From tackling motor vehicle theft to advancing AI in education and aquaculture, students in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa鈥檚 won prizes for their innovative ideas at the inaugural 2024 Honolulu Tech Week Community Hackathon in September. Four PACE leaders on different teams earned awards across various categories, earning $4,000 in prize money.

The hackathon brought together innovators of all ages, challenging participants to develop functional prototypes within three weeks to address real-world problems. PACE students stood out for their creativity and ability to deliver impactful solutions.

MopedSafe

More than 3,000 thefts were reported in 2023鈥攊ncluding motorcycles, motor scooters, and mopeds鈥攁ccording to the Honolulu Police Department鈥檚 crime dashboard. To address this problem, Andrea Murillo Martinez, a junior in electrical engineering, and Kai Garcia, a senior in computer science, developed MopedSafe, a hardware technology solution aimed at combating moped theft.

Their project used the latest technology to detect moped movements. The system sends real-time alerts to a user’s smartphone via Bluetooth if suspicious activity is detected.

MopedSafe took home both the Best Hardware-Related Project Award and the People鈥檚 Choice Award, with a combined prize of $2,000. Martinez and Garcia are exploring ways to bring MopedSade to the market and collaborate with a mobile telecommunications company.

Martinez and Garcia credit their experience to PACE and their entrepreneur in residence, Jeff Hui.

“It was great to see the aspects of PACE, like the challenges startups face and how to analyze the market. It helped us think about our own value proposition,” said Martinez.

WriteLevel

A team of researchers from the Department of Second Language Studies took home the Best AI Project award for their automated essay scoring system, WriteLevel. Ann T. Choe, former PACE participant, Yu-Tzu Chang, Dan Holden and Dan Isbell, entered the competition, hoping to make their academic research project more practical.

WriteLevel is designed to address the time-consuming process of grading placement essays by teachers. Taking input from the , the team built a machine learning tool that converts student essays into numerical data using natural language processing.

“I applied what I learned from PACE to turn an academic project into a compelling business pitch. I highlighted teachers’ pain points, especially the time-consuming task of grading essays by hand,” said Choe.

The team plans to use their $1,000 prize money to refine their machine learning models and explore ways to develop the system into a fully fledged product that can be adopted by other language programs.

AquaHealth

AquaHealth, led by a former PACE Leader, Quang Loc Lam, a fourth-year business administration student specializing in information technology investment, alongside his teammate Thi Hai Au La, is an AI-powered mobile app and website for diagnosing diseases in aquatic species, particularly catfish.

The solution aims to support Vietnam鈥檚 aquaculture industry, the world鈥檚 largest producer of catfish. The app allows farmers to take photos of sick fish, upload them to the app or website and receive a diagnosis in seconds.

“I learned a lot from PACE, but not just through hackathons, but I gained insights into customer validation, conducting interviews with potential customers and writing business plans,” said Lam. “ Understanding how to identify and address the pain points of customers is crucial. PACE provided me with the framework to turn these ideas into actual solutions.”

Lam鈥檚 project won the Best University Project Award and a $1,000 prize. The team is looking to expand AquaHealth鈥檚 AI capabilities to diagnose diseases in other aquatic species.

—By McKenzie Kurosu

University of Hawaiʻi alumna Magdalena Petko, found her path to a master鈥檚 degree in second language studies (SLS), a new career and an unexpected ʻohana through an accelerated degree program at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补.

The or BAM program encourages high-performing 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate students to commit to a master鈥檚 program early and take graduate-level classes in their senior year. The program helped Petko go from testing the waters for a return to college to employment as an instructor with the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 (HELP).

“I was very excited to take graduate-level classes as an undergraduate student,” Petko said. “Those advanced classes encouraged me to engage with topics about teaching and learning additional languages on a deeper level.”

Petko came to Hawaiʻi from Germany 11 years ago with her husband and children. While she has a German physical therapy degree, she decided to return to school and start a new career. She enrolled in Kapiʻolani Community College鈥檚 (SLT) program, “to get my feet wet and figure out if being in college while raising four children would work out for me,” she said.

Not only did it work out for Petko, in her last semester in SLT, she decided to transfer to 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 to continue her studies and work on a bachelor鈥檚 degree with the encouragement of Kapiʻolani CC Assistant Professor Shawn Ford and Instructor Carrie Torres. Once at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, she double majored and earned a bachelor’s degree in SLS and German in 2019. Through taking graduate-level classes alongside her undergraduate classes, Petko earned her master’s degree in SLS in 2021. She credits SLS Undergraduate Coordinator Kenton Harsch as the “main cheerleader in applying for the BAM program.”

Finding a second ʻohana

“At times as an undergraduate student in the grad-level classes, I felt like an imposter,” Petko said. “I had self-doubts about my academic performance, which quickly evaporated as I fit right in with the graduate students. The professors provided us with positive feedback…and our worries quickly dissipated.”

