The National Merit Scholarship Corp. recently announced this year’s National Merit $2,500 scholarship winners. Several Hawaii students are among the recipients.
Selection was based on academic record, including difficulty of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay; and recommendation from a high school official.
Hawaii recipients include ‘Iolani School’s Spencer H. Kiehm (probable career field: medicine), Brandan I. Sakka (probable career field: medicine) and Kelsie C. Kodama (probable career field: oncology); Viola Mocz (probable career field: neuroscience), Mililani High School; Lysha Mari Matsunobu (probable career field: engineering), Parker School; Holt Akiyoshi Sakai (probable career field: chemistry), Punahou School; and Nadia D. Busekrus (probable career field: nursing), Sacred Hearts Academy.
Through the 2014 program, about 8,000 finalists earned the "Merit Scholar" title, receiving a total of $35 million in college scholarships.
On April 23 about 1,000 recipients of corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards were named, and on May 28 and July 14 some 4,500 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners will be announced.
Two private school students have been named this year’s Presidential Scholars for Hawaii.
The high school seniors, Matthew Beattie-Callahan of ‘Iolani School and Lysha Matsunobu of Parker School on Hawaii island, are among the 141 seniors nationwide being recognized for their academic and community service accomplishments.
The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 students chosen at-large.
Beattie-Callahan and Matsunobu were among six semifinalists for Hawaii, including three each from public and private schools.
The U.S. Department of Education said of the 3 million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 3,900 candidates qualified for the awards, which are based on SAT and ACT scores and nominations.
"They show all of us that when students challenge themselves and commit themselves to excellence, the results can be astounding. These scholars will help move our country forward and will have a lasting impact on their families, communities, and on our society," U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a statement.
The recipients will be honored June 22-25 in Washington, D.C.
For a full list of the 2014 U.S. Presidential Scholars, see www2.ed.gov/programs/psp/awards.html.
The annual Keeping It Green Hawaii awards recipients are The Green House Center for Sustainability and Going Green Recycling Community Clean-Up Program on Oahu, plus Seaview Performing Arts Center for Education and Hualalai Academy on Hawaii island.
To be considered for the award, nominees must meet criteria established by Recycle Hawaii: practicing the three R’s of reduce, reuse, recycle; protecting natural resources and native species; alternative energy and green building practices; and respect for Native Hawaiian gathering rights and cultural practices.
Organized by Recycle Hawaii and Earth-Friendly Schools Hawaii, the Keeping It Green Program highlights projects and activities by organizations, businesses, schools and government agencies that promote recycling, resource awareness and sustainable practices in Hawaii.
» The Green House Center for Sustainability educates children, adults, families and communities in adopting living practices that build on traditional knowledge with respect for the land.
In 2009 the center collaborated with the Institute for Human Services to create training programs to prepare a workforce for "green" jobs.
» Going Green Recycling Community Clean-Up Program is a monthly one-stop drop-off event held on Oahu and Maui. Private businesses as well as federal, state and county agencies donate resources for collection of recycling materials. Everything collected is recycled or reused, not going into the landfill. This program also supports youth service learning projects designed to protect our natural resources.
» Seaview Performing Arts Center for Education is used as a school, farmers market, performance arts education center and community meeting place. Owned and operated by the nonprofit Hawaii’s Volcano Circus, the center was built using ohia and mango wood harvested from its own land in the Puna district. Windows, doors, flooring and other materials were recycled or re-purposed from other building projects.
» Hualalai Academy offers a K-8 integrated curriculum and experiential learning to develop academic, artistic, social and physical skills. In an effort to improve environmentally sustainable practices on campus, students formed the CREW (Clean, Renewable Elimination of Waste) Committee, which has helped to significantly step up recycling, composting and reuse of materials on campus.
For more information about Keeping It Green Hawaii, visit www.recyclehawaii.org or call 969-2012.
