Fellows Program

A Fellowship for Hawaii's Future Leaders

The Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders (CTL) Fellows Program is a year-long advanced leadership program to empower future state-level leaders for Hawaii, who are both world-class and local. Fellows cohorts are composed of 20 select high school seniors from both public and private schools, representing the diversity of Hawaii’s communities.

***Applications are now closed***

If you happen to have a current junior in mind and would like to nominate them, please fill out this nomination form.

Through CTL’s rigorous leadership curriculum based on The Leadership Challenge, access to Hawaii’s top corporate, community, and civic leaders, implementation of hands-on community projects addressing Hawaii’s most entrenched issues & more, the CTL Fellows Program trains young leaders to be:

  1. People of Character
  2. Strong Critical Thinkers
  3. Competent Leaders
  4. Caretakers of the Community
  5. Courageous Change-Makers
Application Information

Why Apply?

  • Expand your leadership capacity
  • Make 19 meaningful friendships from students across Hawaii
  • Interview 20+ top Hawaii business, civic, & community leaders
  • Design and implement projects to tackle Hawaii's most pressing issues at an island-wide level
  • After graduation, Fellows join Vanguard -- CTL's premier alumni network
Learn more

Meet the Fellows c/o 2024-2025

Each year, 20 young leaders are selected into the CTL Fellows from local public and private high schools. Visit the directory to view current and past Fellows cohorts.

Fellows Directory

Fellows Program Guest Speakers

Throughout the program, Fellows have the opportunity to interview over 15 of Hawaii's top corporate, civic, and community leaders. Through cross-generational dialogue with current decision-makers, Fellows have the opportunity to imagine Hawaii’s future and identify paths forward for our communities.

Fellows Guest Speakers


We are fortunate to host a wonderful variety of corporate, civic, and community leaders as guest speakers in the Fellows program. Each year, Fellows cohort speak to approximately 20 current leaders.

View Speaker List

  • Bettina Mehnert, President & CEO, Architects Hawaii
  • Bob Harrison, Chairman, President & CEO, First Hawaiian Bank
  • Chris Benjamin, President & CEO, Alexander & Baldwin
  • Colbert Matsumoto, Chairman, Island Holdings
  • Connie Lau, Former President & CEO, Hawaii Electric Industries
  • Creighton Arita, CEO, 'ike Hawaii; Founder, President & CEO, Team Praxis
  • Governor David Ige, Former Governor, State of Hawaii
  • Dennis Francis, CEO, President & Publisher, Oahu Publications, Inc.
  • Elliot Mills, VP of Hotel Operations, Disneyland Resort & Aulani
  • Jay Ana, President, Young Brothers LLC
  • John Leong, Co-Founder & CEO, Kupu; CEO, Pono Pacific Land Management
  • Kelvin Taketa, Former CEO & President, Hawaii Community Foundation
  • Ken Hayashida, President & Principal Structural Engineer, KAI Hawaii
  • Kenji Price, Former US Attorney for the District of Hawaii
  • Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, Hawaii Supreme Court
  • Pat Saiki, Former US Congresswoman, State of Hawaii
  • Peter Ingram, President & CEO, Hawaiian Airlines
  • Randy Roth, Professor Emeritus, UH Richardson School of Law
  • Mark Mugiishi, President & CEO, HMSA
  • Mayor Rick Blangiardi, City & County of Honolulu
  • Rick Ching, Former President & COO, Servco Pacific
  • Ron Taketa, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters
  • Sarah Morihara, President & Managing Director, Colliers Hawaii
  • Senator Ron Kouchi, Senate President, Hawaii State Legislature
  • Scott Seu, President & CEO, Hawaii Electric Industries; Chairman of Hawaiian Electric Company; Chairman of American Savings bank, F.S.B.
  • Su Shin, President & General Manager, Hawaiian Telcom
  • Susan Ballard, Former Chief of Police, Honolulu Police Department

Island-Level Impact

Throughout the Fellows Program, Fellows design and implement projects that have island-level impact. Past projects topics have included sustainability, mental health, civic engagement, mentorship, police-community relations, and more. Through this project-based learning process, Fellows are empowered to put leadership lessons into practice and move the needle on some of Hawaii's most important issues.