In addition to taking a greater load of classes, Petko was working as a graduate assistant with HELP. Although her schedule was very full, Petko found support and camaraderie with other BAM students.

“I did not anticipate encountering such a tight-knit and welcoming community starting from being a BAM student,” she said. “I met many interesting new faces and felt academically challenged. The other BAM students and I became our own little ʻohana in the larger SLS 驶辞丑补苍补.&谤诲辩耻辞;

More on the BAM program

BAM pathways afford a way for highly motivated students to efficiently complete a bachelor鈥檚 degree and master鈥檚 degree or post-baccalaureate certificate in a shorter time frame by taking graduate courses alongside undergraduate courses at the undergraduate tuition rate.

[The BAM program] allowed for a smooth transition and kept me motivated to strive for the next higher degree.
—Magdalena Petko

In most cases, pathway students graduate with the bachelor鈥檚 degree and master鈥檚 degree within five years total.

There are currently in a variety of fields including multidisciplinary pathways with plans to expand to more disciplines. There are also three combined bachelors and post-baccalaureate pathways for undergraduates interested in a post-baccalaureate certificate in teacher education.

“Without the BAM program, I am unsure if I would have continued and finished with a master’s degree,” Petko said. “It allowed for a smooth transition and kept me motivated to strive for the next higher degree.” She encourages other students thinking of starting on their own BAM pathway to “go for it.”

“Students who are curious beyond the undergrad level of classes will enjoy the additional challenge and atmosphere in graduate-level classes,” she said. “The program can be a time saver but is also flexible enough to let you slow down again if needed later on at the graduate level. If you have high expectations, and communication and organization are your strong suit, the program is for you.”

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A startup company helping people learn different languages is the winner of the 2022 (东精影业VC). GOALL (Great Online Activities for Language Learning), led by University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 PhD students, won a prize package of more than $34,000.

GOALL provides a web and mobile app to help adult language learners achieve their goals through customizable and research-grounded task-based activities. Its prize package includes $10,000 from title sponsors Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) and Hawaiian Electric, and more than $24,000 in in-kind prizes. Team members are Ann Choe, Kristen Urada, Yang Liu and Susanne DeVore, who are all PhD students in 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Department of Second Language Studies in the .

“We are very honored to receive first place,” said Choe, GOALL鈥檚 team leader. “The whole experience was a fantastic opportunity to develop our entrepreneurial knowledge and skills. We鈥檙e grateful for PACE, our coach Jeff Hui, and those who supported GOALL all along. We can鈥檛 wait to advance GOALL to its next step.”

GOALL was one of three finalists that presented to a group of judges at 东精影业VC鈥檚 final event held in-person on April 29 at American Savings Bank. .

东精影业VC is hosted annually by in 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 to support budding entrepreneurs by providing hands-on education, mentorship and resources to students from the 10-campus 东精影业 System who wish to start a new business.

Finalists

Resesio—a company that offers an automated optimization model for the construction design process, resulting in significant material and cost savings鈥攚on the second place prize, which includes $5,000 from HEI and Hawaiian Electric and $14,400 in in-kind prizes. Team members are 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 PhD students Mohamed Sherif, Amr Ghanem and Mostafa Abdelhafeez. Sherif and Ghanem won the 2021 and a $5,000 prize for a company called Model-C, which is focused on infrastructure simulation and optimization technology.

The third place winner was the Ōfaga Leo Preschool System, which provides immersion language education in Hawaiʻi and the continental U.S. in areas where there is a high demand for childcare and preschool services in Samoan language. The third place prize totaled more than $10,000, including a $2,500 cash prize sponsored by HiBEAM in honor of pioneer Billy Richardson. Team members are John Patu, Jr., a PhD student in at 东精影业 Hilo, and Carmelita T. Patu, a creative media student at .

These three teams reached the finals after beating out 25 other teams in two earlier rounds of competition.

“We are proud of all of the courageous teams that embarked on their entrepreneurial journey through the competition. We were pleased to see a diverse group of participants from six 东精影业 System campuses with startup ideas, ranging from geothermal energy to educational platforms to consumer products,” said PACE Executive Director Sandra Fujiyama. “This competition is not possible without the generous support of our sponsors, partners, and volunteers, for whom I am very grateful.”

“At HEI, we recognize the vital role entrepreneurs play in creating and maintaining a vibrant economy for our island state,” said Scott Seu, HEI president and CEO. “We applaud the innovative ideas and hard work of all the participants, and recognize the many mentors and professors who guided them along the way.”

In addition to cash prizes, each winning team will take home a carefully curated prize package of support services. Prize sponsors include Blue Logic Labs, HiBEAM, Hub Coworking Hawaiʻi, New Venture Pro, Pineapple Tweed and Vantage Counsel.

