After dropping out of college in 1985 when she got pregnant with her first child and dropping out again in 2000 after a rough divorce, 41-year-old Pamela Nakanelua finds herself back in college again.

"There is a lot more discipline this time. It's so much easier. When you've had to juggle three kids, working, making ends meet, you're just much more prepared," said Nakanelua, who is completing her degree in family resources at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.

Nakanelua is one of 25 adult students at UH-Manoa selected as the first group of Osher Reentry Scholars, a scholarship program to help those whose college educations were delayed or interrupted — by illness, family emergencies, financial problems or other reasons.

This is the first year the scholarship is being offered at UH-Manoa. It is being funded by a $50,000 grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation specifically to help adult students who once attended college and have returned after five or more years.

Teresa Bill, UH system coordinator for the Bridge to Hope program, said many adults returning to college find it difficult to afford. That's where the Osher scholarship comes in.

"There aren't a lot of financial aid opportunities for working adults," Bill said. "Working adults generally have more income than traditional students, but they have responsibilities and debt. So it's sometimes difficult for them to find tuition aid."

This year's recipients are enrolled in a variety of academic programs, including physical science, social sciences, arts, humanities, education, social work, nursing and travel industry management.

Bill said most returning adults generally are more academically focussed.

"They seem to know why they are here and know exactly what they want to achieve," she said.

Scholarship recipient Kevin McGinnis entered college in Pittsburgh straight out of high school with the intention of playing collegiate football. But a severe car accident and poor grades made him quit. "I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life at that point," he said.

Now, at 27, McGinnis is a year away from obtaining his psychology degree at UH-Manoa.

"I knew I was not ready for college coming out of high school," he said. "The fact that I come with as much focus in my schooling now, I am doing so much better."

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.