{"id":40258,"date":"2015-11-06T14:08:11","date_gmt":"2015-11-07T00:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=40258"},"modified":"2021-06-24T15:15:31","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T01:15:31","slug":"uh-mentor-students-win-big-at-national-stem-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2015\/11\/06\/uh-mentor-students-win-big-at-national-stem-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> mentor, students win big at national STEM<\/abbr> conference"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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ʻIlima<\/span> Society for Advancement of Chicanos\/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS<\/abbr>) Chapter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ʻIlima<\/span> Society for Advancement of Chicanos\/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS<\/abbr>) Chapter at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/a> and its members were big winners at the 2015 SACNAS<\/abbr> National Conference<\/a> held October 29–31 in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> science students and professors received an Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award, Distinguished Mentor Award and three Best Student Presentation Awards.<\/p>\n

Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award<\/h2>\n

Representing their Outstanding Chapter of the Year, UH<\/abbr> graduate students Narrissa Spies<\/strong> and Austin Shelton<\/strong> visited the White House and met with John Holdren, assistant to President Obama and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy<\/a>. Spies, a graduate student at UH<\/abbr> Mānoa’s Kewalo Marine Laboratory<\/a>, said the experience opened her eyes to “new opportunities, and I am now considering an internship, and how my experiences in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> can shape national science policy.”<\/p>\n

One of 115 SACNAS<\/abbr> chapters nationwide, the local ʻIlima<\/span> Chapter hosts community outreach events, seminars and scientific symposia throughout the year. The chapter is open to all Oʻahu<\/span> undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and professionals in STEM<\/abbr>. There are more than 50 ʻIlima<\/span> Chapter members from UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/a>, UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/a>, Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College<\/a>, Honolulu Community College<\/a> and Chaminade University of Honolulu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Healani Chang<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Distinguished Mentor Award<\/h2>\n

Healani Chang<\/strong>, ʻIlima<\/span> SACNAS<\/abbr> chapter advisor and a research specialist at the Pacific Biosciences Research Center<\/a> of UH<\/abbr> Mānoa, was awarded the Distinguished Mentor Award for her dedication to the mentorship and professional advancement of the students and community of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Best Student Presentation Awards<\/h2>\n

Three chapter members won individual awards for their outstanding scientific research presentations.<\/p>\n