Outstanding student entrepreneur

Fujiyama also presented Madonna Castro Perez with PACE鈥檚 outstanding student entrepreneur of the year award for her exceptional contributions to entrepreneurial activities at the university and in the community. The law student was a member of the winning team in the 2020 competition. She has served as the vice chair of the Calvin Shindo Student Venture Fund since February 2021, leading a committee of 12 students to manage the venture finance process. She served as a civil rights advocate at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi and an intern at Blue Startups.

This program is an example of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

—By Marc Arakaki

The is one of 18 U.S. doctoral institutions that produced the most Fulbright U.S. Scholars in 2021–22, according to the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The is the world鈥檚 largest and most diverse international educational exchange program. The is published annually in The Chronicle of Higher Education. 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 was last recognized as a top producer of Fulbright scholars in 2018–19.

Four 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 faculty members were granted and accepted Fulbright awards for 2021–22, while two additional 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 faculty members were selected but declined. 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 has produced a total of 33 accepted recipients for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program over the past 10 years.

“We are extremely proud of all of our faculty who have earned Fulbright awards this year and in years past. Through their work and the connections that they make, they bring 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and Hawaiʻi to the world. In an age of great uncertainty and conflict, the Fulbright awards represent the promise of what we can achieve through international exchange and collaboration,” 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 Provost Michael Bruno said.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholars from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 in 2021–22:

• Ned Bertz, associate professor, (Tanzania)
• Ajay Bhatt, assistant professor, (Nepal)
• Hong Jiang, associate professor, (Taiwan)
• Donald Womack, professor, (South Korea)

“We thank the leadership of these institutions for supporting their faculty and administrators who pursue Fulbright awards,” said Ethan Rosenzweig, deputy assistant secretary of state for academic programs in the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. “In return, these institutions benefit from new, global perspectives and new international collaborations, which can positively impact local and global communities. Fulbright U.S. Scholars expand the scope and reach of their research, expand networks and further development of sectors which work to address local and global challenges.”

Fulbright student and visiting scholars

Two 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 students received 2021–22 awards from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program:

• Victoria Lee, spring 2021 graduate, second language studies (South Korea)
• Joseph “Jay” Ritch, spring 2021 graduate, second language studies (Tajikistan)

In addition, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 welcomed three visiting Fulbright scholars in 2021–22: Onder Islek (education) from Aksaray University in Turkey; Wiwik Sushartami (anthropology) from Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia; and In Soo Oh (education) from Ewha Womans University in South Korea.

More about the Fulbright Program

Virtual information sessions for prospective Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholars are on April 20, 12:30–1:30 p.m. and April 25, 9–10:30 a.m.

The Fulbright Scholar Program is supported at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 through Fulbright program advisors R. Anderson Sutton, assistant vice provost for global engagement; William Chapman, interim dean of the ; Kristen Connors, fellowships, scholarships and professional development coordinator; and Betsy Gilliland, Department of Second Language Studies associate professor.

For more information about the Fulbright Program at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, .

This work is an example of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Victoria Lee grew up in a Cantonese-speaking family in Hawaiʻi. Her first two years in public school were spent in the English Language Learner program, a curriculum which accommodates students who come from non-English speaking homes. Lee鈥檚 experience as a child ignited a passion to work in the English as a second language field, a goal that shaped her decision to major in Second Language Studies at the .

As an undergraduate, Lee soon learned students could shave off a semester of graduate school through the . BAM enables students to start on their master鈥檚 during their senior year.

BAM pioneer for Second Language Studies

In fall 2018, Lee was one of six students who entered the Second Language Studies鈥� BAM pathway program. Currently, Second Language Studies is one of more than 20 areas of focus at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 where students can pursue a bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 expedited pathway.

Lee understood the pathway program could pose challenges but knew her desire to teach academic English to university students abroad would require more than a bachelor鈥檚 degree.

“The faculty and other colleagues in my department played big roles in my academic journey because they were very supportive of us, especially as we transitioned from being a BA student to a MA student,” she explained. “They were the ones that reminded us to compartmentalize our personal and academic lives because they understood how consuming graduate school could get and how burnt out we would be if we weren’t careful.”

Support for new pathway

Second Language Studies Undergraduate Coordinator Kenton Harsch was a big support source for Lee.

“Being able to double-count nine credits toward both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree means that a motivated student can move straight from their bachelor’s degree into a master’s degree, and in the end finish their master’s degree a semester earlier than they otherwise would be able to,” Harsch said. “That’s a significant saving of time and money, which is a great incentive for students.鈥� The nine double-counted credits are charged at the undergraduate tuition rate.

This spring Lee graduated with her MA specializing in English language education. She was awarded a Fulbright grant and will leave Hawaiʻi in 2022 for South Korea to teach secondary students. Her loved ones are thrilled by her many accomplishments, and she is the first in her family to attend college. A long-term goal she hopes to strive for is pursuing a doctorate.

