The National Merit Scholarship Corp. recently announced this year’s National Merit $2,500 scholarship winners for high-achieving high school seniors. Among the Hawaii recipients are La Pietra-Hawaii School for Girls’ Angela S. Assante (probable career field: computer science), Punahou School’s Jennifer Ha (probable career field: education administration) and Seabury Hall’s Carly Megan O’Donnell (probable career field: microbiology/immunology).
Assante’s and O’Donnell’s awards are supported by National Merit Scholarship Corp.’s own funds. Ha’s award is part of the UPS Foundation’s program of aid to education, through which it has also made direct grants and endowments to a wide variety of educational institutions throughout the United States.
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.
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.
The state Department of Education has announced the selection of Waipahu High’s Keith Hayashi and Mililani Middle School’s Elynne Chung as Hawaii’s Principals of the Year for leading their campuses toward academic excellence.
The Hawaii Association of Secondary School Administrators honored Hayashi and Chung during an awards banquet at the Hale Koa Hotel.
The national program recognizes outstanding secondary school leaders who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students and exemplary contributions to their profession. Winners are selected based on excellence in the areas of professional growth, collaborative leadership, advancements in curriculum, instruction and assessment, and personalization of learning.
Hayashi, who has served as Waipahu’s principal since 2009, is credited with stressing college and career readiness.
In a news release, Hayashi said, "Our successes at Waipahu High are a result of the collaborative efforts among our caring and committed faculty and staff; motivated students, supportive industry, community, and post-secondary partners; coordinated efforts between the Waipahu Complex Schools, and dialogue within the Hawaii Academies Schools." He added, "Our career pathway academies, combined with Early College make it an exciting time at Waipahu High."
At Mililani Middle, math proficiency rose to 68 percent in 2013 from 59 percent in 2010, the year Chung began serving as principal. The school’s reading and science proficiency of 85 percent and 51 percent, respectively, beat the state’s average by double-digit margins.
The school recently earned a $45,000 grant from the state’s Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture and Health initiative to support some 28 after-school programs such as modern art, music and advanced technology.
"This award is a reflection of the wonderful things that are happening at Mililani Middle School and public education in general," Chung said in the release. "The selection is a credit to the entire school community’s effort to making Mililani Middle a great place to learn for our students."
Hayashi and Chung will represent Hawaii at the National Association of Secondary School Principals Institute in September in Washington, D.C. The event serves as a forum for principals to share best practices and meet with national education leaders and legislators.
