Nov 30, 2016 | Education, Stemworks
Maui High School freshman, Christine Alonzo was invited by President Obama to attend the first-ever White House South by South Lawn (SXSL) event. The Women in Technology (WIT) Project of the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) sponsored the Washington D.C. trip for Alonzo and her former Maui Waena STEMworks™ AFTERschool teacher, Jennifer Suzuki. The two-day festival, celebrating the spirit of innovation, brought together creators, organizers, and entrepreneurs who work to improve the lives of people in their communities and in the world. Keynote speakers and panels discussed how to solve the country’s most pressing problems while exhibits depicted a future that is full of opportunity for everyone.
In June 2016, while still at Maui Waena Intermediate School, Alonzo attended the PBS Student Reporting Labs’ All-Star Camp in D.C. While attending the camp, she and her group, made up of students from Colorado, California and Virginia, produced a story about a Georgetown graduate who created an interactive website (socialgirlz.com) for African American girls to network and support each other. After Alonzo completed the video, it was submitted to the White House Student Film Festival for this year’s theme, The World I Want to Live In. Although the film was not chosen as a finalist, it was selected as an honorable mention along with an invitation to Alonzo and her group to attend the White House film festival and the inaugural SXSL event.
“It was so amazing to have my video honored like that,” said Alonzo. “Attending the film festival was one of the highlights of my life and really inspired me to continue telling stories and creating videos. The SXSL experience was even more inspirational because I got to meet so many people who are fostering innovation and doing wonderful things in their communities.”
SXSL challenged us to build toward an America that is full of opportunities for everyone.
Christine Alonzo, Maui High School Freshman
Aug 31, 2016 | Education, Stemworks
“Pathways to Our Future,” the annual dinner and auction to benefit the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) Ke Alahele Education Fund, was held at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea on August 20th. The 2016 event, celebrating the Fund’s 10th year, provided a fun, educational and inspirational look at MEDB’s statewide STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs. Over 550 guests enjoyed an exciting lineup of activities, bid on a myriad of items during the popular Apples for Education live and silent auctions and competed in teams during a Family Feud-style game – STEM edition. Besides hosting distinguished guests U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui and his wife Lynette, and Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa and his wife Ann, the event raised an impressive $331,800. “Thanks to generous businesses and other community stakeholders, we have touched thousands of students,” said MEDB President & CEO Jeanne Unemori Skog. “Donors help support the teaching, tools, and experiences that will prepare our youth for STEM careers.”
MEDB proudly announced the 2016 honorees of the Daniel K. Inouye Innovation Award who demonstrated the most creative use of STEM tools and capabilities to best serve our community. First place winners, Lanai High and Elementary School students, Jasmine and Keona Conroy-Humphrey, used the geospatial software training they received in their MEDB STEMworks™ lab for their project, Lanai Fire Hydrant Collection. “We produced an Esri electronic map to geolocate fire hydrants for the Lanai Water Company,” said Jasmine and Keona. “The Esri Collector app helped locate the longitude and latitude of each fire hydrant allowing the water company and fire department faster access to the fire hydrants from their computers and phones. Our goal, to geolocate the information in a timely manner, was to help make Lanai a safer place.”
“We are so proud of all our STEM students,” said Skog. “MEDB’s programs offer a fantastic opportunity for students of different backgrounds, skill levels, and affinities to get together and create an amazing service for the community!”
The annual Daniel K. Inouye Innovation Award was created to inspire students and to encourage them in STEM pursuits that would include the community and make life better for our citizens.
Jennifer Goto-Sabas, Director of the Daniel K. Inouye Institute Fund
Jun 30, 2016 | Education, Stemworks
You are invited to attend Pathways to our Future, a benefit for the MEDB Ke Alahele Education Fund.
Bid on hundreds of items during the “Apples for Education” Live & Silent Auctions
Play Family Feud, The STEM Edition
Mingle with Distinguished Educators:
- U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono
- U.S. Senator Brian Schatz
- Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui and Lyndelle Tsutsui
- Mayor Alan Arakawa and Ann Arakawa
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Saturday, August 20, 2016 • Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui
4:30 pm Reception/Silent auction • 6 pm Dinner/Live auction
For reservations, visit www.medb.org or call us at 808-875-2300.
