Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2020 — KSK Students Sweep at National Indigenous STEM Conference [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

KSK Students Sweep at National Indigenous STEM Conference

Students from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama campus took top honors in the Pre-College division at this year's Ameriean Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Naūonal Conference. The awards were announced this past weekend and the Kamehameha Schools students emerged victorious from afield of hundreds of Indigenous scholars from across the U.S. This year's event was held virtually with entries presented in a digital format. Virtual posters outlining the STEM-focused research were judged as students answered questions via chat. "To see our students perform so well on the national stage is exhilarating. The fact that this is an indigenous STEM-focused conference further sweetens the aeeomplishment because it underscores the innate eonneeūon between native intelligence and the studies of science, technology, engineering and math," said Dr. Taran Chun, KS Kapālama Po'o Kula. Winning first plaee in the Pre-College Poster Presentations division, senior Taylor Moniz realized the importance of an Indigenous perspective in STEM-related fields of study. " Within the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, there is an abundance of support from people who share similar

struggles and experiences. This conference helps to provide a platform for Indigenous students, including Native Hawaiians, to be inspired, breakbarriers, and strive to aeeomplish your dreams," said Moniz. Rounding out the rest of the awards in the Pre-College division, Dakota Kaupu won second plaee, Joshua Parker won third plaee and Cade Kane earned the honorable menhon. Eaeh award eame with a cash prize. Kaupu and Kane also walked away with brand new laptops after being recognized in The Boeing Company Laptop Awards division of the conference.

Dakota Kaupu

Joshua Parker

a L Cade Kane

,.A \m m Taylor Moniz