This is an example of 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

Born in Hau Giang Province in southern Vietnam in 1989, Thu Nguyen spent her early years without the comforts of modern life, working hard to make money for her family and being made fun of in school for being poor.

When she was 16, a friend convinced her to visit an internet cafe, where she used a computer for the first time. She met a young boy online named Thanh, who had immigrated with his family to Hawaiʻi from Vietnam. After an online courtship that lasted for a few years, they eventually married in 2013 and Nguyen came to Hawaiʻi to begin a new life.

Part of this new life included her dream of becoming a nurse, but being in a new place meant that everything was different: the environment, the food and the language. To make a living, she worked at a local nail salon, while her husband worked as an independent contractor to support their two sons.

Learning English

Nguyen needed to learn English in order to pursue her dream career so she enrolled at in August of 2020, despite hardships caused by the coronavirus.

“I won鈥檛 give up now. The challenges I face now are nothing compared to what I faced before,” she said.

With English classes that met online four days a week, Nguyen said it was convenient for her to support her older son with his online learning in the mornings and then join her English classes online in the afternoons, while her younger son took his nap. Occasionally she would stay up until 3 a.m. doing homework, which she had little time for on the weekends due to her part-time job at the salon.

Nguyen excelled in her online English classes, where she was a friend to every classmate. She gave support and encouragement when she saw her classmates struggling with online learning, and she knew to ask for help when she needed it.

According to her English instructor, Kelly Kennedy, “One of the many things that makes Thu a strong student is that she asks questions, and she really takes the time to understand. She doesn鈥檛 rush. She has the perseverance to keep going. That makes a big difference.”

Pursuing her dream

Despite the pressures Nguyen has felt due to the pandemic and the challenges of online learning, she has a positive outlook. She speaks fondly of her son鈥檚 kindergarten teacher, who has helped him learn to do things for himself. She is grateful that she and Thanh have continued to find work and that her family has been healthy. She is also grateful for the opportunity to study at Leeward CC and pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.

Her advice to fellow students is, “Be patient. Don鈥檛 give up. How fast you walk is not important. Keep walking.”

—By Kelly Kennedy, English as a second language instructor

A comprehensive plan to improve literacy for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 people, the (PDF), has been released. The theme of the plan, “Lifelong Literacy for All,” is based on the belief that being literate empowers individuals to achieve economic success, and to achieve their aspirations.

While Hawaiʻi has made some progress in increasing access to high-quality experiences supporting literacy, one in six adults in Hawaiʻi still struggles with reading and writing, and nearly half of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 public school third graders do not meet English Language Arts achievement standards on the annual statewide assessment. By raising literacy rates, the aspiration is to cultivate engaged and participating community members to improve literacy and create a stronger Hawaiʻi.

Developed in partnership by the Executive Office on Early Learning, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (DOE), the University of Hawaiʻi System, , and numerous community organizations, the plan represents contributions from experts in 59 education organizations and institutions to provide guidance for developing literacy instruction and programs as part of a comprehensive literacy system in the state.

“Nothing matters more for students鈥� educational, career and community success than being literate,” said Stephen Schatz, executive director of Hawaiʻi P–20 Partnerships for Education. “We must re-commit to the goal of ensuring all students are reading at grade level by third grade. This plan is an opportunity to leverage Hawaiʻi鈥檚 own expertise as well as established research about what works throughout the educational pipeline.”

“Literacy is the foundation of student growth, development and access. I am thrilled we have this collaboratively designed resource that aligns to our strategies for accelerating student achievement,” said Hawaiʻi State DOE Superintendent Christina Kishimoto. “The collective best practices and recommendations will support our educators as they expand their capacity to enhance literacy for all students.”

The literacy plan

The literacy plan aims to coordinate Hawaiʻi鈥檚 statewide efforts to build knowledge of best practices and expand learning opportunities for students of all ages and abilities, including English language learners, adult learners and those with learning differences. Through the mastery of skills, the goal is for all students to become motivated, effective readers, writers and communicators. The plan is also designed to support a common understanding across many organizations and increase partnerships to support literacy learners in all settings, from families to schools and community organizations.

“Within the Hawaiʻi State Literacy Plan exist the many possibilities through which we can solidify our efforts in order to build coherence around the diverse work we engage in throughout our communities,” said Lauren Moriguchi with the Executive Office on Early Learning. “As we, too, deepen our learning and build quality literacy-centered experiences for the youngsters and adults we work with, we can enhance the richness of the social-cultural elements that support literacy for us all.”

Key topics of the plan include:

• Effective Literacy Practices and Literacy Development
• Literacy Assessment
• Instructional Leadership and Professional Learning
• Effective Community Partnerships

The Hawaiʻi State Literacy Plan was made possible with support from the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Hawaiʻi Pizza Hut Literacy Funds, the Learning Coalition, Kamehameha Schools and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (LLL) held its first online graduate student conference on April 18. Originally designed as an in-person format, the conference was revamped to an online platform due to the COVID-19 crisis. Organizers said the 24th annual event went smoothly and successfully.

