President Bush yesterday awarded retired Leeward teacher Linda Uehara of Mililani one of six President's Volunteer Service Awards for 40 years of work with Hawai'i youth, families, schools and communities.

Uehara, 60, received the lapel pin in the White House's East Room yesterday. Later, in a telephone interview, Uehara was still so excited she had to have her daughter, Marcie Herring, read the words on the pin.

"It says, 'The President's Call To Service Award. USA Freedom Corps,' " they said.

Bush didn't say anything of particular note to the six winners from across the country, Uehara said.

"He just congratulated all of us," she said. "He came in, shook our hands and thanked us individually for the work we do, in terms of volunteerism."

Uehara was nominated for the award by the state Department of Education and Learn and Serve America.

She taught for 33 years in the Leeward District. As a teacher at Kapolei Middle School, she was the 2002 Leeward District's outstanding teacher the same year she retired.

In 2006 Uehara won an Ola Pono Award for promoting safe, drug-free lifestyles.

In 2003, Gov. Linda Lingle appointed her to serve on the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council.

Uehara also volunteers with the Hawaii Girls Court and co-facilitates Girls Street Smart, a life skills program for Asian and Pacific island teenagers.

Over the years, she has also helped with Hawai'i programs that include literacy workshops for K-12 teachers; a "communicating with teens" program on Kaua'i; work with teen girls at Hawai'i Youth Correctional facilities; and sessions for the Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii.

Uehara had been to the White House before, when U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie arranged a tour in 2006 during a Washington, D.C., visit with the Juvenile Justice Commission.

Today, Uehara is scheduled to have breakfast with U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, followed by a VIP tour of the Capitol and the Library of Congress.

"Isn't that wonderful?" she said. "We're just so thrilled for everything."

Uehara and Herring — who works for the Coalition for a Drug Free Hawai'i — are scheduled to fly back home tomorrow.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.