The University of Hawaii has received a $3 million gift in support of cancer and oceanographic research.

The university said Friday its cancer center and the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology are each receiving $1.5 million from the Denise B. Evans estate.

Oceanography graduate student Yoshimi Rii is among those receiving fellowship money because of the gift.

She says the funds will give her financial security for the rest of her time in graduate school. She says the money will give her the freedom to pursue research ideas that wouldn’t have been able to study otherwise.

Cancer Center Director Dr. Michele Carbone says gifts like this one allow the school to quickly build a world-class cancer research program that will benefit Hawaii and the greater community.