Dean Laura Lyons delivered a welcome and acknowledged the following student chairs and their innovative work:

• Victoria Lee, second language studies
• Tyler Miyashiro, East Asian Languages and Literatures
• Thu H脿 Nguyen, second language studies
• Denis Melik Tangiyev, second language studies
• Chao Truong, second language studies
• Kristen Urada, second language studies

The following MA and PhD students delivered presentations reflecting the wide range of outstanding scholarship and research that takes place within the college:

• Jenniefer Corpuz, English
• Lane “Laneski” Davey, English
• Bonnie Fox, East Asian Languages and Literatures
• Jacob Hakim, linguistics
• Christie Honor茅, English
• Micah Lau, English
• Christina Lee, English
• LynleyShimat Lys, English
• Thu H脿 Nguyen, second language studies
• Michaela Nuesser, second language studies
• Joana O鈥橲teen, English
• Jeffrey Otto, second language studies
• Kevin Rickman, second language studies
• Luc铆a Camardiel Sardi帽a, Languages and Literatures of Europe and the Americas
• Ching Shek, East Asian Languages and Literatures
• Melinda S. Smith, English
• Yunhe Sun, East Asian Languages and Literatures
• Mie Tobias, second language studies
• Chau Truong, second language studies
• Jue Wang, second language studies
• Boeui Woo, East Asian Languages and Literatures
• Ruri Yoshii, East Asian Languages and Literatures

Atsushi Hasegawa, an assistant professor of Japanese Language and Linguistics, delivered the keynote address. LLL Excellence in Research Award recipients Theres Gr眉ter, Sharon Joy Bulalang and Haerim Hwang were featured speakers.

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—By Karin Mackenzie

The is one of 12 institutions included on the list of U.S. colleges and universities that produced the most 2018–2019 Fulbright U.S. Scholars. Each year the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces the top-producing institutions for the , the U.S. government鈥檚 flagship international educational exchange program. The . 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 last received this recognition in 2010–2011.

Six scholars from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 were awarded Fulbright awards for 2018–2019—“more than any other university in the state of Hawaiʻi.” 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 has produced a total of 43 Fulbright recipients since 2010.

“Fulbright programs have long enabled our faculty to gain valuable experience overseas, developing and nurturing important international ties, with lasting benefit for faculty and students at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 and in the many countries where they conduct research or teach,” said Vice Chancellor for Research and Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Michael Bruno. “We are proud that 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 continues to field so many successful applicants; this kind of international engagement is a key component of who we are as Hawaiʻi鈥檚 flagship university.”

“We thank the colleges and universities across the United States that we are recognizing as Fulbright top-producing institutions for their role in increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,” said Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce. “We are proud of all the Fulbright students and scholars from these institutions who represent America abroad, increasing and sharing their skills and knowledge on a global stage.”

The Fulbright Scholars from 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 in 2018–2019 are:

• Betsy Gilliland, associate professor, (Chile)
• Phillip Ooi, professor, (Japan)
• Georganne Nordstrom, associate professor, (Ireland)
• Adam Smith, PhD candidate, (Iceland)
• Anna Stirr, associate professor, (Nepal)
• Tamara von Albertini Vassileff, professor, (Bulgaria)

An information session for faculty and graduate students will take place on Tuesday, February 26, from noon to 1:15 p.m. in Kuykendall 106.

An information session for undergraduate students will take place on Tuesday, February 26, from 3 to 4 p.m. in QLC 411, including Luce, Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships.

The Fulbright Scholar Program is supported at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 through Fulbright program advisors R. Anderson Sutton, assistant vice chancellor of International and Exchange Programs and dean of the ; William Chapman, interim dean of the ; Julienne K. Maeda, associate dean of the ; and Christina Gerhardt, associate professor in the .

Learn more information about the .

More on the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 390,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential—with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Over 800 U.S. college and university faculty and administrators, professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, and independent scholars are awarded Fulbright grants to teach and/or conduct research annually. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program operates in over 125 countries throughout the world.

銆赌銆赌

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State, funded by an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education.

The Fulbright Program also awards grants to U.S. students and teachers to conduct research and teach overseas. In addition, some 4,000 foreign Fulbright students and scholars come to the United States annually to study, lecture, conduct research and teach foreign languages.

Learn more about the .

, a PhD candidate in second language studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补, is one of only four students nationwide to be awarded the 2018 (IWCA) President’s Future Leaders Scholarship.

At the IWCA annual conference, Matsutani presented her paper, “Conversation Analysis as Replicable, Aggregable, and Data Supported Methodology: Grammar Assistance for Multilingual Writers at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Writing Center.” She demonstrated how multilingual students benefit from the center鈥檚 research and hands-on tutoring.

