Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 6, 1 June 1988 — Outstanding Awards to Housewife, Single Parent [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

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Outstanding Awards to Housewife, Single Parent

Comouter Trainina Center Graduates Laraest Class

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA A housewife and mother for 18 years with two grown high schooI sons and a single parent with five children ages one and on&half to 13 were recipients of two prestigious awards at the Apr. 23 Class IV graduation of the Hawaii Computer Training Center, 33 S. King St. A project of Alu Like Ine. in conjunction with International Business Machines (IBM) and other business firms, the program was held in the third floor meeting room of the computer school. Nineteen students were presented their certificates by Director Estelle Liu. Seven of them graduated with honors. This was by far the largest number of graduates for one class and also the highest total with honors since the schocil's ineeption in March, 1986. The dropout ratio was also the lowest with just five who did not stay on to finish for a variety of reasons. The class started with 24. Class V began May 2 with 30 students who will be handled in two groups of 15.. The Anton Krucky Award for the most outstanding student went to Evelyn Girndt, the housewife and mother who said she learned about the school by reading Ka Wai Ola O OHA. She said it was about time she got into the employment market to help her husband, Walter, with the college education of their two sons — Werner, who just finished his junior year at Kamehameha and Erik, who will join his brother in August at Kapalama Heights as a ninth grader. Krucky personally presented the award. Erleen Haunani Eaton, who didn't finish high school but got her GED whieh is the equivalent of a high school diploma, was named as the student with the most improved performance to receive the Winona Ellis Rubin Award. Mrs. Rubin, director of the Department of Human Services, missed her first graduation because of the pressure of business at the state legislature. Mrs. Liu did the honors. Mrs. Girndt is a 1953 graduate of St. Joseph's High School in Hilo. Her husband is a pastry chef with United Air Lines. Eaton, who worked a few years as an educational assistant at Palolo Elementary School, said she didn't have college intentions so "I had to piek up something. I learned about this school but I didn't think I was smart enough." She went through the interview, was accepted and worked hard despite the pressures of five growing youngsters. Eaton quickly learned the program whieh was new to her, persevered and eame through with flying colors. The keynote speaker was Dr. Richard Kekuni Blaisdell who told students "We are descendants of ihose Polynesians who traveled the open sea guided only by the stars, wind and birds to a new nation. You have it in your genes. We are the indigenous people of these islands. The most precious thing we have is being Hawaiian." He also encouraged the students to be aggressive in protecting native Hawaiian rights, culture and religion. He closed his brief address with a chant. A slide show presentation and the singing of the class song, "What You Did for Us," completed the program. The class motto was "Ho'oulu i ka po'okela" (to grow to excellence). The graduating class, with honors designated by (H), follows: Karen K. Abersold (H), Paulette Kuuipo Aiona, Apolei Kahai Bargamento (H), Juliet Lynn Cordova, David Dane, Erleen Haunani Eaton, Lena Ann Fritzler (H), Evelyn Girndt (H), Rhonda Greco. Also, Brendalyn Ponilani Apele-Iokia, Anderson P. Kahuanui, George K. Kaopuiki (H), Rosemary Lokelani Lum, Allyn U. Morita (H), Dee Palakiko, Babette Malia Mahealani Porter, Gay Kinoaloha Porter, Ramona Rodriguez, and Emmaline U. Yen (H). Kaopuiki was class president.

Food and beverage paid for by the students through a fund raising project were served following the program. In addition to IBM, other corporate sponsors

are First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaiian Electric Ine., United Air Lines, Alexander and Baldwin Ine., James Campbell Estate, Hawaiian Telephone Company and Bank of Hawaii.

Erleen Haunani Eaton, right, beams happily as she receives Winona Ellis Rubin award for most improved performance from Director Estelle Liu.

Anton Chalmers Krucky, Pacific regional manager of IBM, presents award named in his honor to Evelyn Girndt as most outstanding student.