<body><div><p>HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A University of Hawaii scholarship created in memory of a student born with a rare condition is running out of money. His family is making a public plea to keep helping students with disabilities get a degree.</p><p>The family of Kal Warrington Silvert was notified that the scholarship fund is down to about $500.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2xAl3n_1GqauhLL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2xAl3n_1GqauhLL00" width="1300" height="868" ><figcaption>Kal Warrington Silvert (Warrington Silvert family)</figcaption></figure><p>It is not unusual for scholarships to be depleted after helping students. When that happens, the University of Hawaii Foundation, which manages the scholarships, reaches out to families hoping for a funding push.</p><h2>The student behind the scholarship</h2><p>Kal was born with spinal muscular atrophy type II. He was never able to walk and used a motorized wheelchair.</p><p>While his body had limits, his mind did not. He graduated from Iolani School in 2007 and attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He died in 2012 at age 23, during his senior year.</p><p>His family started the scholarship to help other college students with special needs.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2oTmT6_1GqauhLL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2oTmT6_1GqauhLL00" width="1300" height="937" ><figcaption>Kal Warrington Silvert (Warrington Silvert family)</figcaption></figure><h2>Helping students with disabilities</h2><p>Margot Schrire of the University of Hawaii Foundation said the scholarship helps people with disabilities as defined by the Kokua program at UH Manoa.</p><p>“It really kind of touches your heart,” Schrire said. “To date we have had 11 awards, and six students have benefited greatly from this. About $33,000 has already gone out to the students” in less than a decade.</p><p>Che Silvert, Kal’s brother, said his parents receive letters from recipients who benefited from the scholarship money, some for multiple semesters.</p><p>“They’re always very grateful,” he said. “They’re all local, so they’re paying in-state tuition.”</p><p>Silvert said while $2,000 to $4,000 doesn’t sound like a lot, it can help cover a significant portion of a semester’s tuition, “and it helps them stay in school.”</p><p>“My parents helped me a little bit through college, but I still struggled,” he said. “I lived paycheck to paycheck and trying to pay rent and trying to pay your tuition” so he knows that every bit helps.</p><h2>The impact of Kal’s law</h2><p>Che Silvert championed a bill that became “Kal’s law” in 2019.</p><p>The law allows people with disabilities to keep their Medicaid insurance while working, even if they earn more than the income-based program previously permitted. </p><p>It is a way for people with serious health issues to pursue financial independence without fear of losing the coverage they depend on.</p><p>To help keep Kal’s scholarship fund going, click here for the UH Foundation’s website.</p></div></body>

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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A University of Hawaii scholarship created in memory of a student born with a rare condition is running out of money. His family is making a public plea to keep helping students with disabilities get a degree. The family of Kal Warrington Silvert was notified that the...

UH scholarship helps students with disabilities. Now it needs support

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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A University of Hawaii scholarship created in memory of a student born with a rare condition is running out of money. His family

UH scholarship helps students with disabilities. Now it needs support

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