For the past year, Matsutani has worked closely with the under the directorship of . Having thought that it would not be possible for a non-native speaker to become a consultant at the center, Matsutani learned that she could play an indispensable role. She credits Nordstrom for understanding the value of multilingual consultants. “I am thrilled and grateful that the collaborative work I鈥檝e been engaged in as a consultant was why I received this prestigious IWCA award,” said Matsutani.

After earning her PhD, Matsutani hopes to establish more writing centers (with alliances to U.S. centers) at Japanese universities and to continue her research on human interaction.

“The 惭腻苍辞补 Writing Center is the best thing that happened to me,” said Matsutani. “I would not be who I am without being inspired by its hardworking consultants and student writers.”

, a professor in the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (SLS), will serve as co-editor of , a prestigious peer-reviewed academic journal published by Oxford University Press. She joins co-editor Anna Mauranen of the University of Helsinki, for a five-year term. Quarterly, Applied Linguistics publishes research on language that is relevant to real-world problems.

This position is a natural fit for Higgins, a sociolinguist interested in the politics of language, multilingual practices, globalization and identity. She utilizes discourse analytic, ethnographic and qualitative approaches to study facets of the global spread of English and multilingual identities.

Higgins鈥� appointment marks the third time an SLS professor has served in the position. Previous incumbents were Craig Chaudron and Gabriele Kasper. The department鈥檚 faculty has long been sought for their professional expertise.

SLS Chair Graham Crookes is grateful that Higgins assumed the co-editorship despite the post鈥檚 considerable workload.

“Christina鈥檚 actions in this role will undoubtedly further the department, college and university鈥檚 reputation in the field of applied linguistics,” Crookes said. “The unbridled enthusiasm she has for her work is matched by her competence, and I am proud to have her as a colleague.”

—By Karin Mackenzie

Uy-di Nancy Le, a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补, has been awarded a to to teach American studies and English language in Brandenburg, Germany, during the 2018–2019 academic year. Le, who earned a BA in both and in 2016 and her MA in in May, was selected from a competitive pool of applicants.

Le was also selected for the diversity program. She is among a select few grantees who are placed in German schools with a high proportion of students with minority or refugee backgrounds.

“I’m honestly shocked at everything I’ve accomplished with German studies,” said Le. “I never would have imagined all of this when I began three years ago!”

Le鈥檚 interests are second language acquisition, identifying difficulties learners might have and displaced language learners, such as refugees and immigrants, who might have to learn an additional language in order to acclimate to their new home.

“Nancy is a most remarkable person and student with tremendous leadership skills and initiative,” said Associate Professor of German . “东精影业 is fortunate to have her represent us through the Fulbright Commission this year in Brandenburg.”

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program places recent college graduates and young professionals as English teaching assistants in primary and secondary schools or universities overseas—improving foreign students鈥� English language abilities and knowledge of the United States while increasing the U.S. student’s own language skills and knowledge of the host country.

More about Uy-di Nancy Le

At 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, Le chaired the 21st Annual Graduate Student Conference. She served as an ACE peer mentor, mentoring first year students, and taught as an English language learner tutor at Waiʻalae Elementary School, as an English language assistant in Thailand and as an English language Instructor at 东精影业.

Reflecting her community-oriented spirit, leadership skills and commitment to giving back, Le re-introduced German studies to her alma mater, Kalani High School, in fall 2017.

She is a member of two honor societies—Psi Chi International Honor Society, the Psychology Honorary Society; and Delta Phi Alpha, the German National Honorary Society.

and from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 each received a for the fall 2018 and spring 2019 semesters, respectively.

Betsy Gilliland headed to Chile

Gilliland, an associate professor in the , is headed to the in Chile where she will teach 4th year undergraduate English pedagogy students who are preparing to become English-as-a-foreign-language teachers in primary and secondary schools.

“Like the United States, Chile has public schools that are open to all children, and who vary in their readiness and motivation to learn. New teachers need to have a strong knowledge base and the ability to adapt practices to student needs,” said Gilliland. She wants to help meet those needs, while also laying foundations in the classroom that will equip graduates to meet the country鈥檚 high national standards for teacher education programs. Gilliland will combine her interests in second language writing, language teacher education and collaborative action research.

Georganne Nordstrom travels to Ireland

Nordstrom, an associate professor in the , is on her way to the (NUIG). She will share her expertise with NUIG鈥檚 writing center and teach two courses she designed—“The History of the English Language in Hawaiʻi” and “Place-based Rhetoric and Public Discourse in Hawaiʻi and Ireland.”

“Ireland鈥檚 longer history of efforts toward language revitalization provides a rich model for those of us working toward the same goal of language recognition and use in Hawaiʻi” Nordstrom said. “I chose NUIGbecause I feel my work would both resonate with and benefit from teaching and researching at an institution that supports the Irish language through their commitment to create an exemplary bilingual campus.”

