Sep 3, 2014 | Education, Innovation
AJ Ramelb’s tenacity and technological innovation gave disabled students an independence they don’t often experience. “I really wanted my students to be able to paint their own pictures, and AJ made that possible,” said Hillary Watt, a special education teacher at King Kekaulike High School. Watt and an audience of 600-plus applauded Ramelb, a 2014 Kekaulike graduate, following his selection for this year’s Daniel K. Inouye Innovation Award from Maui Economic Development Board. Ramelb, now enrolled as a freshman at the University of Hawaii Maui College, was chosen for the award established to commemorate the late Sen. Inouye’s legacy. The honor, presented at the recent Ke Alahele Education Fund Dinner, recognizes an exceptional student-led project that applies science, technology, engineering and math solutions to community improvement.
MEDB gave Ramelb $3,000 for college and a pledge to assist him in applying for a U.S. patent for a special paintbrush grip design. King Kekaulike will also receive $7,000 for its STEMworks™ lab. There last school year, Ramelb studied and created the paintbrush grip design for students with severe and multiple disabilities. “In a STEMworks™ lab, you have so many resources at your disposal,” Ramelb said. “I’m really grateful for my teacher, Emily Haines, and for STEM because it really opens up your mind and allows you to think about what you can do for your community.”
Ramelb created two different styles of grips, accommodating both inward and outward wrist turns of students with disabilities. They mainly use the grips for art paintbrushes, but recently used it to hold mini-maracas for music. “These kids are used to having things done for them, but these grips have given them the opportunity to do something on their own, to express themselves through movement and through art,” Watt said. She said she was impressed by Ramelb’s dedication and attention to testing the grips and adjusting the design so it could fit her students’ needs. “He really went above and beyond. I really appreciated it and couldn’t be more proud,” Watt said.
Aug 20, 2014 | Education, Stemworks
Programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math take center stage this week as Maui Economic Development Board rolls out its annual Ke Alahele Education Fund Dinner & Auction. Hundreds of supporters are expected to raise money Saturday at the Grand Wailea Resort for innovative STEM programs in schools and communities on Maui, Molokai and Lanai. “We are grateful to our generous businesses and community stakeholders for rallying behind our young people’s passion and pursuit of STEM learning and careers,” MEDB President and CEO Jeanne Skog said.
Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui and his wife, Lyndelle, and Mayor Alan Arakawa and his wife, Ann, are the 2014 Distinguished Educators for the annual gathering. Tsutsui called the Ke Alahele dinner a worthwhile event that recognizes the need to support and expand STEM programs. “We are nurturing budding scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who will create new ideas, new products and new industries,” he said. “The ability to understand and use STEM facts, principles and techniques are skills that can enhance an individual’s ability to succeed in school and beyond in a wide array of disciplines.”
In the most recent school year, the Ke Alahele Education Fund awarded nearly $175,000 to support robotics team competition locally, statewide and nationally; equipped digital media labs and engineering programs with updated tools, software and training; and organized the annual Science Olympiad. This year’s dinner will also feature the presentation of the annual Daniel K. Inouye Innovation Award. It’s given in honor of the late U.S. senator’s vision for Maui as an innovative center for scientific and technological advances. The student team will be recognized for innovative use of STEM tools and capabilities to serve and improve the community. Donations for the education fund are still being accepted. Call 875-2300, or visit www.medb.org
Aug 6, 2014 | Education
In her role as a STEM coach, Jenn Whitted said she’s seen Molokai students flourish in the area of science, technology, engineering and math. “The new computers, robots, computer software really open their eyes to projects they can do and learn from,” Whitted said. She said she’s thankful for the support from Maui Economic Development Board and the grants both Kaunakakai Elementary and Molokai Middle School have received from MEDB’s Ke Alahele Education Fund. “I feel like there is no better way for a child to learn than in a hands-on learning environment.”
On August 23, MEDB will host its annual Ke Alahele Education Fund Dinner & Auction at the Grand Wailea Resort Ballroom. Proceeds from the event help to power STEM Education programs throughout Maui County. Whitted has been involved in STEM supported grants at Kaunakakai Elementary and for FIRST Lego League Robotics at Molokai Middle School. She said the Ke Alahele grants opened opportunities to expose students to a variety of science based activities in and outside of the classroom. “Our hope is to spark an interest within the individual students that will drive them to pursue higher education,” she said. Ke Alahele grants have covered travel expenses to FIRST Lego League Robotics competition and equipment and material for STEM elementary and middle school programs. “Without the funding we would never have been able to offer these opportunities,” she said.
Whitted said she’s seen students use creativity and team work to complete projects. When the middle-schoolers travel to Maui for Lego competition, they also tour STEM companies. “Getting the opportunity to speak with STEM professionals is an incredible resource for our island. These STEM visits show them that their future is in their hands and they can dream big,” she said. For more information about the Ke Alahele dinner, call 875-2300, or visit www.medb.org
Jul 30, 2014 | Education, Stemworks
Excite Camp Mentor Racieli Andrada has learned a lot about herself while serving as a mentor during the Maui Economic Development Board Women in Technology Project Excite Camp. “I learned that I have the ability to lead a group and have the patience to teach others,” said Andrada, an 18-year-old Maui High graduate. “It’s important to know how much I can handle and be aware of my capabilities when working with students and peers.”
