Konawaena High School on Hawaii island was awarded first place in the Keep American Beautiful Recycle-Bowl Competition in Hawaii.
The school earned $1,000 for its recycling efforts. An awards ceremony was held at the school on March 11, when students were acknowledged for their work.
According to a news release, students were congratulated by Howard Shapiro, education director for Recycle Hawaii. “By your efforts you’ve helped save energy, saved money for your families, school and community and made a statement that you care for the environment. You’ve also learned that we can create products from what we used to think of as trash,” Shapiro said.
The president of Keep Hawaii Beautiful, Paul J. Buklarewicz, also acknowledged environmental clubs from Konawaena and Pahoa high schools. “Keep Hawaii Beautiful, the Hawaii Island affiliate of KAB, is pleased that environmental clubs from Konawaena and Pahoa high schools on the island of Hawaii helped their schools become state champs for two years running,” he said.
Keep America Beautiful, a nonprofit organization focusing on building and sustaining vibrant communities, held the nationwide recycling competition for elementary, middle and high school students. The Recycle-Bowl Competition reached more than a million students across America with schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia competing.
In other news:
>> Mental Health Hawaii will formally recognize its awardees May 15 in an event from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ala Moana Hotel.
MHW said in a news release its Outstanding Community Mental Health Leader award will go to Connie Mitchell, a registered nurse who directs the state’s largest homeless agency, the Institute for Human Services. She has been a fervent advocate for the homeless mentally ill.
Outstanding Government Mental Health Leader is Nancy Kern, who has worked to prevent HIV, reduce discrimination against LGBT youth and promote safety in the schools. She serves as the suicide prevention coordinator for the Hawaii Department of Health.
Outstanding Adult Mental Health Consumer Advocate is Susan King, who has endured grief and depression, schizophrenia and meth addiction to emerge as a peer leader and outspoken advocate on mental health issues. She is chairwoman of United Self Help and advisory board vice chairwoman of MHA-Hawaii’s Maui Branch.
Outstanding Youth Mental Health Consumer Advocate is Crystal Brown, who is a mentor to young people after surviving a childhood in which she was born to a mother who was in prison, lived with relatives and neighbors, and was sexually assaulted by a foster parent.
Outstanding Business Mental Health Leader is Clint Schroeder, CEO of Hagadone Printing and a business leader who supports mental health issues as president of the Rotary Club of Metropolitan Honolulu, as business team chairman in the 2011 NAMI Walk, as an employer of people with severe mental illness, and as a donor.
Outstanding Family Mental Health Advocates are Margie and Mike Durant, who have dedicated their lives to helping families who have loved ones with mental illness and to promoting better care for the mentally ill. They have served as volunteer leaders with NAMI Hawaii for more than 15 years. Their son, Jay, who had schizophrenia, took his life in 2009 at the age of 33.
>> The University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law’s Trademark Moot Court Team won the western regional phase of the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition. It is the first win for UH at the regional level.
“This moot court teams’ noteworthy success in trademark law is unprecedented and a tribute to the dedication and skill of these students, and the generous commitment of time and effort from their exceptionally knowledgeable coaches,” said Aviam Soifer, dean of the UH Richardson School of Law, in a news release.
Team members were Andrea Maglasang-Miller, Shirley Lou-Magnuson, Avery Matro and Nikki Yamauchi.
Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP sponsored the team, hosting the final practice session.