Jun 9, 2016 | Education, Stemworks
In 1999, Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) created the Women in Technology Project (WIT) whose mission is to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) throughout the state with hands-on and project-based service learning. WIT works in partnership with educators and businesses to build and strengthen Hawaii’s STEM education- to-workforce pipeline. Today, WIT provides cutting-edge STEM education across the islands, throughout the year. Effective programs, such as STEMworks AFTERschool, the Annual Hawaii STEM Conference, and more, continue to meet 21st century workforce demands. “STEM education has the power to impact all of us,” said Isla Young, MEDB’s K-12 STEM Program Director. “Through the years, we’ve seen first-hand how empowering our youth with STEM skills and opportunities can make a difference in their lives and in the career pathways they choose to pursue.”
WIT’s STEMworks AFTERschool program is multi-faceted and hands-on. Students get to use the most current, high-end technologies in actual service learning projects. Participants work with their peers and industry partners, using their skills to help improve life on their respective islands. “Through the STEMworks program, I’ve been able to strengthen my love for computer programming,” said Jeremy Amato, a 12th grader at King Kekaulike High School. “STEMworks has allowed me to apply my skills to real-world jobs and even use it to help my community. Now I’m looking at pursuing computer programming as my career choice.” Maui Waena 8th grader Christine Alonzo said, “The STEMworks AFTERschool program taught me how to work a camera. I now know how to write scripts, edit, and use Photoshop. But mostly, I learned the importance of teamwork.”
“We have the power to change the world,” said Thanthawat Moengchaisong from King Kekaulike High School. “I personally love helping the community with the technology around me because STEM is all over the world and it connects people in a powerful way.”
Through STEMworks AFTERschool, I achieved more than I ever thought I could. With the support of MEDB and WIT, my partner and I won first place in a nationwide film competition. Thank you MEDB!
Czerena Bayle, Maui Waena Intermediate School 8th grader
May 20, 2016 | Education, Stemworks
Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology (WIT) Project, in partnership with the County of Maui, presented the 7th Annual Hawaii STEM Conference at the Wailea Marriott Resort on May 6-7. This year, over 880 students, teachers, and industry professionals, offering some of the most innovative global technologies, attended. “Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education has the power to impact all of us,” said Isla Young, MEDB’s K-12 STEM Program Director. “Through the years, we’ve seen first-hand how empowering our youth with STEM skills and opportunities can make a difference in their lives and in the career pathways they choose to pursue.” The two-day, “download knowledge, upload service” themed event featured 43 student breakout sessions, 16 teacher professional development breakout sessions, 15 STEM competitions, a formal awards banquet, and STEM exhibit presentations.
Kicking off the event on Friday, a timed, high-energy mixer, the 5×5 Sessions, gave students the opportunity to engage five different STEM industry professionals in a ‘speed networking’ format to learn about STEM career pathways, personal experiences and insights. “MEDB’s leading effort to inspire these young minds during the annual STEM Conference, in addition to their STEMworks AFTERschool Programs, is simply amazing and greatly appreciated,” said 5×5 industry participant Kimberly Vaitu’ulala, an engineer with Maui Electric Company. “Each year Maui Electric welcomes students from WIT programs. We offer a hands-on science project that thrills participants when they finally get their circuits working!”
During the Conference, Hawaii State Governor David Ige announced that two new Microsoft “Digi Camps” will bring the latest in advanced code training to students in Maui County next year. The County and MEDB’s WIT Project are working closely with Microsoft to develop the Digi Camp agenda and promotion to local schools. “Forming an official Digital Alliance with Microsoft is a significant step toward building Maui County’s future workforce,” said Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa.”Given the latest challenges to our island’s economy, these kinds of educational opportunities can have a lasting impact.”
Every day, our lives are becoming more dependent on technology, which is why in this day and age, STEM education in the K-12 classroom is so important. The 5×5 Session is our chance to inspire the youth of Hawaii, by giving them face-to-face contact with people in STEM careers and hands-on experience with today’s technology.