Fulbright experiences will enrich 惭腻苍辞补

Gilliland and Nordstrom plan to expand on their Fulbright experiences.

“Upon my return to the U.S., I will incorporate the invaluable knowledge gained in Chile into my courses on teaching second language writing and preparing language teachers,”said Gilliland. “I hope also to build connections with other teacher educators in Chile to create cross-institutional links between our students and Chilean students. I would be happy to host teacher educator colleagues in faculty exchanges, should any wish to visit Hawaiʻi.”

Nordstrom added, “I can envision using Irish rhetorical practices in my English classes and inviting my new Irish colleagues into them via skype. The Fulbright semester will also impact my 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 tutor training and writing center work by providing new ideas and approaches for language use.”

You may think that a verb has the same meaning, regardless of language鈥攂ut not Hyunwoo Kim, a PhD student in the (SLS) at the . Kim received a (NSF) award to investigate how Korean-English bilinguals comprehend English, and how their native Korean language influences understanding of English. His research will focus on verbs.

“The human mind can interpret and accommodate languages differently,” he explains. “Understanding how bilingual speakers derive meaning in context has direct implications for professionals, such as interpreters, teachers and speech-language pathologists.”

The nearly $17,000 award will, among other things, allow Kim to travel to Korea to conduct research and attend academic conferences, and pay research assistants.

“Thanks to the NSF award,” Kim says, “I can now expand the research territory beyond the U.S. and conduct experiments in collaboration with universities in Korea. It also allows me to obtain a large amount of data both from the U.S. and Korea.”

With his advisor, SLS Professor Therese Gr眉ter, Kim conducted previous research that found strong evidence that knowledge of the Korean language interfered when Korean-English bilinguals read and interpreted English sentences. The NSF award will help Kim build on that research and look at additional factors, such as bilinguals’ English proficiency and their English learning environments. Kim is also conducting an eye-tracking experiment to see whether there is influence from Korean language for bilinguals in real time sentence comprehension.

Kim, who is also a Fulbright scholar, hopes to return to Korea after finishing his doctoral degree and disseminate the techniques and insights learned from this project to graduate and undergraduate students in Korea, providing them opportunities to gain research experience and a better understanding of bilingualism.

What do you get when you combine an American singer, a Korean-Japanese guitarist, an American-Japanese bassist聽and a Japanese drummer? For University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补’s Junichi Yagi, the answer is聽inspiration. 聽

Playing drums in a band with work colleagues may not be a natural pathway to become a recipient, but it was for Yagi.聽He went from practicing paradiddles, to meeting Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

Yagi is a PhD student in the Department of Second Language Studies (SLS) of the聽College of Languages, Linguistics and Literature, where his coveted Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship will continue through 2018. For Japanese students, the scholarship is awarded to a graduate student in Japan for study at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 who is pursuing a subject area leading to better understanding between Japan and the United States.

Yagi was working on his master’s in language and culture from Osaka University when he was offered and accepted the scholarship. 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 had always been his first choice for doctoral study, having heard much about the renowned program, including from his academic advisor who received his master’s degree from SLS.

During Yagi’s first semester at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补, he bounced a research idea off his advisor, Gabriele Kasper:聽to determine how people learn language in everyday, non-classroom settings鈥攕pecifically in music-related settings such as jam sessions and rehearsals. Yagi wanted to study how these interactions, particularly those that involved second language use, afforded opportunities for language and culture learning. Kasper loved the idea.

Hawaiʻi is a perfect backdrop for Yagi’s research, with its diverse and embracing communities.

After earning his PhD, Yagi’s professional goals include being a successful researcher who can make social changes with his empirical work, and to be an inspiring teacher who can guide students with theoretical and methodological knowledge. Academic aspirations, for sure—but uniquely rooted in music and an occasional jam session.

—By Karin Mackenzie

Six University of Hawaiʻi teachers have been recognized with the Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching—John Hamilton, Nyle S. Kauweloa, Monica LaBriola, Denise Nelson-Hurwitz, John Signor and Mark A.J. Wilding.

This award recognizes dedication and demonstrated excellence of teachers of undergraduate students. It was established as a memorial to the late Frances Davis, who taught mathematics at Leeward Community College and 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 for 19 years.

John Hamilton
Instructor, ,

John Hamilton is an instructor in physics and astronomy at 东精影业 Hilo. His students note his genuine love for astronomy and a true passion for sharing it with them.

Hamilton tirelessly excels at helping students gain real-life experiences through his work with various projects, including the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems and the 东精影业 Hilo Robotics Team. Students find these experiences, such as volunteering with NASA scientists for live experiments, to be incredibly valuable in advancing their careers by connecting them with scientists from prominent space agencies.

His students say his teaching has shown them that learning is much more than equations and memorizing facts; it is about the work they put in and the skills they develop along the way.

