Hawaii teen with leukemia gets college tuition wish granted

HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) – A 17-year-old Pepeekeo teen living with leukemia recently had his wish granted by Make-A-Wish Hawaii to attend the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

Read more Honolulu’s retiring, incoming Catholic bishops reflect on the church’s past and future in Hawaii

Make-A-Wish Hawaii said Rancin’s wish was college tuition assistance. He was recently accepted into a new pre-engineering pathway between UH Hilo and UH Manoa.

On Wednesday, during the wish reveal while touring UH Hilo, the nonprofit said Rancin presented with a $10,000 check from the Make-A-Wish Foundation to UH Hilo’s cashier’s office.

“I felt this would not only be a good transition, but I know here, and it has all my intended goals,” he said. “I get to learn about the different fields and stuff, and that’ll probably help me decide what specifically I want to go into.”

“We are so honored to welcome Rancin into our Vulcan ohana,” said UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin. “His resilience, curiosity, and unwavering determination perfectly embody the spirit of the University of Hawaii at Hilo.”

Read more Case and Keohokalole agree on ICE abuses, but differ on immigration policy

From a young age, he has been drawn to challenges that push him to think deeply and has a love for problem-solving and discovery, which helped shape his goal of pursuing a future in engineering.

Despite Rancin’s ongoing cancer treatments, the nonprofit said he has remained focused on his education, and he chose a wish that reflected his ambition and opens doors to the future.

“Rancin’s wish is a powerful reminder that a wish is more than one unforgettable day — a wish is transformative, creating hope and strength that shape a child’s life in lasting and meaningful ways,” said Trini Kaopuiki Clark, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Hawaii.

Read more Redesigned driver’s licenses available through new online portal

Rancin will begin his studies at UH Hilo in the fall.