Super Students
Saturday, April 26, 1997
Name: Kristen Namba
Age: 12
School: Waikiki Elementary
Favorite subject: Math
Pastimes: Volleyball, reading
Future: Teacher
With the charisma of a seasoned politician and the innocence of a soft-spoken sixth-grader, Kristen Namba leads the student body of Waikiki Elementary School in fun and thought-provoking activities. A leader with hopeful ideals
As student body president, Namba is a skillful communicator. She is at once a kid, acting out skits to advertise an upcoming event, and a mature political philosopher with hopeful ideals.
"I want to make it so the students have more of a voice," she said. "A lot of people have different ideas about what they want. I think we should all listen so that we're open to different choices."
"Kristen is an outstanding leader," said Kinue Kanda, a student council adviser. "She really knows how to gather the people together and work collaboratively."
One project charts the student body's progress on cooperation and caring. "We have a spreadsheet that measures mental cognition, helping people, decreasing impulsivity, things like that," Kristen said.
Cynthia Namba, Kristen's mother, said she and husband Nolan think it's wonderful Kristen has such a "zest for life."
"She gets her communication skills from the constant negotiation with her three brothers."
As master of ceremonies for all-school assemblies, "I have to talk to all the students," Kristen said. "But I'm kinda used to it."
Mary Sano, Star-Bulletin
