Zooming: Native Hawaiian support center inspires Leeward CC students to transfer to UH Hilo

UH Hilo Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center held a webinar to inspire students at Leeward Community College interested in STEM, conservation, and agriculture, to transfer to the university.

On July 30, staff from the Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo hosted a virtual transfer outreach session for students at Leeward Community College. The staff organized the webinar over Zoom to explore career options for students interested in science, technology, engineering and math (the STEM disciplines), conservation, and agriculture. The panelists gave students an overview of UH Hilo degree programs, student support, and other services and opportunities at the university.

“Each panelist also gave a little overview of their pathway to their current position,” writes Anuschka Faucci, place-based coordinator in the math and science division of Leeward CC, in a blog post about the event.

On the panel from UH Hilo was Haunani Kane, representing the MEGA Lab and Department of Marine Science; Linnea Heu from the Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES); Malu Dudoit from the Hawaiian studies program; Lehua Patnaude, a non-traditional student in the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management; and Aloha Kapono and Uʻi Miner-Ching from the Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center.

“The staff are planning to do more virtual transfer outreach sessions with the other UH community colleges,” says Gail Makuakāne-Lundin, director of Kīpuka.

Student feedback on the event

“It was interesting to hear how many of these instructors and students took their background and love for Hawaiian Studies and incorporated it into modern science, teaching botany classes and conducting research in a culturally sensitive way. —Dani

“This webinar has really helped me understand more about what UH Hilo has to offer their students. I feel like I understand a lot more about the programs, internships, and opportunities they have on their campus.” —Kelsey

Read full blog post.

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