Posted on: Wednesday, October 15, 2003

$2.2 million grant to encourage Hawaiian students in science

Advertiser Staff

HILO, Hawai'i — The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the University of Hawai'i at Hilo a $2.2 million, three-year grant to encourage Native Hawaiian high school students statewide to consider careers in science and the environment.

The grant was awarded under the Native Hawaiian Education Act Program and is administered through Na Pua No'eau, UH-Hilo's Center for Gifted and Talented Native Hawaiian Children.

"At UH-Hilo, we're finding that many of our Hawaiian students who have an interest in some of these areas are not adequately prepared in the areas of math and science," said Na Pua No'eau Director David K. Sing. The grant will help give students the prerequisite course work in the early high school years, he said.

The project will work with a group of students for three years, starting the summer before they enter the ninth grade. This year's program began Oct. 1.

Na Pua No'eau sites taking part in the project are at UH-Manoa, Kaua'i Community College, Maui Community College, Lana'i High and Elementary School, the Moloka'i Education Center and UH-West Hawai'i.