HILO, Hawaii — An anonymous donor has given the University of Hawaii at Hilo $3 million to fund three new scholarships, including the school’s first-ever endowed scholarship for LGBTQ+ students.

The donation is the largest scholarship endowment in the school's history.

The new scholarships are the Kruschel First-General Scholarship, which gives preference to students who are the first in their families to attend college; the Kruschel Endowed Scholarship, which is open to all full-time undergraduate or graduate students who graduated from a Hawaii Island high school; and the Kruschel LGBTQ+ Endowed Scholarship for students who identify as LGBTQ+.

“It’s exciting to see these students celebrated and supported with scholarships that will open new opportunities for them,” said UH Hilo chancellor Bonnie Irwin. “Our university is stronger when all students have the tools and the resources they need to reach their full potential.”

The scholarships cover costs associated with attending school and have no limitations on what recipients may study, only that they be enrolled full-time to pursue a degree at UH Hilo. Scholarships will be disbursed starting 2022-23 school year.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.