David Ige - Community Notices

The Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards is a prestigious, nationally-competitive recognition program that features talented intermediate and high school artists and writers around the United States. Established in 1923 by M.R. Robinson, the Scholastic Arts Awards attracts more than 250,000 entries each year, which are screened by local advisory committees. Successful entries are then featured in local exhibitions and award ceremonies to encourage and reward young artists and writers.

2007 marks the 44th year of Hawaii's participation in the Awards Program.

This year, we are proud to feature nine very talented artists from the 16th District for their successful entries in the regional competition.

3D Gold Key Awards
- "Tarnished in Revenge" by KeiLee Rivera, Aiea Intermediate School

3D Silver Key Awards
- "The Centaur" by John Mark Cajaine, Aiea Intermediate School
- "Sumasayw" by Shanda Delos Reyes, Aiea Intermediate School

2D Gold Key Awards
- "Power of Emotion" by Kirsten Donselar, Aiea High School

2D Silver Key Awards
- "Figure of a Woman Dominating Men" by Thuy Ny Le, Aiea Intermediate School
- "Feltovic" by Kendra Bradley, Aiea High School
- "Trapped" by Amber Ching, Highlands Intermediate
- "Running Man" by Chelsie Nino, Highlands Intermediate
- "Self Portrait" by Darlene Pelaez, Highlands Intermediate

Congratulations to all participants and award recipients!

Photos from the award ceremonies are online in the Gallery > Session 2007 > 44th Annual Hawaii Scholastic Art Awards - 01.29.07.

On January 26, 2007, Rashid Zhussupov, paid our office a visit. Originally from the Republic of Kazakhstan (also referred to as "Kazakstan"), Rashid is currently attending Aiea High School as an exchange student through the Future Leader Exchange (FLEX) Program.

Name: Rashid Zhussupov
Age: 16
Hometown: Temirtau, Kazakhstan
Hobbies: Surfing in Waianae, Wrestling, American popular culture

Originally from a small town, Rashid was quite surprised on his first day at Aiea High School last August. As he recalls, the students were all very warm and friendly, making him feel right at home. Rashid also contributes his acclimation to Aiea High to the many extracurricular activites that he participates in - wrestling, math team, JROTC, and Boy Scouts of America.

"Mentally awake, Morally straight, Physically strong," is the motto by which Rashid lives his everyday life.

Back in Kazakhstan, Rashid attended First Temirtau Classical Lyceum, which required all students to take a total of 16 subjects a year. Rashid compared and contrasted Aiea High School to Temirtau, explaining that high school is much easier and more practical at Aiea because students are able to focus on six subjects, rather than sixteen.

In response to our questions regarding what influenced him to come to Hawaii, Rashid gave us a very colorful explanation. Rashid was originally inspired to travel to America by watching the movie "Home Alone" back in Kazakhstan. That movie, along with "Tom and Jerry" cartoons were initally what sparked Rashid and many other Kazak youth's interests to learn English, a curiousity which eventually developed into an ambition to travel to the United States as a junior ambassador.

Rashid also shared his experiences living with his host parents and host-twin brother and sister, exclaiming how interesting life is with such an active family. Similarly, Rashid also comes from a five-member family. His older brother recently received a scholarship to attend a university in Canada for four years, and his younger brother is still in Kazakhstan. The most surprising fact about Rashid's family is its 200-member extended family get-togethers, which take place every five years. Born to a truck driver father and an accountant mother, Rashid learned the value and importance of a hard work ethic to become successful at everything in life.

At the young age of sixteen, Rashid already has large ambitions to become a future diplomat of Kazakhstan. During his tour of the Capitol, Rashid asked many questions about the steps one must take in order to enter the world of diplomacy. With vigot and determination, he details his future ambitions to study International Relations at a Kazak University. Rashid shared his dream to follow his older brother's footsteps by pursuing a Bachelor's degree in International Relations at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

With a hard work ethic, limitless desire to learn, and a genuine intent to serve people, Rashid is well on his way to becoming the next diplomat, and perhaps President of Kazakhstan.

-Reported by Brandon Marc Higa, 2007 Legislative Aide

For photos of Rashid's visit to the Capitol and introduction the Senate Floor, visit our Gallery > Session 2007 > Senate Floor Presentation - 01.26.07

[As seen in the Midweek West Oahu Islander, Feburary 14, 2007 edition, Page 8]

Aiea Students Excel In Scholastic Art Contest
More than 80 winning artworks by student artists --including students at West Oahu schools-- are on display downtown through March 24 as part of the 44th annual Hawaii Region of the Scholastic Art awards.

The field was whittled down from more than 800 submissions statewide from public and private school students in grades 7 to 12.

"It's a high honor" to win a spot in the exhibit, said Roy Chang, an Aiea Intermediate School art teacher and MidWeek editorial cartoonist. "Many times as seniors they can enter and win scholarships when they do portfolio entries," he said, adding that entries have expanded into computer art, digital photography, printmaking, film and video.