Kimberly Vaitu’ulala, Maui Electric Company Engineer
May 12, 2016 | Education, Stemworks
Dr. Stacie Williams
Dr. Stacie Williams, a leading scientist and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) outreach educator in the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Directed Energy group on Maui, has accepted a position with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research near Washington DC. During her seven years here, Williams has skillfully juggled a myriad of professional responsibilities in a challenging environment. She led several technical efforts in the areas of imagery, spectroscopy and lasers and has been the manager for AFRL’s daylight and geosynchronous earth orbit imaging programs. As the AFRL group’s STEM outreach director, Williams’ leadership was instrumental in developing a program that annually reaches more than 1,000 kindergarten through 12th grade students and teachers, and influences all 34 Maui County public schools. The program includes teacher development workshops, a STEM curriculum lending library, and opportunities for summer students. “It’s important to show our youth that science can be engaging and that they don’t have to leave Maui to work in high-technology jobs,” said Williams.
“Since 2009, Williams has been a leading advocate in securing Air Force funds to supplement Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Women in Technology project STEM outreach programs,” said Mapu Quitazol, MEDB project manager. “She has also provided insights on high quality laboratory sets that are available for teachers to borrow from our STEM lending library. We will greatly miss her and her leadership in STEM outreach!”
Williams is featured in the film Maui in Space produced by MEDB with support from the County of Maui. Along with other AFRL officials and with researchers from the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy, the film introduces the importance of astronomy on Maui. “The video, an extraordinary educational tool, shows how our basic everyday needs require space-related functions and Maui’s important contributions to it,” said Williams. “Our goal, along with MEDB, is to continue to educate teachers and inspire students to explore the STEM fields for Hawaii’s future.”
“Working for the Air Force as a scientist is an honor,” Williams added. “I believe the AFRL and MEDB STEM programs will have a far-reaching impact on the future of our youth. I will miss Maui!”
By developing STEM programs for our youth, AFRL and MEDB are working together toward engaging Maui students at an early stage to use technology for improving Hawaii’s future.
Dr. Stacie Williams, AFRL Scientist and Outreach Education Director
Apr 28, 2016 | Education, Stemworks
In recognition of the 7th Annual Hawaii STEM Conference, the Maui County Council has declared the week of May 2 as Hawaii STEM Education Week. The Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Women in Technology (WIT) Project is sponsoring the conference on May 6 and 7 in partnership with the County of Maui. STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects empower students and educators with first-hand exposure to advanced technologies and the latest software training. Since the WIT program began in 2000 as a Maui pilot, it has grown to include every island, involving over 40,000 students and teachers annually. “STEM education has the power to improve all of our lives,” said Isla Young, K-12 STEM Director. “Our hope is that by equipping our youth with the right skills, tools, and opportunities we can inspire our next generation of innovators, ensuring a bright future for our community, and our world.”
Each year, the event also attracts prominent national partners and sponsors from top technology companies like Microsoft, Google, National Geographic, Apple for Education, Office of Naval Research, SketchUp, Opterra Energy Services and Environmental Systems Research Institute. This year the conference welcomes for the first time the National Security Agency, the National Science Foundation, and Cyber Watch West. The 2016 conference theme, “Download Knowledge – Upload Service,” encourages students to do innovative thinking and to demonstrate solutions to complex problems. The two-day event will feature 43 student sessions, 17 teacher sessions (designed to motivate and increase STEM learning in the classroom), 14 software competitions, a formal awards banquet, and STEM exhibit presentations. A number of student-centered competitions before and during the conference will also be held ranging from Computer Aided Design, game design, video, Geographical Information System, and Cybersecurtiy competitions. The event will also feature keynote speakers Teresa Nededog, a web developer for Enhance Digital, and Scot Refsland, Ph.D., founder and CEO of RotorSports.
“The STEM Conference gives students a true hands-on experience with new technology and insight into viable career options,” said Jennifer Suzuki, Maui Waena Intermediate School STEMworks™ teacher and advisor. “It is amazing what MEDB’s WIT team puts together here
in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for our students and teachers.”
