A first-of-its-kind partnership between the and the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯s is providing high school students with real-life STEM learning experiences beyond the classroom with the most scientifically productive telescopes in the world.
Pairing collegiate-level learning with research opportunities for high school students, this partnership creates dual-credit pathways from high school to college for students.
The partnership will provide students at two Â鶹´«Ã½ Island public high schools with an opportunity to earn college credit in an entry-level astronomy class.
“We are thrilled to partner with Maunakea Scholars and have enjoyed the process of developing an online pilot to serve students at Waiākea and Honokaʻa High Schools,” said Wendi Vincent, ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Academy director. “We look forward to expanding this pilot in future semesters and advancing academy offerings statewide.”
The pilot program launched in the spring 2019 semester.
“Our mission is to prepare ±á²¹·É²¹¾±ʻ¾±¡¯²õ youth for their future beyond graduation by offering authentic learning opportunities,” said Mary Beth Laychak, outreach program manager. “We¡¯re cultivating student scientists who will become the next generation of local engineers, technicians and astronomers who will operate and perform research with the Maunakea Observatories in the years to come.”
The Maunakea Scholars program is a partnership with the University of Â鶹´«Ã½, and the . The program allows chosen high school students observation work time with the telescopes that astronomers from around the world covet.
²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Academy, which is administered through the at , allows eligible high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take college-level courses and earn both college and high school credits simultaneously. Accepted ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Academy students receive provisional admission to UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹.
more about the new program.