and activity booths, and even gave dogs baths. I think they enjoyed themselves too!”
IPA students Aleena Alop-Maputi (‘16) and Jessica Sato (‘16) at the West Oahu Pet Walk dog wash station.