"There's a nice collection of traditional arts as well as the cutting-edge 21st century type of art, too," he said of the second-floor exhibit at 1132 Bishop St. (the reddish-brown high-rise between Union Mall and Fort Street Mall). Hours are 6:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 2pm Saturday.

Four of Chang's eighth-grade students won a place in the exhibit, equalling last year's represenation. They are: gold-key awardee Keilee Rivera for her Tarnished in Revenge sculpture, and silver-key winners John Mark Cajalne for his clay sculpture The Centaur, Thuy Ny Le for her colored-pencil work Figure of a Woman Dominating Men, and Shanda Delos Reyes for her clay sculpture, Sumasayw, of a ballet dancer.

Twelve professional jurors selected silver and gold key finalists and five American Vision Award nominees, equivalent of the best-in-show, in catagories of photography, 2D (drawing, painting, printmaking) and 3D (ceramics, sculpture, glass).

The best-in-show nominees and gold-key finalists will compete in the nationals in March, with the nation's best invited to the awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York.

"Every year we're getting more and more into the national competition," said Alison Ibara Kawabe, event co-chair and a state Department of Education art education specialist. In the three years she's helped to organize the event, Hawaii's numbers have increased to about 24 national winners from 15, she said.

Meanwhile, state Sen. David Ige offers another public forum for art be elementary to high schoolers in his Aiea and Pearl City district. Art by pre-kindergartners also has made an appearance in the 10-year-old Capitol Artist Program. The free display occurs both in Ige's Capitol office, Room 215, and in the basement-level Senate chambers. The current display features artwork from Aiea Intermediate and Aiea High schools.

Ige "feels it's a great way to get in touch with the schools and really promote the artwork...in a public place to give more opportunities for people to see what kids from our district can do," said Audra Furuichi, a legislative aide. To view current and past art of the last three years, visit DavidIge.org and click on "gallery"

-Lisa Asato

[Printed in the Leeward People, February 7, 2007 Volume 19 Number 6]

Sibyl Wong, Pearl City High School class of 2001 graduate, was named first princess in the 2007 Narcissus Court. Wong won the Miss Popularity title and talent phase of the competition for serenading the audience with buzheng (Chinese stringed instrument). We proudly acknowledge Sibyl Wong for perpetuating the Chinese culture on behalf of the 16th District.

Purchase a 2007 Project Graduation Cookbook, compiled by Pearl City High School PTSA at Ige's 19th Puka and Restaurant for $10 ($4 shipping available). Call 228-1550 for more information!

(Note: Senator Ige has no relation to Ige's 19th Puka and Restaurant!)

Wondering how likely you are to have your credit card number stolen?

Well, according to a comprehensive survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, identity theft affects millions of households in the U.S. each year and costs an estimated $6.4 billion per year in damages. Hawaii has not been spared from this threat and we need to take appropriate preventative measures. To keep our communities safe from identity theft, I want to encourage everyone to attend this year's first town hall meeting on February 28, 2007, 7:00PM-8:30PM, at Waimalu Elementary School Cafeteria.

Returning guest speaker Detective Miles Jung and officers from the Honolulu Police Department will give an hour-long presentation about the basics of identity theft, as well as ways we can protect ourselves from becoming victims of financial tragedy.

Momilani Elementary School was selected as one of Hawaii's 23 "Distinguished Schools," as featured in the November/December issue of the Department of Education's Na Lono Kula newsletter. The Hawaii Distinguished School Program, sponsored by Frito-Lay, recognizes Hawaii schools that demonstrate "Acceptable Growth" in reading, mathematics and other target areas. As suggested by the title, "Distinguished School" awards are bestowed on those schools that either demonstrate significant narrowing of gaps between academic achievement groups or those that consistently produce superior work on a yearly basis.

"Quality education in a caring environment" is the motto by which the Momilani Elementary staff teaches their students to live. With the strong support of parents and teachers alike, the Momilani Elementary

Momilani Elementary School believes that all children can learn; therefore, the staff strives to improve the instructional strategies and curriculum to challenge every child including the academically talented, the disabled and at-risk students. The teachers and administration continue to address the needs of every child by trying new approaches to learning in an ever changing world.

With admiration and pride, we are happy to recognize Momilani Elementary School's staff, students and supporters for perpetuating the 16th District's record for excellence in teaching standards and academic success!

-As reported by staffer Brandon Marc Higa

[Taken from the Honolulu Advertiser, Tuesday, February 27, 2007 edition, Page D6]

Congratulations to the OIA West Softball League All-Stars!

Honorable Mentions from:
Aiea:

• Sasha Andrade
• Nehelani Fontoni
• Chastity Guzman
• Tasha Johnson
• Carissa Nakamura
• Ashley Scharsch
• Rayna Strom-Okimoto
• Amanda Tanhchaleun
• Tierra Tauanu'u

• Kalei Adams
• Lauren Fujisaki
• Keani Hueu
• Kiana Mendiola
• Kellie Takamori