Nyle S. Kauweloa
Graduate assistant, ,

Nyle “Sky” Kauweloa’s approach to academic and intellectual curiosity is matched by his concern and interest in the stories of students. A PhD student in the communication and information sciences program, he is interested in digital communications and gaming.

Kauweloa enjoys challenging students to think about how technologies will shape the future. Students who have taken his course at the School of Communications describe him as open, caring and inquisitive while being intellectually provocative and imaginative.

Colleagues admire his ability to marry diverse topics in the field of information and communication technologies to everyday concerns related to privacy, security and digital surveillance. In the end it’s about crafting knowledge and teaching that becomes meaningful. As one student noted, “When Sky related current events and articles, it gave the subject matter context. This was nice because it showed that the concepts we were learning are important and not just theory.”

Monica LaBriola
Assistant professor, ,

Monica LaBriola is an assistant professor of history at 东精影业 West Oʻahu, where she teaches courses in Pacific Islands, world and U.S. history. She completed her PhD in history and MA in Pacific Islands studies at 东精影业 Mānoa.

Before coming to Hawaiʻi for graduate work, LaBriola spent three years in the Marshall Islands where she developed a passion for Pacific Islands history and culture. She is currently completing a manuscript about land and power on Likiep Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

Her students have stated that she is an engaging professor and that she fills her classroom with energy. “She is a passionate professor that successfully teaches and guides her students to see the ‘bigger picture’ of their own lives and the historical context that has laid out the foundations of the life we live now.鈥� Students love that she is willing to work with them in the journey of understanding, through difficult and controversial topics.

Denise Nelson-Hurwitz
Assistant professor, ,

Denise Nelson-Hurwitz’s path to 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 was a circuitous yet purposeful journey that also led her back to her roots.

As a graduate research assistant mentored by Mānoa faculty, Nelson-Hurwitz discovered her love for teaching. She is described as an excellent teacher with a deep knowledge and compassion for students and their learning. She is credited with the development of the newly instituted undergraduate public health program in 2014 and the capstone series in which students present quality projects on community-based service learning and research.

She seeks innovative approaches that allow her students to experience their education through evidence-based student engagement and team-based experiential learning techniques. The influence and impact of her inspired teaching extends beyond the 惭腻苍辞补 campus and into local and national communities, conferences and institutions. Other universities are seeking to replicate the models she created for introductory and capstone courses in public health studies.

John Signor
Assistant professor, music,

“The instructor was amazing…This is by far the best college course I have ever taken.”

These words are typical of the outstanding student evaluations given John Signor, assistant professor of music at Leeward Community College. Creativity and commitment to the collaborative process are essential elements of Signor’s teaching.

Signor explains, “My profound love for music accompanied by what it has to offer us, is the driving force that compels me to share it with fervor and integrity. My vocation as a musician is deeply connected to my calling as a teacher. I consider myself truly blessed to have the opportunity to study and teach this uniquely beautiful language.”

His music classes effectively foster creativity, self-confidence and shared problem solving. Signor cultivates a community of learners who strive for resourcefulness and cooperation.

Signor’s teaching philosophy is rooted in student engagement and creative collaboration, maintaining a flexible approach and a focus on global perspectives. He generates a wide variety of performance opportunities for his students, in addition to providing his own talents. From the culturally significant Liliʻu Project, celebrating the compositions of Queen Liliʻuokalani, to scoring local films and theatrical productions, Signor’s contributions are always selflessly given and joyously received.

Mark “Maleko” Wilding
Graduate student, Department of Second Language Studies,

Mark Wilding is a PhD student in the Department of Second Language Studies where he has taught a variety of undergraduate courses over the last 5 years.

His achievements as a teacher stem from a real passion for language learning, a genuine empathy for his students, and a vocation for helping others learn in a fun and ʻohana-like environment. His department chair shared, “We are not sure if he is fluent in as many as 12, but he certainly spends time practicing and extending his command of more languages than there are professors in the department.”

Wilding regularly corresponds with other polyglots and takes a new language course every semester at 东精影业 Mānoa, which gives him a deeper insight into the many challenges faced by language learners and teachers at different stages. With glowing course feedback every semester, Wilding is considered a role model teacher by many students.

Please contact your campus chancellor’s office for more information about the application process.

The 106th Commencement Exercises—held Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the Stan Sheriff Center—featured two outstanding student speakers who delivered inspirational messages that were well received by their fellow graduates and the thousands of family members, friends and supporters in attendance. An estimated 2,100 students participated in the commencement ceremonies.

Catherine Brianne Gardiner

Catherine Brianne Gardiner, the morning ceremony speaker, graduated with a degree in and intends to join the Peace Corp and teach English as a second language. Gardiner wants to empower her students to cultivate important relationships and create bridges between individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Shiraz Dole

Shiraz Dole, the afternoon ceremony speaker, graduated with a degree in and from the . Dole says his goal is to one day start a global technology firm and offer free skills training to help low-income women enhance their education and attain higher paying jobs.