PUHI — Kaua‘i High School and Waimea High School students are beneficiaries along with nine female students who built computers for the schools this summer through a special Women in Technology program held at Kaua‘i Community College. Working in conjunction
PUHI — Kaua‘i High School and Waimea High School students are beneficiaries along with nine female students who built computers for the schools this summer through a special Women in Technology program held at Kaua‘i Community College.
Working in conjunction with leaders of the Kauai Economic Development Board and a grant, KCC instructor Francis Takahashi, three Envisioneering, Inc. interns, Shaun Arakaki, Brandon Allard, and Bryson Semana, worked with the girl students in getting each student to build a computer.
“I learned how to solder,” Kristy Kurokawa said. One of the initial projects in the 40-hour training program involved creating a solar cricket that chirps when placed under a strong light source — that is, if the soldering is done right.
Tiffani Tumbaga recollected the exasperation of taking the unit apart after putting a part in wrong, and Avian Nakaya said, “The best part was seeing it work!” On the road to assembling their computers, Takahashi and the three interns taught the girls circuitry as well as how each part related to other parts in getting the whole computers to work.
The Women in Technology program is designed to stimulate interest in the hightechnology fields of math and engineering, and is coordinated by KCC’s Mia Ako, and representatives of the KCC Technology Center and KEDB.
Takahashi said the girls have bright and promising futures, as each of the nine computers passed inspection.
Each computer that will be going to either Kaua‘i or Waimea high school will include a plaque bearing the name of its creator and the Women in Technology banner.
The package that goes to each school consists of a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and a CPU equipped with a variety of software including Windows, a CDburning program, a DVD player, Webcam, and an open office program featuring a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation program.
Daniel Hamada, state Department of Education Kaua‘i district school superintendent, was obviously pleased with the accomplishments of the nine girls, saying he agreed with Takahashi in wanting to see these girls pursue careers in high-tech fields.
Helen Sina of KCC said the partnership that was formed for this program is the only way to move ahead in the high-tech field. Ako said that although all the high schools were invited to send candidates for the program that ran immediately after school let out for the summer, only Kaua‘i and Waimea high schools fielded candidates for the program.
She said she is hopeful that the remaining schools will take advantage of the program if it should take place again.
Participants included Ashley Nonaka, Kristin Tone, Kelcie Kawamura, Elise Miyamoto, Avian Nakaya, Kaiulani Sheldon, Tiffani Tumbaga, Reiko Ayabe and Kristy Kurokawa.
Many of the students had their parents on hand for the special program where the computers were handed over to representatives of their respective new homes (schools), and Kaua‘i High School Vice Principal Penny Vess appeared with an armful of lei to present to celebrate the Red Raiders’ accomplishments.
Waimea High School Principal Bill Arakaki was also on hand, and pleased with his students’ accomplishments.
