CAMS Graduates of 2011

Elixabeth To'omalatai and Andrew Thompson graduated from the California Academy of Math and Science (CAMS) On June 10, 2011. CAMS is located on the California State University, Dominguez Hills campus in Carson, CA, and affords students the opportunity to take college classes, along with a rigorous math and science curriculum. Elizabeth and Andrew were the two graduates of Pacific Islander ancestry of over 140 total graduates. The Class of 2011 earned over 12 million dollars in scholarships, and 100% will be attending a college or university, including some of the most prestigious universities in the country. CAMS has consistently been ranked as one of the top 20 high schools in America, and was featured this year on CBS News. Congratulations to all of the graduates, Dr. Janice Filer, principal, and the faculty and staff.

NPIEN Celebrates Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

The National Pacific Islander Educator Network (NPIEN), in recognition of the Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and NPIEN's 10th Anniversary, embarked on a most ambitious tour of schools, featuring a variety of Guest Speakers and Mentors from the Pacific Islander Community. Due to underrepresentation of Pacific Islanders in many professional fields, the speakers often represented one of the only individuals in their respective fields of choice. The speakers included Brittany Noelani Valdez, USC Graduate student, Falanai Ala, Project Manager and Architect, Long Beach Unified School District,
Dr. Tagaloa-Tulifau, Podiatrist, Diana Faatai, Dean of Students, Carson High School, Meghan Blanco, Attorney, Renay Laguana, Counselor, Cypress College, Dr. Michael Perez, Professor, Cal State University, Fullerton, Mahonri Sapiga, Professor of Social Work, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Dr. Kalani Beyer, Dean, Pacific Oaks College, Pua Palei, Researcher, Long Beach Memorial Hospital, Maleine Manumaleuga, Hitachi Corporation, and Dr. Keith Camacho, Professor, UCLA. NPIEN Executive Director Dr. Victor Thompson and Board Member Falanai Ala also provided ukulele instruction. The schools served were Will Rogers Middle School, Lawndale, Lakewood High School, Davis Middle School, Roosevelt Middle School, and Dominguez High School, Compton, Stanford Middle School, Long Beach, California Academy of Math and Science, Carson, Paramount High School, Artesia High School, Prarie Vista Middle School, Hawthorne, Jordan High School, Long Beach, and Costa Mesa High School, Orange County, California, and Riley Elementary School, Lakewood. NPIEN thanks all of the mentors and schools for their participation.

NPIEN AWARD WINNERS 2011

The National Pacific Islander Educator Network
4425 Pixie Ave.
Lakewood, CA 90712

CONTACT: Dr. Victor Thompson, Executive Director
Phone: (562) 496-2319
Email: npien@npien.com


STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE RECOGNIZED AT 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDUCATION CONFERENCE


LAKEWOOD, California, May 20, 2011 – The National Pacific Islander Educator Network (NPIEN) and the Paramount High School Pacific Islander Club (PHSPIC) announce the tenth-annual Pacific Islander Educator Conference, to be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Paramount High School, 14429 S. Downey Ave. Paramount, CA 90723.

The conference will feature workshops for students grades K-12, college/university students, parents, teachers and community members.
An awards luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m. to recognize outstanding students, educators and community members for their contributions to the Pacific Islander community.
Further information about the conference is available at www.npien.com.

2011 National Pacific Islander Educator Network (NPIEN) Awards Winners
Awardees will be recognized at the November 12, 2011 Annual Education Conference at Paramount High School, Paramount, CA

Christina Diaz Student Scholar Award
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS *=Scholarship Winner
Name/School/School District
Kaalei Faasulu (12)
Jordan High School, Long Beach Unified School District (USD)
Kaisa Grande (10)
Paramount High School, Paramount USD
Lina Keliikoa (10)
Paramount High School, Paramount USD
Stella Maluia
Paramount High School, Paramount USD
Bernadine Mauinatu
Paramount High School, Paramount USD
Bernice Mauinatu (12)
Paramount High School, Paramount USD
Shane Mauinatu (12)*
Paramount High School, Paramount USD
Shawn Mauinatu (11)*
Paramount High School, Paramount USD
Ungarea Palei
Paramount High School , Paramount USD
Ezra Puefua
Paramount High School, Paramount USD
Magdalene Robertson (12)*
Paramount High School, Paramount USD
Robert Ropati (12)
Lakewood High School, Long Beach USD
Norma Soto
Paramount High School , Paramount USD
Mai’le Tauai (12)
Paramount High School, Paramount USD
Jayde Togiaso (11)*
Jordan High School, Long Beach USD

