Education briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

UH center events to honor queen

Descendants and family members of Queen Lili'uokalani will be introduced in a special ceremony beginning at 3:30 today to dedicate and rename the Student Services Center at the University of Hawai'i's Manoa campus after the queen, Hawai'i's last monarch.

She died in 1917 at age 79.

Nalani Olds will perform a musical tribute to the queen, with chants by Keawe Lopes, Leilani Basham and Ui'lani Bobbitt, and prayers by Malia Craver and the Rev. William Kaina.

The ceremony at the newly renamed Queen Lili'uokalani Student Services Center will also include remarks by UH President Evan Dobelle, Regent Kathleen Thurston and UH-Manoa Interim Chancellor Deane Neubauer.

The open house and dedication ceremony ends with a reception at 5:15 p.m.

Youth corps seeks students

The Youth Conservation Corps is accepting applications from high school and college students interested in environmental and preservation work.

Students accepted will go through a seven-week program that includes several trips into the field to do native planting or help with invasive species control, along with CPR training and a ropes course to learn teamwork. Previous participants have helped track Native Hawaiian forest birds and have visited Kaho'olawe.

Financial stipends are provided, and students can earn three hours of University of Hawai'i credits.

The Youth Conservation Corps is looking for 15 students each from O'ahu, Kaua'i and the Big Island. Team leaders also are needed; applicants must have completed their sophomore year in college.

High school sophomores through college juniors are invited to apply.

Students can call 595-9095, or find more information at hawaiiycc.com.

Free courses aid parents, children

Families for R.E.A.L. at Kapunahala Elementary School in Kane'ohe is filling its parents and child classes for March 18-May 31.

The courses are free, staffed by parent and early-childhood educators and are scheduled throughout the year.

Families for Resources and Early Access to Learning gives children an opportunity to play and learn in a school setting and lets parents talk with other families who have children the same age. Classes have information on family values, stress management, language development and school readiness, in addition to parent-child activities.

The program is for families with infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

For more information or to register, call 233-5656.