Monte Watanabe, an engineering student who graduated in May from the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, has been named an honorable mention recipient for the 2006-2007 Eta Kappa Nu Alton B. Zerby and Carl T. Koerner Outstanding Electrical or Computer Engineering Student Award.

The selection identifies him as one of the three most outstanding electrical or computer engineering students in the nation, according to a UH news release.

As an undergraduate, Watanabe co-authored several publications, including a forthcoming book chapter. He also played a major role on the steering committee of the 2007 International Microwave Symposium, Hawai'i's largest conference this year.

Watanabe is currently pursuing his graduate degree at UH-Manoa, specializing in retrodirective antenna arrays for small-satellite applications.

Watanabe is the fourth UH-Manoa student to be recognized with the award in the past seven years.

Previous UH-Manoa winners of the award, also UH Regents Scholars, were Kendall Ching (2001), Aaron Ohta (2003) and Blaine Murakami (2005).

SECOND CHANCE TO GET INTO UH

High school seniors who may not meet the minimum entrance requirements for the University of Hawai'i-Manoa can get a second chance at admittance through the College Opportunities Program.

Deadline for applications is Dec. 4.

Participants in this free six-week summer program are housed at the Manoa campus and enrolled in classes designed to upgrade academic and social skills.

Room, board, textbooks and instructional expenses are covered. Participants who successfully complete the summer program requirements are admitted to Manoa and advance to the program's First-Year Academic Program in the fall semester.

Last year, 85 percent of participants successfully completed the summer program and were admitted to UH-Manoa.

Applications are available at www.hawaii.edu/cop. For more information, call 956-6186, e-mail copuhm@hawaii.edu or visit www.hawaii.edu/cop.

MARYKNOLL WILL NOTE ANNIVERSARY

Maryknoll School this morning will begin its 80th anniversary celebration with a special school Mass at Sacred Heart Church.

Bishop Larry Silva will preside over the 11 a.m. Mass.

Eighty years ago, a group of Maryknoll Order nuns arrived in Hawai'i with a mission to educate Hawai'i youth and imbue them with a sense of respect for all cultures and a desire to give back to the community in which they lived.

Four days after their arrival, the Maryknoll Sisters founded Maryknoll School with one classroom and 170 students.

This year, Maryknoll School will mark the anniversary with a variety of events, beginning with this morning's Mass.