Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 11, 1 November 2009 — EDUCATION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EDUCATION

UH-Mānoa offers second ehanee for those who , 4 don't make the grade

REDEMPTION

By Lisa Asato Public lnformation Specialist n the ninth grade, Colette Machado was on the road to an uncertain future. She had dropped out of school, disenchanted by racial discrimination and a laek of hope. In 1975, she heeame the first in her family to graduate from college and by then

had made the Dean's List more than onee. Today she is an OHA Trustee. Her story of educational redemption was told in a documentary at the time, Colette. The half-hour program told how the College Opportunities Program at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa intervened to give her a second ehanee at higher education. Even now, she still credits the program, known as COP, with helping her to achieve success. "Look at where I am today, I'm an elected official for Native Hawaiians,"

said Machado, who graduated with an education degree from UH after earning her GED from a community college in Oregon. When she attended UH, Native Hawaiians comprised only 4.4 percent of the student population, said Machado, who went on to heeome the first Native Hawaiian woman to serve on the Land Use Commission, in 1975. "It's not like now," she said. "I'd like to

think COP was the beginning in making Hawaiian studies what it is today." COP, whieh began in 1970, offers high school seniors who do not meet UH-Mānoa's minimum entrance requirements a second ehanee to prove themselves worthy of admission. During the six-week program, participants are housed at the Mānoa campus. COP provides free room, board, textbooks and instructional expenses during the summer program. Students will also take classes to help

improve academic and social skills. Last year, 99 percent of participants successfully completed the program and were admitted to UH-Mānoa. This year, more than half of the 69 students helped through COP are Native Hawaiian, said COP director Mike Maglaya, adding that the program will expand this year to accept more students. Preference will be given to those with high hnaneial need and those who

are the first in their families to attend college. "If students never thought that education was open to them after high school, they ean take a look at the COP program," Maglaya said. "We provide that second ehanee to eome to UH-Mānoa." Deadline to apply is Dec . 1 5 . For information, eall 956-6186 or visit hawaii. edu/cop to download an applieahon. ■

Presentations C0P and Manawa Kūpono Native Hawaiian Scholarship Program have been visiting high schools across the state to provide information and answer questions. Students may learn more about the sessions from their college or gradelevel counselor. The remaining dates are: O'AHU Kamehameha-Kapālama, Nov. 2, 1:09-1:49 p.m. Kahuku High, Nov. 3, 9:45-10:30 a.m. Moanalua High, Nov. 3, 1-2 p.m. Waipahu High, Nov. 4, 9:45-10:30 a.m. Radford High, Nov. 4, 1-2 p.m. Kalāheo High, Nov. 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Ka Lama Education Academy, Nov. 12, 6-8 p.m. Kalani High, Nov. 13, 1-2 p.m. HAWAI'I ISLAND Pāhoa High, Nov. 2, 9:13-10:31 a.m. Kea'au High, Nov. 2, 11:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m. Kamehameha-Hawai'i, Nov. 2, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Kohala High, Nov. 9, 10:15-11:15 a.m.

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The program from 1975 debutof 'Colefte.' - Courtesy of Colette Machado

A 1 970s Honolulu Star-Bulletin editorial said Machado was an example of those who, with a liftle help ean succeed. - Courtesy ofColette Machado