Christina Diaz Student Scholar Award
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS *=Scholarship Winner
Name/School/School District
Diana Enosa (08)
Roosevelt Middle School, Compton Unified School District (USD)
Jazmyne Fuamatu (06)
Roosevelt Middle School, Compton USD
Richard Kaveinga (08)
Will Rogers MS, Lawndale School District (SD)
Deanna Leiataua (07)
Roosevelt Middle School, Compton USD
Tanner Luatua (08)
Roosevelt Middle School, Compton USD
Siale Moniati (06)
Will Rogers MS, Lawndale SD
Charm Ocampo (07)
Roosevelt Middle School, Compton USD
Choa Ocampo (07)
Roosevelt Middle School, Compton USD
Mercy Taale (06)
Roosevelt Middle School, Compton USD
Grace Taale (06)
Roosevelt Middle School, Compton USD
Herby Tuala (08)*
Roosevelt Middle School, Compton USD

Dr. Alofa Tanuvasa Community Award Winners
Name/Organization
Sai Momoli
Pacific American Student Services (PASS)
Lola Sablan-Santos
Guam Communication Network
Vanessa Tuione
Tongan Community Service Center

Sevia Ma’ae Educator Award Winners
Name/School/School District
Lionel Gonzalez, Counselor
Jordan High School, Long Beach USD
Eric Lindshield, Counselor
Paramount High School, Paramount USD

NPIEN'S SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: 26 More Days

The following became Sustaining Members of the National Pacific Islander Educator Network (NPIEN) recently:

Stephen Donnenfield, and NPIEN Board Members Martha Donnenfield, Teresa Molina, Hector Molina, Rita Scanlan, Aileen Tanimoto Matsuura, Jennifer Kang, Eugene Mafi, Nikki Wood-Perkins, Dr. Victor Thompson

We have raised $775 to date, need $2,225 to meet our goal.

Who do you usually donate to? United Way? Red Cross? We are also a 501.c3 nonprofit organization. For only $30 per year, you can become an NPIEN Sustaining Member.

We have visited the following schools this month as a part of our Guest Speaker/Mentoring Program:

Washington Elementary School, Bellflower USD, Palms Elementary School, ABC USD, Lakewood High School, Long Beach USD, and Will Rogers Middle School, Lawndale SD.

Donate online www.npien.com

Sefa Aina Leads Healthy Living Event

Congratulations to Founding NPIEN Board Member Sefa Aina!

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES JOIN WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING AMONG NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER YOUTH 　 LOS ANGELES - Hundreds of youth joined Hines Ward, member of the President's Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and receiver for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, along with fellow NFL players Troy Polamalu, safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Marcus McNeill, offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers, to stress the importance of physical exercise and nutritious meals at a health and fitness fair Saturday at the University of California, Los Angeles' intramural field.

The event sponsored by The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders addressed the soaring obesity and diabetes rates among high school youth, particularly within Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities and in the nation's Pacific region. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) children have the highest rates of any minority group for being overweight or obese and hold an elevated risk for developing cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. Sefa Aina, vice chair of the President's Advisory Commission, spoke of how native food once grown and eaten by Polynesians have since been replaced on the Pacific Islands by imported products. A reliance on cheap, fast food in the continental United States also has contributed to unhealthy eating. One in five NHPI high school youth are obese, and one in three are likely to be overweight or obese, Aina said. Today we're sending a message that physical fitness and eating properly will lead to healthier living.

He added that message must also come from parents, schools, community leaders and elected officials in order to be effective.

Health and wellness expert Jillian Michaels led a fitness demonstration at the event and stated, America's obesity epidemic has reached catastrophic proportions, especially when it comes to our youth. I'm honored to participate in a program that shares my commitment to eradicating this problem and I am grateful for events like these as we continue this important fight.

Commissioner Hines Ward said that, as a professional athlete, he always wants to achieve his best for his teammates every time he steps onto the field. He emphasized that diet and exercise are a critical part of his regimen.

Balancing a healthy diet with exercise is critical if you want to perform at your best. And teaching your kids this balance at an early age is the key to developing a healthy lifestyle, he said. In this age of video games, kids today don't get much physical exercise and we, as parents, need to change that.