A Waipahu High School teacher credited with encouraging students to pursue science was surprised and honored with

Hawaii’s 2015-16 Milken Educator Award, a national honor that comes with an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize.

Sana, chairman of Waipahu High’s science department, has given students opportunities to conduct and publish authentic scientific research. His students have worked at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a federal research facility in California, and Rutgers University.

“Michael’s passion for teaching and mentoring has helped dozens of students begin their college careers with a desire for rigorous scientific research,” schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said. “His hard work has helped to make Waipahu High’s science curriculum a bright spot in the department.”

Waipahu High Principal Keith Hayashi said Sana has grown the school’s AP Biology program from 12 students to more than 50, adding that Sana has lead his students in research that’s yielded 120 publications with the National Institutes of Health, the nation’s medical research agency.

Sana graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, with a bachelor’s degree in biology, a post-baccalaureate degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in curriculum studies.

At a schoolwide assembly Friday, an unsuspecting Sana learned he had won the Milken award from Gov. David Ige and First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige.

Sana told students at the assembly that anything is possible through education. “Work hard, get your education,” he said. “Each one of you can contribute.”