As a mentor, Andrada helped speakers as they gave presentations during one of the summer camps. She took charge of teaching girls how to use iMovie to create a video about their experience at Excite Camp. “I loved watching their videos and seeing how much they enjoyed their experience and how they were excited to join the STEMworks™ programs,” Andrada said.
It wasn’t all easy, she observed. “The challenges that I faced were teaching girls who were about three years younger,” she said. “It was difficult to calm them down because they were always eager to learn more, but they always looked to do more even though they were in the middle of a workshop.” Andrada also learned what it takes to be an effective mentor. “It’s important to connect with students being mentored and understand their strengths and weaknesses to be able to help them become a better person,” she said.
Mentors “have a huge impact on the younger people because they become more comfortable when learning, and they are able to hear first-hand experiences from their mentors,” Andrada said.
Begun in 2000, Excite Camp’s mission is to create awareness and motivate 7th- and 8th-grade girls — especially those in under-represented minorities — to aspire to careers in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. In 14 years, more than 300 girls from around the county have participated in the event. Excite Camp is sponsored by MEDB’s Women in Technology Project, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii – Institute for Astronomy, U.S. Air Force and the Maui Research & Technology Park tenants. It is funded in part by the County of Maui, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Jul 23, 2014 | Education, Stemworks
As summer draws to an end, college-bound freshman Phyllis Raquinio said she’s learned to be more patient and grateful for the experience to work as a professional. “The STEMworks™ internship helped me learn about being professional around the people I work with and taught me to keep up to date with technology for my future profession,” Raquinio said, referring to the internship coordinated by Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology Project. For Wyman Tong, his internship at ArdentMC was challenging and yet met his expectations. “This is my second year doing the STEMworks™ internship, and I have enjoyed them both,” he said.
In total, the Women in Technology Project, a statewide workforce initiative at MEDB, placed 30 students in a variety of six-week internships throughout the state. The STEMworks™ program provides students with access to high tech tools, software training, project design, career exposure and internship opportunities to learn from mentors and gain the real-world job experience, knowledge and skills they’ll need when they join the 21st century workforce. Raquinio, a 17-year-old Maui High School graduate, worked from home and met with her mentors on a weekly basis. Paired with Pedego Maui, which has sites at the Lahaina Gateway and the Kahana Gateway Shopping Center, Raquinio was assigned to “renovate” the electric bike tour company’s blog, create a Facebook page and create and edit videos. “The STEMworks™ internship contributed to honing my skills,” she said, adding that she learned new and innovative ways of using technology for communication.
Tong, who’s enrolling at the University of Hawaii Maui College this fall, said his internship gave him the first-time experience with programming work and insight into what software engineers do. “Even if an internship is not what you expect or does not fit your interests, you still get to spend time with very important people who can share their experiences and opinions with you,” he said. MEDB’s WIT project has been building STEM internships for 15 years, placing both high school and college students on all islands across the state ranging from the Pearl Harbor Shipyards to restoring fishponds and native vegetation on Molokai.
Jul 16, 2014 | Education
In reflecting on how young people are encouraged to tell stories in Akaku’s Youth Broadband Education and Awareness Mentoring program, Akaku Education Director Kat Tracy pointed to the Apple computer company founder and visionary Steve Jobs. Jobs “envisioned putting the tools to create stories on devices that we carry with us, in essence, to democratize the media,” she said. “Pew Reports indicate that up to 89 percent of the public own smart devices with video capability, outnumbering ownership of desktop computers. That is how we are encouraged to use the technology to tell stories, by owning it. But, owning it alone won’t be enough, we need training on how to effectively, and responsibly, use those tools.”
Tracy said STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) “embraces technology, and in video what sits between your idea or message is technology. It is the bridge you must cross to share your story.” Akaku’s youth education and mentoring program received a grant from the Maui Economic Development Board’s Ke Alahele Education Fund. “MEDB demonstrates a true intention of supporting STEM education and training for Maui Nui youth through support of numerous innovative initiatives. I feel like we stand among giants! This support also enables us to be good community partners, as well as create new ones.”
Tracy said the grant was instrumental in allowing Akaku to expand its mobile journalism program, Project YBEAM, to Molokai through purchase of additional equipment and support for curriculum training of its part-time Molokai educational coordinator. “Seeing the launch projects there and the enthusiasm from the youth and public there really solidifies that this expansion will be well served,” she said. Tracy said Akaku’s students continue to speak about learning how to interview people for stories and how that builds their self-confidence. MEDB established the Ke Alahele Education Fund to power up STEM Education in Maui County. This year’s Ke Alahele Education Dinner and Auction will be held Aug. 23 at the Grand Wailea Resort. For more information, call 875-2300, or visit www.medb.org
Jul 9, 2014 | Education
HNu Photonics is reinforcing its growing reputation as a leading high technology company in Hawaii. Recently, the Maui-based company was selected by the Biotech International Organization for its “Buzz of BIO” Award for “Technologies of Tomorrow.” HNu received 1,921 online votes en route to winning the award for its cutting-edge technology designed for use aboard the International Space Station, according to Dan O’Connell, the CEO of HNu Photonics. O’Connell said the “Buzz of BIO” award is a testament to the tremendous support his company receives from Maui’s business and technology community.
