Issue 164   |   May 20, 2014   |   Archive

Grants & Awards

Awesome Animal Docs of the Future

A big congratulations to the 11 HNFAS students receiving the 2014 Charles Reid, DVM Memorial Scholarships! Three graduating awardees have been accepted to veterinary school: Geneva Graef to Washington State, Jonathan Onaga to Colorado State, and Kaleigh Morrison to University of Illinois. The continuing student awardees are Brandy Stewart, Sylvia Lee, Krystle Ito, Jerrisa Ching, Walter Benavitz, Andrew Haro, and Kealaaumoe Stibbard. Not pictured is Franscisco Valenzuela, who was awarded the freshman Charles Reid, DVM Memorial Scholarship and will be joining the Pre-Veterinary Program this fall. Great job, everyone, and keep those animals healthy!

Partners for Future Natural Resource Management

NREM recently celebrated its partnership with Hau‘oli Mau Loa Foundation, recognizing the upcoming graduation of the first three Hau‘oli Mau Loa fellows, Alex Lau, Jon Lance, and Nick Wilhoite, who were awarded fellowships through the Foundation in 2012. Also recognized at the event were mid-degree fellows Danielle Fujii-Doe, Michelle Lazaro, and Leah Laramee, who were awarded fellowships in 2013. Hau‘oli Mau Loa provides generous funds for the fellowships, which include a tuition exemption, graduate assistantship, and funds for professional development. The fellowship is part of the Foundation’s Environmental Leadership Pathways initiative, which partners with key Hawai‘i-based organizations to engage and prepare the next generation of environmental resource management professionals in Hawai‘i. The event was an opportunity to thank the Hau‘oli Mau Loa Foundation for their past, current, and future support for NREM’s graduate program and a chance for Hau‘oli Mau Loa staff Janis Reischmann, Brant Chillingworth, and Keahi Makaimoku to meet the fellows, their advisors, and NREM staff and faculty.

Spotlight on Our Community

Celebration, Congratulations, Convocation!

On Wednesday, May 7, more than 200 CTAHR students, their families and friends, and CTAHR faculty and staff attended the CTAHR Convocation in the Campus Center Ballroom. This intimate celebration, emceed by Lisa Kitagawa-Akagi, began with congratulatory remarks from Dean Maria Gallo and CTAHR Alumni Association and Friends president Dr. Susan Miller. Spring 2014 student marshals Maili Huck (FSHN) and Ryan Pe‘a (NREM), selected for their academic achievements, leadership, and service to CTAHR and the university, were then called on stage to be recognized. Afterwards, graduating students active in CTAHR-affiliated student organizations were acknowledged for their participation. Five students who completed the Dietetic Internship Program were also recognized. The ceremony concluded with the individual recognition of 61 graduates, followed by refreshments and a chance to mingle. A big mahalo to all those who supported the graduating students: to SAPFB for partial funding, the CTAHR Alumni Association and Friends for their support, Steven and Karen Sato for donating lei, CTAHR scholarship recipients and student ambassadors for volunteering, and ASAO for providing the CTAHR memorabilia presented to the graduates and organizing the event. Congratulations to our graduating students for achieving such a milestone! Good luck in your future endeavors!

Attack on Banyan

When two new damaging insects were discovered on Hawai‘i’s banyan trees, and particularly on the Manoa campus, Zhiqiang Cheng (PEPS) was ready for battle. KHON and Honolulu Civil Beat spoke to Zhiqiang about the fight against the lobate lac scale and the stem-galling wasp, two relatively new pests in the state, which are responsible for the death or removal of banyans around O‘ahu. The treatment research for campus trees started in July 2013 when an arborist noticed the stem-galling wasp problem on the East-West Center trees. The research was split between 45 Chinese banyans (36 treated, 9 control), and 10 weeping banyans (5 treated, 5 control). Zhiqiang compared two pesticides in an effort to limit further damage to the trees. Watch the KHON video or read the Civil Beat article. Those who love these iconic and shapely shade trees on campus and throughout the Honolulu urban landscape should be grateful for his efforts!

Kona on the Radio

Hawai‘i Public Radio recently interviewed Kona Extension agents Andrea Kawabata and Ty McDonald about issues relevant to the Big Island and beyond. Andrea talked about the damage caused by the coffee berry borer to crops, famers, and the economy, bringing listeners up to date on the fight against the pest and the plans for future control. Ty explained tree safety and the dangers of working with trees, not only in the landscape industry but also for construction workers, crop producers, and homeowners. There’s a lot to know when partnering with nature, and these two agents are doing their part to inform the community about it.

Calabash

Hey, I Know That Guy!

You never know whom you’ll bump into at Commencement! Bobbie Yee (FCS) had a Hawai‘i Five-0 moment with actor Daniel Dae Kim, and a FCS moment with retired psychologist and longtime FAMR lecturer Dr. Jim Deutch at the Manoa commencement. Fun times!

New Publications

Mindful Adventures for Military Youth

Thao Le (FCS) discusses positive youth outcomes in her article “Mindfulness-Based Adventure Camp for Military Youth,” recently published in the Journal of Extension. Her research suggests that military youth have higher rates of anxiety and socio-emotional difficulties compared to their non-military peers, due in part to the unique stressors of military life. The study provides feasibility findings of a mindfulness-based adventure camp that was conducted in Colorado and Hawai‘i with 292 military youth, through a partnership with 4-H Extension Professionals/Operation: Military Kids. The results suggest that military youth were highly satisfied with the camp experience and that mindfulness tools could be used to help deal with stress. Mindfulness-based programs could be one way for Extension professionals to work with youth. This June, Thao will further her research into mindfulness at the 2014 Mind and Life Summer Research Institute as a Senior Investigator at the Garrison Institute in New York, doing her part to advance collaborative research in behavioral science, neuroscience, and mind-body medicine based on a process of inquiry, dialogue, and collaboration with contemplative practitioners and scholars of contemplative traditions.

Challenges, Risks, and Decisions

The latest issue of Biotech in Focus features Mark G. Wright (PEPS) as a guest writer. Mark lays out some of the risk assessments when it comes to biotechnology in today’s food, discussing concerns, decisions, and what we need to consider when making choices. Read the new article and as always, check out the Biotech in Focus archives at the website!

Help our community to keep in touch! Please send news items -- awards, grants, special projects, special people -- and pictures to Frederika Bain at ctahrnotes@ctahr.hawaii.edu. Also refer to the submission information and guidelines.

CTAHR faculty and staff can always check for the latest new funding opportunities.

Do you have an upcoming event that you'd like to promote? CTAHR faculty and staff can post events to the CTAHR website's calendar.

All CTAHR Notes readers can browse the calendar to learn more about the college's activities.