Fifth-grade student Christian Funes from Keonepoko Elementary School in Pahoa became the symbolic 5,000th student to graduate from Starbase Hawaii’s one-week science, technology, engineering and math program. ADVERTISING Fifth-grade student Christian Funes from Keonepoko Elementary School in Pahoa became the
Fifth-grade student Christian Funes from Keonepoko Elementary School in Pahoa became the symbolic 5,000th student to graduate from Starbase Hawaii’s one-week science, technology, engineering and math program.
Starbase is a nationally recognized elementary school STEM program sponsored by the Department of Defense.
Starbase Hawaii on the Big Island, operating out of the old Keaau Armory, began in 2008 and primarily serves fifth-graders of the Ka‘u, Keaau and Pahoa DOE Complex.
All Starbase sites are sponsored by military units, with the Big Island site sponsored by the Hawaii National Guard. On hand for the special occasion at Keonepoko school were representatives of the Hawaii Army and Air National Guard as well as several Hawaii County Council members.
The County Council helped schools pay for busing to and from Starbase, which serves 12 schools a year with curriculum in subject areas of physics, chemistry, nanotechnology, engineering, mathematics operations and applications and STEM career exposure.
In addition, Starbase offers at least two summer programs for students who attend schools that don’t participate with them during the normal school year.
Starbase Hawaii also collaborates with other STEM organizations and participates in a number of community events with hands-on displays and presentations.
For more information about Starbase Hawaii programs, call 982-4298.
