The (AHI-SP) at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯²õ (CSS) celebrated the graduation of its Class of 2024 on July 26. The groundbreaking program, which expanded from 30 high school participants in 2023 to 40 this year, is quickly becoming a high-demand opportunity for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors in Â鶹´«Ã½.
“AHI-SP is more than a summer program,” said Jairus Grove, AHI-SP program director and chair and professor. “It offers high school students statewide an unparalleled educational experience and a workforce pathway to career success in the growing field of national intelligence.”
Held July 5–27, 2024, AHI-SP provided a comprehensive curriculum developed by the Department of Political Science. The program included a three-week online component (July 5–20) followed by an immersive in-person residence week on the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ campus (July 21–27). The high-schoolers explored the basics of international relations and national intelligence, laying a solid foundation for future studies and careers.
Said CSS Dean and Economics Professor Denise Eby Konan, “The holistic curriculum blends the theoretical knowledge with practical skills, equipping the state¡¯²õ next generation of leaders with the tools needed to excel in this dynamic and critical field. The program not only enhances students¡¯ academic credentials, but also provides valuable insights and hands-on experiences directly applicable to future careers.”
One AHI-SP participant was Cash McCloud, a 17-year-old from Lahaina who lost his home in the Maui wildfires last year and relocated to Kailua two months ago.
“When I heard about the AHI program, I immediately knew it would be the perfect opportunity for me,” said McCloud, who will be a rising senior at Kalaheo High in the fall. “Political philosophy is my greatest passion, and being able to explore these complex topics—so related to what I hope to define my future with—was exciting.”
Added AHI-SP participant Trinity Guillen, a 17-year-old rising senior at Kauaʻi¡¯²õ Kapaʻa High, “I really liked this program, because it gave me a better sense of what I want to do for a career. I¡¯m interested in chemical engineering, and perhaps later pharmaceutical engineering, and was especially fascinated by the topic of nuclear warfare. So watching the (1983) movie WarGames as a group was super interesting.”
The AHI-SP Class of 2024 included high school students from Kauaʻi, Maui, Oʻahu and Â鶹´«Ã½ Island, with 60% coming from neighbor islands. Additionally, the program had strong participation among female students and from Â鶹´«Ã½ State Department of Education high schools and charter schools.
Participants who successfully completed the program earned three college credits for POLS 120: Introduction to World Politics, the first course in the intelligence studies course sequence at CSS.
Expenses for AHI-SP students, including registration, tuition/fees, airfare and on-campus housing/meals, were paid through the Pacific Intelligence and Innovation Initiative, a public-private partnership that develops a skilled workforce in Â鶹´«Ã½.