Every year, through both our Fellows and Ambassadors Programs (link to Ambassadors) CTL is advising over 100 student-led projects to impact communities across the state.

Learn more about CTL Projects!

Around the Roundtable

Vision: "We are determined to secure the prosperity of our country and state by ensuring that all opinions are heard and the art of civic discussion is not lost."

This Fellows project aimed to create balanced conversations amongst Hawaii's next generation to encourage critical-thinking and combat political polarization.

Team Members:

  • Evan Gates (Kamehameha)
  • Chelbi Juan (Roosevelt)
  • Dani Sur (Maryknoll)
  • Justin Huang (Roosevelt)
  • Lydia Jun (Iolani)
  • Rovi Porter (Kalani)

Fahrenheit 73

Vision: "Inspiring student led change, one degree at a time.”

It's hard to maintain a drive for excellence when basic needs aren't being met. Fahrenheit73 aimed to address the intolerable temperatures, sometimes reaching over 100°F, plaguing classrooms across the state of Hawaii. Through a partnership with GreenPath Technologies and Hawaii 3Rs, the team raised over $20,000 to install a solar-powered AC unit at the state's then-hottest classroom at James Campbell High School. By creating cool, comfortable learning environments, students can get back to what matters most – bettering themselves and the community."

Team Members:

  • Eunica Escalante (Moanalua)
  • Noah Faurot (Kamehameha)
  • Kenneth Go (Damien)
  • Allie Saunders (Punahou)
  • Charissa Tan (Mid Pacific)

View project video

The Canvas

Vision: “Our vision is to empower a generation who will take charge of their own learning, think critically, and be confident in their strengths."

“The Canvas was a student-run workspace in Kalihi. The Fellows team designed, fundraised for, and were the adminstration team so that The Canvas could be a motivational and stimulating safe-space for students to express their creativity, develop their critical thinking, get inspired, and pursue their passions. It hosted college talk story sessions, live concerts, poetry workshops, tutoring, movie nights, a puppy lounge and more!"

Testimonials

Here's what CTL Fellows have to say about the program!

I grew as a leader, both in skill and character, and gathered a plethora of eye-opening and...

View More - Mahina Amoy

I grew as a leader, both in skill and character, and gathered a plethora of eye-opening and challenging experiences that have strengthened how I continue to move through life as an individual.

Mahina Amoy

Kamehameha Schools

Mahina Amoy

Kamehameha Schools

On top of everything I've learned, I think the thing I am most grateful to CTL for is, hands down,...

View More - Christine Dong

On top of everything I've learned, I think the thing I am most grateful to CTL for is, hands down, the relationships I've built with my fellow fellows. Although I wish we could have had more bonding sessions, I'm so thankful for the friendships cultivated.

Christine Dong

Punahou School

Christine Dong

Punahou School

“I believe I grew in confidence and how I voice my ideas/opinions to a group of people. I learned...

View More - Marc Gamayo

“I believe I grew in confidence and how I voice my ideas/opinions to a group of people. I learned that it is okay to have differing ideas and that it will require effective communication to get things started. I believe it is a valuable experience because of the people I met and CTL has provided me with opportunities and resources to become a leader for Hawai'i.”

Marc Gamayo

Waipahu High School

Marc Gamayo

Waipahu High School

CTL has taught me a tremendous amount, not only about leadership and building character, but to...

View More - Lauren Saunders

CTL has taught me a tremendous amount, not only about leadership and building character, but to love Hawai'i. Before participating in the Fellows program, I was unsure as to whether I saw myself here in Hawai'i in the future. However, through the program, specifically talking to Hawai'is top leaders, my mindset has changed, as I realized that Hawai'i needs leaders now than ever. Hawai'i will always be my home, and therefore I promised to always serve and be a leader for Hawai'i.

Lauren Saunders

Punahou School

Lauren Saunders

Punahou School