In Brief | Schools 10-2-13

DAR announces student essay contests

The Daughters of the American Revolution Hawaii Loa chapter is conducting Christopher Columbus essay contests for students in middle and high school.

Students in ninth through 12th grades are invited to write an 800- to 1,200-word essay addressing the question “How do Americans view Christopher Columbus and George Washington today?” The essay should discuss similarities and differences between the ways in which Columbus and Washington dealt with and overcame challenges and adversities and what Americans can apply to their own lives from the experiences of these men.

Fifth- through eighth-graders should discuss “The lives of children during the American Revolution.” While pretending to be a child during the Colonial fight for freedom, students may use historical facts to discuss how the war is affecting them. Essays should be between 300 and 1,000 words, depending on grade level.

For more information, contact Julene Ignacio at 959-8986, Kristine Harrison at 883-8060 or HawaiiLoaDAR@aol.com.

Teachers invited to apply for scholarship

Each year, the Space Foundation provides professional development for a qualified educator through the Lucy Enos Memorial Scholarship, established for educators of Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian ancestry, or who work with prekindergarten through 12th-grade students of Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian ancestry.

The scholarship covers tuition, fees, expenses and lodging for the recipient to travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., and participate in one of the Space Foundation’s week-long Space Across the Curriculum courses.

These intensive graduate-level summer courses provide space-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics content that is transferable to the classroom. All courses focus on national standards and STEM principles. They are structured to adapt lessons to all grade levels and all curriculum areas. Public, private and homeschool teachers are welcome.

Teachers may apply for the scholarship by submitting a letter, not exceeding two pages, detailing the motivation for applying, interest in space themes in the classroom and expectations for what will be gained from the experience. The application letter must be endorsed with a letter of support by a principal or other supervisor.

Send application and letter of support by March 1 to: Lucy Enos Memorial Scholarship, Space Foundation, 4425 Arrowswest Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80907.

Matsunobu is National Merit Scholarship semifinalist

Parker School senior Lysha Matsunobu has been selected as a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist in the 59th annual National Merit Program. She is one of 16,000 national semi-finalists out of the 50,000 highest scorers of the approximately 1.5 million high school students who take the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test each year.

Matsunobu, the daughter of Miriam and Neal Matsunobu of Kona, came to Parker in the sixth grade. She is captain of Lincoln-Douglas Debate on the school’s debate team; president of the National Honor Society; and a member of the new Parker School Investment Club. She has earned several awards over the years, including the Richard M. Smart Scholarship, Yale Book Award, she was named an AP Scholar with Distinction and earned the National Forensics League Degree of Distinction. She plans to study engineering in college.

HPA students earn commended status

Melia Cavedoni, Hannah Twigg-Smith and Alexandra K. Van Pernis, all seniors at Hawaii Preparatory Academy, have been named commended students in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Cavedoni is the daughter of Rong Hua and Charles Cavedoni of Hakalau. Twigg-Smith is the daughter of Lisen and Desmond Twigg-Smith of Holualoa. Van Pernis is the daughter of Kristi and Mark Van Pernis of Kailua-Kona.

Commended students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2014 competition by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.