{"id":216536,"date":"2025-05-23T09:00:55","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T19:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=216536"},"modified":"2025-05-26T19:49:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T05:49:47","slug":"uh-mentors-next-astronomy-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/05\/23\/uh-mentors-next-astronomy-stars\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> mentors next astronomy stars, Waipahu teen wins $10K scholarship"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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IfA<\/abbr> Director Doug Simons and coordinator Mary Beth Laychak award Mila Redford the Hōkūala Scholarship.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> is helping students across the state reach for the stars\u2014literally.<\/p>\n

On May 21, 11 Waipahu High School students were honored through the Maunakea Scholars (MKS<\/abbr>) program, a statewide effort co-led by the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Institute for Astronomy<\/a> (IfA<\/abbr>) that gives public high schoolers access to Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s world-renowned telescopes. Among them was senior Mila Rexford, who earned the $10,000 Hōkūala Scholarship for her standout work in astronomy. Rexford plans to attend UH<\/abbr> Hilo this fall.<\/p>\n

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Rexford will attend UH<\/abbr> Hilo in fall 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“We are really excited to be awarding the Hōkūala Scholarship,” said Mary Beth Laychak, coordinator of Maunakea Scholars at IfA<\/abbr>. “I\u2019ve had the privilege of mentoring this year\u2019s recipient for several years. Her application of her project is truly unique.”<\/p>\n

Rexford began her project, “The Mystery of the Red Square Nebula,” as a sophomore. She worked with astronomers in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and the UK<\/abbr> to analyze her data and even created 3D<\/abbr>-printed models to help younger students and those with vision impairments understand her findings.<\/p>\n

In addition to Rexford, 10 Waipahu students received telescope time through the program. Their projects will be carried out using the W.M. Keck Observatory, Canada-France-Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Telescope, NASA<\/abbr> Infrared Telescope Facility and Las Cumbres Observatory, to explore topics ranging from the solar system to distant galaxies.<\/p>\n

Winning proposals from Waipahu High School<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Waipahu High School students receive honorable mentions or telescope time<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n