Preparing Hawai`i Students for the Workforce
Lt. Governor Aiona continued throughout 2008 to build buzz in Hawai`i schools for a statewide effort intended to help prepare tech-savvy, achievement-oriented students for the workforce, as they develop marketable skills in science, technology, engineering and math – subjects that are key to economic competitiveness.
Lt. Governor Aiona watches the robotics team from Salt Lake Elementary School practice for the competition.
In the past year, the number of robotics teams in schools statewide has nearly tripled, increasing to roughly 282 from 95 at a time when the Administration is focused on preparing Hawai‘i students for a more diverse economy shaped by technology and globalization.
“Our Administration’s support of these programs is about more than building robots,” Lt. Governor Aiona told teachers, mentors, students and parents in November at the FIRST LEGO League Qualifier Tournament, featuring 17 elementary and middle school teams that competed using engineering and computer programming principles as they built robots designed to perform specific tasks. “These young people are assembling real life engineering skills, and building confidence at the same time. By getting involved in robotics, these students are learning the importance of teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.”
For that reason, the Lt. Governor helped host the inaugural 2008 NASA/BAE Systems FIRST in Hawai‘i Regional Robotics Competition at the University of Hawai‘i’s Stan Sheriff Center. The tournament featured more than 700 students from Hawai‘i and the U.S. mainland.
In the week leading up to the tournament, the Lt. Governor traveled across the state to promote local teams and encourage high school students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
A month ago, he participated in the VEX Robotics Pan-Pacific Championship at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, where 83 teams of students from Hawai‘i, California and China competed with robots designed to solve complex problems.
