The state Department of Education's employee of the year and team of the year will be honored today at the 2007 "Incentive and Service" awards program ceremony.

The program recognizes DOE employees who have made special and continued contributions to improve the quality and effectiveness of school services. The awards event is set for 1 p.m. at the state Capitol auditorium.

Team Excellence Award of Merit recipients include: Hilo Union School custodians, Honolulu mowing crew, Jefferson Elementary School educational aids, Kaua'i Complex area utility crew team, Mokulele Elementary School custodian team, Nanaikapono Elementary School cafeteria team, Sunset Beach Elementary School office staff.

The Certificate of Achievement recipient is Lynn Kitaoka, an administrative services assistant, Leilehua Complex, Central District.

Recipients of the Sustained Superior Performance Award include: James Chinen, a power mower operator supervisor; Corey Y.S. Chun, a data processing system analyst; Janice Ikebe, a school administrative services assistant; Terry Okuno, a school custodian, Kokee Discovery Center, Kauai District; Joanne Shibuya, an administrative services assistant; and Valerie Watanabe, a school food services manager.

ISLE STUDENTS TO READ WITH LAKERS

The Los Angeles Lakers will arrive in Hawai'i next month to train for their upcoming season, play two exhibition games, and to promote literacy through their "Read to Achieve" program.

For a 14-day period, starting Wednesday, O'ahu students in grades 3 to 8 will be asked to document the number of minutes they spend reading outside of class. The class with the highest average number of minutes read will enjoy a private read-aloud session with a Lakers player before watching the Lakers play in an exhibition basketball game set for 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Stan Sheriff Center.

The team will also distribute a Lakers prize to the first 3,000 students who read 30 minutes or more each day during the 14-day period.

In addition, the team will hold a book drive to benefit the new Lakers Reading Room at the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii. All fans attending the Oct. 9 Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors preseason game are encouraged to bring a donation of a new children's book.

The mission of the NBA's Read to Achieve program is to build a lifelong love of reading in young people, promote the value of reading and online literacy, and encourage families and adults to read regularly with young children.

For more information on the Lakers challenge, contact Jennifer Dang at 525-7660.

UH-HILO, HPU RANKED IN TOP 20

The University of Hawai'i-Hilo and Hawai'i Pacific University are ranked in the top 20 among NCAA Division II universities in the fifth annual National Collegiate Scouting Association Collegiate Power Rankings.

The rankings rate colleges and universities comprehensively based on student-athlete graduation rates, academic strength and athletic prowess of the university.

UH-Hilo is ranked seventh and HPU is ranked 19th. Also making the Division II list was Brigham Young University-Hawai'i at No. 93.