To: Hunter Bishop, News Editor, Hawaii Tribune-Herald
From: Richard A. Crowe
Associate Professor of Physics &Astronomy
Subject: Contribution for Education Briefs
Title: UHH Sigma Xi Club given national recognition
The University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH) Sigma Xi Club, the local affiliate of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, has been awarded by the National Sigma Xi Committee on Qualifications the prestigious Certificate of Excellence for outstanding activities during the 1991-1992 year. Some of these activities included organizing the UHH Sigma Xi Symposium (which alternates with the Big Island Science Conference each spring), sponsoring various awards (Sigma Xi Student Scholarship, Outstanding High School Math/Science Teacher Award, Outstanding Student Research Paper Award, District Science Fair Young Inventor Award, High School Math Contest Winner), being involved as judges and/or mentors for science fair projects, arranging for guest lecturers from local and mainland research institutions, and participating in public school education and outreach programs. The award was presented at the 1993 Annual Meeting of Sigma Xi, held in San Francisco during February 25-28. Only 7 out of 520 chapters and clubs nationwide received this award. The UHH Club also received a Certificate of Recognition for increasing membership by more than 5% during the 1991-92 term (current membership stands at 41 full members and 17 student members). Treasurer Ernie Kho attended the February meeting and accepted the award on behalf of the club.
On April 30, during the Annual Banquet and 12th Big Island Science Conference, the UHH Sigma Xi Club celebrated the accomplishment that this Certificate of Excellence represents. Club co-founders and past presidents were invited to attend and receive special recognition for their contributions. The co-founders of the UHH Club, which was formally installed on April 25, 1975, were the late Harold Sanders, former UHH Dean Charles M. Fullerton (President 1975-76), and UHH biology professor John Chan. In attendance at the banquet and pictured above (left to right) are Lani Stemmerman (President 1990-91), Don Hemmes (Treasurer 1975-77), Lorna Arita-Tsutsumi (President 1992-93), Richard Crowe (President 1991-92), co-founder John Chan, Ernie Kho (President 1983-84), John Scott (President 1989-90), Marlene Nachbar Hapai (President 1987-88), and Nic Liquido (President 1988-89). Other past presidents not in attendance at the banquet are Yusuf Tamimi (1976-77), Roy Cunningham (1977-78), Frank Little (1978-79), Joseph Halbig (1979-80), William Sakai (1980-81), Jack Fujii (1981-82), Kinsel Coulson (1982-83), Walter Dudley (1984-85), Robert Fox (1985-86) and Elmer Robinson (1986-87). George Curtis will serve as Club President for the 1993-94 term.
