College/university honors
Teagan Tamiya of Hilo was named to the fall 2020 dean’s list at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. To qualify, a student must be enrolled in 12 hours of graded credits and earn a semester grade point average of 3.4-3.99.
Springfield College in Springfield, Mass., named Joanne Farias from Keaau to the dean’s list for academic excellence for the 2020 fall semester. Farias has a primary major of exercise science. The criteria for selection to the dean’s list include completing a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded coursework for the term, no incompletes or missing grades in the designated term and a minimum semester grade average of 3.50 for the term.
Seth Fukushima of Hilo achieved provost’s honor roll status at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash., for the fall 2020 semester. To be named to the list, undergraduate students must maintain a grade-point average of 3.75 or better during the semester.
Aubree Silva of Hilo earned placement on the president’s list for the fall 2020 semester at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. To be named to the list, students must earn a 3.85-4.0 grade-point average.
Piliwailana Nahale-a and Kianna Oda of Hilo were named to the dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. Students must earn a 3.5-3.84 grade-point average to be listed.
Big Island school honors
The MOA Museum of Art, Japan announced in January that St. Joseph School seventh-grader Raylee Mateo won the Special Incentive Award in this year’s children’s art contest. A total of 439,893 entries were submitted from 9,086 schools in 12 countries including Japan. The MOA Museum of Art showcases 300 works of art, and Raylee received the highest award bestowed upon an international entry into this contest. Raylee’s award winning piece will be displayed in a dedicated gallery area in the museum in Atami, Shizuoka, Japan.
Scholarship opportunities
Since the inception of the Wayne “Big Dog” Joseph Scholarship, several thousands of dollars have been awarded to Big Island running athletes. This year the scholarship is under the umbrella of the nonprofit Sunrise Sports Foundation, which will award $1,500 each to four athletes who are planning on attending college. If you know a graduating high school senior who has participated in track and field or cross-country, have them email rarkin24@hotmail.com for an application.
The Hawaii Island Landscape Association is seeking applicants for its annual scholarships. Big Island high school seniors who are continuing their education next year at any college or university in a “green” or agricultural related field are eligible to apply. Two scholarships of $1,000 each will be awarded. Visit HILAHawaii.com to download the application.
Other education news
Seven students from the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Students of Hawaii Advanced Research Project (SHARP) had their research abstracts selected for the first virtual annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students in November 2020.
The students selected to present an e-poster and five-minute talk describing their research in biomedical or biobehavioral science. Authors and their research included:
• Taylor A.U. Barongan, “Synthetic Studies of Antitubercular Atrovimycin.”
• Michelle Biete, “A Pragmatic Approach to Standardizing Ultrastructure Morphology in Tissue and Cell Culture.”
• Kit Neikirk, “Increased Efficacy of Difluoromethylornithine and Metformin Containing Anionic Permeation Enhancers for the Treatment of Neuroblastoma.”
• Evangeline Lemieux, “COVID-19 and Student Life in Hawaii: Challenges, Adjustments, and Adaptations.”
• Jace Taka, “Development of Resveratrol Containing Polymeric Nanoparticles for Oral Delivery.”
• Jane M.U. Walsh, “Traditional Preparations of ‘Awa (Piper methysticum) Address the Intersection of Mental and Cancer Health Disparities in Native Hawaiians.”
• Kailee Yoshimura, “Development of Quercetin Containing Polymeric Nanoparticles for Oral Delivery.”