KTA shoppers have an entire month to help UH Hilo Athletics just by making their regular purchases, thanks to the 2020 KTA Score for Scholarships program. From February 12 through March 10, 2020, when shoppers buy products from participating brands at KTA Super Stores, their purchases help to support UH Hilo's student-athletes.
 
When Vulcans score, scholarships grow.
 
Here's how it works: KTA donates $50 for every 3-point basket the Vulcans score during the basketball season; each goal in soccer is awarded $100; and, volleyball scores $50 for every service ace. During baseball and softball games, the Vulcans receive $25 for strikeouts, $50 for doubles, $75 for triples, $100 for home runs, and $500 for grand slams. Every time the Vulcans score, athletic scholarships grow. All funds raised through the program are deposited into the KTA UHH Score for Scholarships Endowment Fund. That money goes to offset costs of tuition, room, board, books and other academic support services for student-athletes.
 
The program, started in 2003, has thus far provided more than $250,000 in donations towards scholarships for student-athletes.
 
"The continued support that the UH Hilo Athletics department receives from KTA Super Stores and the generous vendors each year makes a tremendous difference in the lives of our student-athletes," said Vulcan Athletic Director Patrick Guillen. "Receiving this assistance helps with tuition, books, meals, and housing, which allows our student-athletes to focus on their academic and athletic goals.

"Honestly I don't know of any other type of program like this," Guillen added. "We're fortunate that a company like KTA and a family like the Taniguchi family is willing to support us."
 
KTA Super Stores is able to offer this annual support through the sponsorships from the following brands: Diamond Bakery, Hawaiian Sun, Love's, Wild Harvest, Banana Boat, Nabisco, Pepsi, P&G, Conagra, Gatorade, Kellogg's, KraftHeinz, and Hershey's.
 
"We always love this time of year when we are able to engage both our community members and our brand partners in a way that truly makes a difference in the lives of UH Hilo student-athletes, just as they enrich our community by providing great teams for us to cheer for," said Toby Taniguchi, President of KTA Super Stores.
 
In addition to providing entertainment, UH Hilo Athletics Department says thanks for the community support by staging community service projects as well as free camps and clinics featuring members of the various Vulcans teams throughout the year.

"This is such a great program to help raise funds for the UH scholarship programs — not only is the fund vital to our student-athletes, but the way that it's structured makes it fun for both athletes and fans, knowing that each time someone scores, someone's higher education is funded," Guillen said.                                                  
 
About KTA Super Stores

KTA Super Stores was established in 1916 as "K. Taniguchi Shoten" by Koichi and Taniyo Taniguchi in Waiakea. Today, four generations later, the founders' great-grandson Toby is President and COO of KTA, whose seventh store, the KTA Express Kealakekua location, opened in 2018. All stores are located on the Island of Hawaiʻi and provide employment for more than 700 local residents.
 
KTA has always been an innovator in Hawaiʻi's grocery industry, being the first to build in-store bakeries and delis and the first to use UPC barcode checkout scanners. KTA was also the first to install energy-producing photovoltaic systems, which now are used at KTA's Waimea, Kamuela, Kailua-Kona, Keauhou and Waikoloa Village locations. Other environmental initiatives include KTA's Reusable Bag and Recycling programs.
 
The KTA-exclusive Mountain Apple Brand was created during the island's sugar mill closures in the 1980's to provide an alternative income for displaced workers by supporting and selling products exclusively grown and manufactured on Hawai'i Island. For more than 100 years, KTA Super Stores has remained true to its founders' mission of working hard to fulfill the food, household and health care needs of the communities they serve, and by making their customers and associates feel like someone special every day at KTA.