Hawai'i Pacific University has been awarded a grant of $472,000 from the U.S. State Department to develop English language teaching materials for use overseas and to host English as a Second Language teachers from around the world.

The project will be managed by Sandra McKay, HPU visiting professor and distinguished scholar in the field of English as a Second Language and English as a Foreign Language.

HPU's faculty in Applied Linguistics will develop original classroom materials that promote English language learning and cross-cultural awareness. They will also help revise materials already developed by the State Department.

The grant will also help fund a June 2009 Summer Institute to familiarize English teachers from various countries with the new materials.

Carlos Juárez, dean of HPU's College of International Studies, said the project will be a valuable experience for students in HPU's Teaching English as a Second Language programs.

'IOLANI KIDS JOIN TENTS OF HOPE

'Iolani School students have joined the Tents of Hope national project to help raise awareness and money for refugees in Darfur, Sudan.

Under the direction of art teacher Cheri Keefer, students from all grades are painting a tent in vibrant colors and scenes on the lanai of the school's art building daily from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

By the end of the month, the tent will be sent to Washington, D.C., where it will join tents decorated by people from across the country.

The tents will be on display from Nov. 7 to 9 on the National Mall. For information, visit www.tentsofhope.org.

'IMILOA CENTER DEDICATES GARDEN

The 'Imiloa Astronomy Center at University of Hawai'i-Hilo has dedicated a garden in honor of the late Betsy Nip Wong and Kenneth Aloiau Wong.

The Wongs were prominent members of the Hilo community for 68 years. He worked as an engineer and businessman and she was a public school teacher. The garden was named in their honor through a gift from their children.

Betsy Wong was an avid gardener who spent many days creating Hawaiian gardens at her homes. The Wong Garden at 'Imiloa focuses on indigenous plants used for medicinal purposes.

HPU GRADUATION FEATURES MAYOR

Mayor Mufi Hannemann will address Hawai'i Pacific University graduates at the school's winter commencement on Jan. 14 at Waikiki Shell. About 500 students are expected to graduate.

UH PSYCHIATRY CHAIR AWARDED

Dr. Naleen Andrade, chairwoman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Hawai'i's John A. Burns School of Medicine, is the recipient of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's Robert Cancro Academic Leadership Award.

Andrade leads an integrated system of medical education with the only triple board residency program — pediatrics, psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry curriculum — west of the Rockies.

Her department's research division conducts studies on epidemiology, addictions, culture, suicide and violence, among other areas. She's also worked to advance quality of care for rural populations.