Busy Is Just Fine For SHA’s Garcia

For Sacred Hearts Academy (SHA) senior Megan Garcia, too much is never enough.

Right now, for instance, she’s prepping for her role as Vivienne Kensington in Saint Louis School’s production of Legally Blonde Jr., rehearsing the part of Swanilda for the ballet Coppelia, and taking three kinds of dance (hula, hip-hop and jazz) at Na Maka O Pu‘uwai Aloha.

2015 DYW Contestants

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Megan Garcia has many school and personal extracurricular activities.

That impressive list does not include her involvement in SHA’s Living in Faith Experience Team, National Honor Society, Advanced Dance or Select Choir.

So it’s no surprise that she also was third runner-up in February’s 2015 Distinguished Young Women of Hawaii Scholarship Program competition, walking away with a $1,500 cash scholarship and a $12,500 tuition scholarship from Hawaii Pacific University.

“Placing was such a blessing to me because there are so many talented, intelligent and beautiful ladies who also were part of the program,” said Garcia, a Waipahu resident.

In the competition, she participated in a 10-minute interview with judges, learned a 7-minute fitness routine and performed in both self-expression and talent categories, where Garcia choreographed a dance to Dear Mr. President by P!nk.

“This experience was a lot of work, but it was all worth it,” Garcia said.

She’s especially thankful for the scholarship money she earned, as it will help alleviate the financial burden on her parents. She’s hoping to study elementary education and dance at either Loyola Marymount University or San Diego State University.

Garcia said part of the reason she pursued the DYW scholarship was because she saw it as a way to “take pride in my leadership, talent and academic diligence.”

It’s a sentiment she hopes more young women act upon.

“They should challenge themselves academically and physically, and take up as many leadership opportunities as they can, while doing everything with enthusiasm,” she advised. “They will be able to become the best person they can be while knowing that all of this hard work will pay off as their success begins to shine.”

For more information on DYW of Hawaii, visit distinguishedyw.org.