“This award is a demonstration of Hawaii’s commitment to community and partnership,” he said. “This award is a win for all of us, and we hope to bring attention to Hawaii.” In 2013, the HNu-nanoPOINT Division exhibited its patented microfluidic system in the state-supported Hawaii Pavilion at the BIO conference in Chicago. Executives from the Center for Advancement of Science in Space “were overwhelmed by the capabilities of our technology and discussions ensued,” he said. “CASIS is NASA’s sole manager of the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory. The mission of CASIS is to maximize use of this unparalleled platform for innovation, which can benefit all humankind and inspire a new generation to look to the stars.”
HNu-nanoPOINT was eventually selected to deliver two fully space-ready microfluidic systems to NASA – one for deployment aboard the International Space Station and the other for astronaut training, he said. Designed with stem-cell studies in mind, the microfluidics system is “a multipurpose in-vivo platform, where cell maintenance and reagent delivery are automated and cells imaged with varying time-course options viewed remotely through a wireless connection at the researchers’ convenience.” Calling it a “laboratory-on-a-chip platform,” O’Connell said it “incorporates the size and durability characteristics that make it ideal for space-based deployments such as onboard the International Space Station. Its miniaturized and automated sub-components … are uniquely designed for space-based applications and are capable of many other biological analyses in microgravity conditions in addition to stem cell research.” HNu has a long-standing relationship with MEDB, covering a broad spectrum of entrepreneurial ventures and renewable energy projects. Most recently, Hnu is responsible for the design and installation of another photovoltaic system at MEDB’s center.
Jul 2, 2014 | Education
Driven by her love for math and desire to give back to the community, 17-year-old Jasmine Doan founded the Maui Math Circle. She completed the first year of the project with the support of Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology Project; her school, Seabury Hall; and the new Puu Kukui Elementary School in Wailuku, where the community service program is held. It works like this: Middle and high school students like Doan and her peers get together once a month to teach advanced math concepts and problem solving skills to 3rd, 4th- and 5th-graders during after-school hours. There are as many as 15 volunteers matched up with 50 to 75 younger students.
Doan describes the project as a math enrichment, not a tutoring session. “It’s supposed to be for students who really want to learn more about advanced math. We try to make it fun and encourage the students to be creative in how they approach math,” she said. Doan has long enjoyed math, having finished Advanced Placement Calculus in the 6th grade. She hopes to work either as a computer science engineer or an entrepreneur, like her parents, Jason and Shirley Doan of Kahului. “I just love math. I think a lot of people don’t see that math is such a creative process,” she said. “I like how it’s kind of like a puzzle.”
Heading into her senior year, Doan serves as a competitor and coach for middle and high school-aged students in a variety of math competitions. As captain of her school’s math team, Doan spearheaded a win in state competition this past May. Maui Math Circle is on summer break and will return in September when Doan will serve on an advisory board with the goal of continuing the project even after she leaves the island for college.
For more information, visit: https://www.sites.google.com/site/mauimathcircle808/home or https://www.facebook.com/MauiMathCircle
Jun 11, 2014 | Education
A Ke Alahele Education Fund grant for Montessori School of Maui was intended to support its engineering and robotics programs plus help provide a practical learning environment for students to enhance their skills in science, technology, engineering and math or STEM. But it went beyond that, according to Thomas Daubert, the school’s director of development. “In its first year, our after-school Robotics and Engineering studios have provided a fun learning environment for up to 16 students each session,” he said. “The students came away with increased skill development and a new way to perceive themselves and the physical world around them,” Daubert said.
At Montessori, students work in teams to learn the mechanics of simple machines, basic electronic circuits, polarity, magnetism and more. Jason Verkaart, the Robotics studio coordinator, is also a parent of a student at the school. Each session culminates in a fun competitive race or game using the vehicles and systems constructed throughout a course. “Our students have become very excited about seeing the physical application of math, engineering and science coursework and have personally experienced the enthusiasm of a parent working within his profession,” Daubert said.
Daubert said the program was a good fit for a Montessori school with its strong emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning. “As a Montessori school, on a daily basis, we work to develop the interests of each unique student through practical collaborative work, which is the basis for a successful Robotics program. This is a great fit for our school, and we look forward to finding even greater connective points between this after-school studio and our core curriculum activities in the coming year.” MEDB established the Ke Alahele Education Fund to power up STEM Education in Maui County. This year’s Ke Alahele Education Fund Dinner and Auction will be held Aug. 23 at the Grand Wailea Resort. Call 875-2300, or www.medb.org
