By Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Education Writer

If you've ever wondered what a teenager is thinking, good luck if you're over the age of 21.

But if you want to know what the whole age group is thinking, a new poll will tell you.

A recent survey shows teens are tech- and media-savvy, mostly positive about the future and stressed out about issues from drinking and sexual activity to getting good grades.

The report also confirms what most of us suspect: 45 percent have their own cell phones.

And the biggest source of disagreement with parents is a time-honored fight: cleaning your room.

The "2003 State of Our Nation's Youth" report was released this month by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, a nonprofit educational association that gives more than $4 million in need-based college scholarships a year. Its annual survey attempts to give a voice to the nation's teens.

Some news should come as a relief to parents: Only 3 percent of teens say they don't get along with their parents at all; most say mom and dad are their biggest role models.

Students gave their schools a grade-point average of 2.9, or a C+. That's a slight improvement over last year's C.

And while teens have little confidence in the media, they love government. More teens have confidence in Congress and the federal government than do adults.

The complete survey can be found at www.horatioalger.org.

Hawai'i students earn

Public high school officials are celebrating the release of scholarship information that shows Hawai'i graduates are bringing in more college money than ever before.

The Class of 2003 received more than $36.8 million in college scholarships this year, compared with $31.4 million received by 2002 graduates.

Mililani High School grads got the most, $5.4 million, followed by Moanalua High School with $4.7 million, Maui High School with $3.2 million and King Kekaulike High with $2.7 million.

The scholarship data was presented to the state Board of Education last week.

This year, 100 percent of graduates at Christian Academy, a small private school, won a college scholarship.

Granted, their graduating class was only five students.

But among them, Andrew Miller got an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; three other students won four-year scholarships; and one received an award from the school's Parent Teacher Fellowship.

Program comes of age

The 'Aha Punana Leo Inc., the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program, is celebrating 20 years of revitalizing the Hawaiian language.

Tonight, a "Moonlight Mele" concert at Bishop Museum will celebrate the renaissance of the language and continued strength of the program.

'Aha Punana Leo is a private nonprofit corporation paid for by federal and charitable grants that focuses on Hawaiian-language immersion. Students can enter the program at age 3 and stay through high school graduation.

About 1,800 students participate, most of Hawaiian ancestry. Before the program, few children spoke Hawaiian, according to research from the University of Hawai'i.

Reach Jennifer Hiller at jhiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.