AstroDay Excellence in Teaching Award
Among the many features that AstroDay 2K5 brought to Hilo on April 16th was a new award. The organizers of this event felt that educators here on Hawaii Island are unsung heroes in the classroom, stretching limited resources, introducing fresh course material, and working long hours for modest enumeration and recognition. So the AstroDay Excellence in Teaching award seeks to recognize Hawaii Island elementary, middle and high school teachers and college professors whose creativity and enthusiasm engage students in science curricula in exciting and meaningful ways.
Candidates for this award were obtained from nominations submitted by the Department of Education, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and the Mauna Kea Observatories Outreach Committee. The Selection Committee would toil over a roster of qualified nominees until it was determined that for this inaugural year, not one, but two educators would be honored. And so, with the support of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce (HICC) and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii (JCCIH), a perpetual plaque and individual trophies were created.
The award presentation during the opening ceremonies of AstroDay featured the President of the HICC Art Taniguchi and JCCIH Second Vice President Phoebe Lambeth offering the trophies to recipients Pascale Pinner of Hilo Intermediate School and Dr Richard Crowe of the University of Hawaii at Hilo Physics and Astronomy Department. Prizes consisting of a stay at their resorts were provided by the Palms Cliffhouse Inn and Waikoloa Beach Resort to our recipients. The AstroDay Institute would like to express acknowledgment of Nathan Chang, Richard Nelson and David DeLuz, Jr for their contributions to this award, and to extend warm congratulations to our distinguished honorees of this year's Excellence in Teaching Award!
