Parker School's third annual auction to raise money for financial aid and scholarships brought in more than $155,000, the Big Island school announced yesterday.

Nearly 40 percent of all students attending Parker School receive financial aid.

"I am absolutely thrilled by the outcome of the Kahiau event," said Keawe Liu, Parker School's head of institutional advancement. "We try so hard to keep our excellent program accessible for our community, and our fundraising events give us the ability to accomplish that goal. We are so thankful for everyone who supported us."

Between Kahiau and Parker School's annual Fairways & Friends Golf Tournament, more than $175,000 has been raised for financial aid this year, the school news release stated.

UH MENTORING SESSIONS FEB. 16

Professionals from O'ahu's legal, medical, social services, education and media communities will conduct mentoring sessions with University of Hawai'i students in a workshop titled, "How Do I Make This My Profession?"

The Feb. 16 sessions will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UH-Manoa Architecture Building, Room 101A.

The event is an opportunity for students to connect with career professionals from the local community, as well as from O'ahu's African-American community. For those in attendance, money is available for reimbursements on student memberships to professional organizations.

It is sponsored by the Hawai'i Chapter of the Links Inc., a nonprofit community service organization of professional women of color, and the UH Department of Ethnic Studies. It is being funded with the help of a grant from the Diversity and Equity Initiative.

The event is free and open to all students in the University of Hawai'i system. To reserve a spot, contact professor Elisa White at 956-2824 or e-mail ejwhite@hawaii.edu.

HPU SELECTS CHORAL DIRECTOR

Hawai'i Pacific University has selected Matthew Kala'i Stern as its new director of choral music.

Stern, who recently completed a season as the interim director of the university's International Vocal Ensemble, replaces Susan McCreary Duprey, who created the program several years ago.

Stern earned a bachelor of arts in music from the University of Hawai'i-Manoa in 2005 and currently serves as the music director of First United Methodist Church of Honolulu.

He previously directed the Honolulu Boy Choir and the Prince Kuhio Hawai'i Civic Club Choir.

KEN SCHOOLLAND WINS ED. AWARD

Hawai'i Pacific University Associate Economics Professor Ken Schoolland was awarded the Acton Foundation's National Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship Education.

Schoolland was nominated by one of his students for the award, finance major Xiao Yi from China, who accompanied Schoolland to Austin, Texas, to receive the award.

Schoolland was one of 27 teachers from across the country to win this year's Excellence in Entrepreneurship Education awards.

Each winner is invited to attend a two-day seminar on entrepreneurship teaching and receives a $1,000 award and trophy.