The Cooke Foundation named three recipients of its 2013 Cooke Beautification Award for Public Schools.

Iliahi Elementary School, Washington Middle School and Leilehua High School each completed "significant beautification projects" in the past year and will receive $5,000 and a koa plaque.

The awards are given each year to recognize one elementary, middle and high school that makes improvements to its campus, enhancing overall appearance and ambience, said a news release from the foundation. All public schools in the state, including charter schools, are eligible to apply.

Iliahi Elementary transformed an exterior wall into a mural titled "Educating the Whole Child the Iliahi Way." Students from the after-school art program illustrated extracurricular activities offered at Iliahi.

Washington Middle installed a ceramic mosaic, constructed with the help of students. The aloha-themed piece is at the school’s entrance and features the names of students who assisted with the project. The school previously received a Cooke Beautification Award in 2010 for another mural project, the foundation said.

Leilehua High was recognized for an ongoing indoor and outdoor beautification project that has engaged hundreds of art students at the school for the past two decades. The project has resulted in about 30 murals on interior and exterior walls throughout the campus, a news release said.

Other awards:

» The Hawaii State Federal Credit Union gave college scholarships totaling $30,000 to 15 students.

The credit union makes scholarships available to members or their dependents pursuing post-secondary degrees. Since 1995, $419,000 has been awarded to more than 225 students attending colleges and universities across the country.

» Jonathan Dang, a University of Hawaii-Manoa electrical engineering student, has been named 2013 Student Engineer of the Year by the Hawaii Council of Engineering Societies.

Dang, a UH Regents Scholar, is in his final semester as an undergraduate with a 3.96 grade-point average.

In his junior year, Dang and his teammates built an autonomous robot that won first place in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Region 6 Micromouse Competition.