Kamehameha Schools’ senior class won or shared all six awards, including the Charles Edward King Trophy for best combined class performance, at the 93rd annual Kamehameha Schools Song Contest on March 22 at the Blaisdell Arena.
Led by song director Karl Jose Kamalu Deleon, the boys and girls of the senior class sang "My Sweet Sweeting" to take the King trophy.
The combined senior class also won the Richard Lyman Jr. ‘Olelo Makuahine (mother tongue) Award for excellence in the use of the Hawaiian language in a song.
The senior boys, led by song director Kapono Kapanui, sang "He Punahele No ‘Oe" to win the George Alanson Andrus Cup for best boys’ performance.
The senior girls, led by song director Cali Kinimaka, sang "Mapuana Ku‘u Aloha" to win the New England Mothers’ Cup for best girls’ performance and the Helen Desha Beamer Award for best musical performance.
The Louise Aoe McGregor Award for best student director was awarded to two students: Kinimaka of the senior class and Dezarae Le‘i of the sophomore class.
Other honors:
» Sgt. Zachary Rice, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief based at Wheeler Army Airfield in Wahiawa, was presented Monday with the 2012 Army Aviation Association of America Henry Q. Dunn Crew Chief of the Year Award.
Rice was selected ahead of more than 2,500 crew chiefs and flight engineers from across the Army, the Army said.
He received the award for his actions during a recent deployment to Afghanistan. After dropping off ground troops on a mission, Rice returned fire on two enemy fighters on motorcycles who were shooting at the troops and at his and another helicopter.
Rice, of Grass Valley, Calif., is assigned to Company C of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade. He has flown in about 110 combat missions.
"Rice goes above and beyond in every category," said Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Ray, platoon sergeant of Rice’s unit. "He was requested by name for several high-risk missions due to his ability to adapt to any situation, react quickly to changes, and his sound judgment."
"Every mission you do is different," Rice said. "I am glad I can help soldiers who are in difficult places to complete the mission safely so we all can return home."
» The state House presented a resolution this month to Mililani High School teacher Judy Taparra to recognize her achievements as a teacher of Advanced Placement psychology.
Since 2000, 90 percent of her AP psychology students have earned a score of 3 or higher, and 32 percent have earned a perfect score of 5 on the AP exams, the House said in a news release.
Taparra has taught at Mililani High School for 23 years, including 13 years as an Advanced Placement psychology teacher.
"Judy Taparra is the kind of teacher every school wishes they had," said state Rep. Ryan Yamane (D, Mililani-Waipio-Waikele), who introduced the resolution. "Through her rigorous guidance, her students become resourceful thinkers, effective communicators and leave with the skills and encouragement to prepare them for a successful future."
» Waianae High School took five awards and Hawaii schools won 17 overall at the 10th Student Television Network Convention March 7-10 in Los Angeles.
The Seariders won first place for convention recap and the STN Excellence Award for monthly broadcast, second place for laptop journalist, third place for short story and honorable mention for broadcast news writing.
Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School on Kauai won four awards: first place for spot feature, second for middle school movie trailer, third for middle school public service announcement and honorable mention for middle school anchoring.
Winning two awards each were Waianae Intermediate School and Moanalua High School. Kamehameha Schools Maui, Waiakea High, Waiakea Intermediate and Maui Waena Intermediate each took one award.
Nearly 2,500 students from 153 middle and high schools across the country attended the convention. Hawaii was represented by 15 schools, the third-largest contingent. During the four-day convention, students and teachers were able to select from more than 90 sessions taught by industry professionals on broadcast journalism, video production, filmmaking and media. A list of competition winners is available at www.studenttelevision.com/convention. htm.
