Posted on: Thursday, June 13, 2002

Education briefs

Librarian of year nominees sought

People who use Hawai'i's public libraries are encouraged to nominate their favorite librarian for the annual Public Librarian of the Year award.

The Hawai'i Library Foundation created the award in 1997 to recognize professional librarians working for the state library system. The winner will receive $1,000 from the library foundation and a $500 store certificate from Borders, the corporate co-sponsor.

The nomination deadline is July 15. Nomination forms are available at all public libraries and Borders stores statewide. The awards ceremony will be Nov. 20 at the Hawai'i State Library.

To be eligible, a nominee must have been employed in the public library system for at least five years and have a master's degree in library science or an equivalent.

For information, call the Hawai'i Library Foundation at 837-8069.

Maui teachers earn awards

Two Lahaina, Maui, teachers received awards recently from area restaurants.

Anna Sprinkle, a second-grade teacher at King Kamehameha III Elementary School, received an Outstanding Teacher Recognition Award from Hula Grill.

Robert Siorot, technology coordinator and computer teacher at Lahaina Intermediate School, received a similar award from Leilani's on the Beach.

They were selected based on nominations from fellow educators at their respective schools.

Each received a California vacation package and $500 in cash. They were recognized at their school's year-end assemblies.

Waimea High grad wins scholarship

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Waimea High School graduate Jerek Barcelona has won the $1,000 Gertrude Ekvall Smith Memorial Scholarship, which is given annually to a Kaua'i high-school senior who will attend a Christian college and is active in one of the Missionary Churches on Kaua'i.

UH educator to be journal editor

Michael Taleff, coordinator for the Alcohol Drug Education Program at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, has been selected as editor for the Journal of Teaching in the Addictions.

The journal focuses on educational issues for addiction studies at the collegiate level. Its first edition was published in March.

Because of the growing number of addiction studies programs, "this is something that is long overdue and will hopefully be of benefit to this field," Taleff said.

Taleff is certified by the state as a substance abuse counselor and has national certification as a masters addiction counselor. He is past president of the International Coalition for Addiction Studies Education.