MEDB’s WIT project has gone to great lengths to develop and launch STEMworks™ and the STEM conference. I’m very proud of them and all the students who are taking advantage of the opportunities to make all our lives better.
Bob Carroll, Maui County Council member
Mar 10, 2016 | Education, Stemworks
Students from Pukalani Elementary School’s robotics teams competed in the invitational Hawaii State VEX IQ Robotics Championship held last month at the Hawaii Convention Center on Oahu. The Imagineer teams placed highly in Driver and Programming Skills and won 1st place in the State for their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Research Project. By winning the Research category and placing 3rd and 4th in the state programming rankings, Pukalani’s Imagineers received invitations for both their teams to compete at the VEX IQ World Championship in Louisville, Kentucky in April 2016.
“The first-place project, The Dangers of Cell Phone Radiation, demonstrated how cell phones work and most importantly how radiation is emitted from the phones,” said Jasmine Domingo, Pukalani Elementary STEM Coordinator. The other team tied for 2nd place in the Teamwork Challenge for their project on “The Benefits of Video Games” which explained how video games improve physical skills with additional advantages for students with disabilities.
“The team’s overall success has been the culmination of a strong commitment at Pukalani Elementary towards STEM education,” said Domingo. “The last two years the Imagineers have been fortunate enough to receive grant money from Maui Economic Development Board’s Ke Alahele Fund to start and grow the robotics program.”
This year the students worked on VEX IQ Challenges that featured all aspects of making a robot which included programming the robot to run autonomously and driving the robot remotely. “I helped design, build and program our robot to pick up balls, dump them in the basket and go up the ramp,” said 5th grader Alden Johnson. “We built over 50 different robot designs and over 20 different claw designs until we found one that worked. Being part of our Pukalani robotics team has taught me that when you work with others and stick together you can do amazing things!”
The Pukalani Elementary team is seeking sponsors to help ensure that every student will be able to take part in the April 2016 VEX IQ World Championship in Kentucky. If you would like to sponsor the team, contact Jasmine Domingo at (808) 573-8760.
Part of the Hawaii state VEX IQ Robotics Championship is the autonomous programming skills challenge, in which students write code to control the robot’s behavior. It was here the Pukalani Imagineers have had much success, and are currently ranked in the top 20 elementary teams in the world and 3rd and 4th highest in Hawaii.
Jasmine Domingo, Pukalani Elementary School STEM Coordinator
Jan 6, 2016 | Education, Innovation, Stemworks
In celebration of Computer Science Education Week in December, Hour of Code, a nationwide campaign featuring free tutorials designed to get students interested in computer science, was held at Kamaliʻi Elementary School in Kihei. Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology Project (WIT) was a sponsor for the one-hour introduction. Children and adults were taught basic concepts of computer programming that offered them learning tools needed to create and communicate new ideas. “Hour of Code is an international movement to promote computer science education and call awareness to exciting 21st century career paths,” said Peter Hansen, Kamaliʻi School computer teacher. “Learning to code helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and originality. One hour is enough to learn that computer science is fun and creative, that it is accessible for all ages, for everyone.”
The tutorials teach a computer language called JavaScript which is designed to perform a certain task. By dragging and placing blocks of code in the computer program, the code tells the computer what to display on the screen. A JavaScript function is executed when something invokes it; hence students learn that all they see and do begins with lines of computer code. “I hope that through this event Kamaliʻi School’s technology program will receive some attention and parents and community members will begin to understand the importance of having computer science education for all students, even at the elementary level,” explained Hansen. Lucy Dryhurst, Kamaliʻi 5th grader said, “I learned through Hour of Code that by following directions on a game with a lot of thinking steps, I can write code. I like doing it a lot. It is fun and creative!”
“WIT is an extraordinary program,” Hansen noted. “They offered monetary support that made it possible to provide food and drinks for Hour of Code, not to mention donating the prizes and connecting us with volunteers.” In addition to this event, WIT provides professional educational opportunities for teachers and workshops for students, developing Maui’s future workforce.
On behalf of myself and Kamali’i School thank you very much, WIT, for your continuing support for Maui County teachers and students.
Peter Hansen, Kamaliʻi School Computer Teacher
