COURTESY HAWAIIAN TELCOM The new Hawaiian Telcom phone book cover features the artwork of Leeward Community College student Dawn Groves.

Phone book cover celebrates UH’s centennial

To celebrate the University of Hawaii's 100th anniversary in 2007, Hawaiian Telcom's 2006-07 Oahu directories feature the art of Leeward Community College student Dawn Groves on their covers.

Hawaiian Tel unveiled the covers Thursday at the University of Hawaii Wahine volleyball match.

Earlier this year, a contest was held to create art with the theme of "Celebrating 100 Years of Higher Education in Hawaii -- A Century Through an Artist's Eyes." The contest was open UH students, faculty and staff, according to a release.

"According to the judges, one student's piece stood out among the others because it truly exemplified the contest theme," said Ron Montgomery, vice president and general manager of Hawaiian Telcom Directories.

"Because Dawn Grove's piece was so phenomenal, we chose to feature her winning art on all the main Oahu directories, as well as ... on the Oahu companion directory and the neighbor island directories," Montgomery said.

Groves' work -- "A Passion for Knowledge" -- portrays the University of Hawaii in the past, present and future.

"I wanted my piece to show the evolution of the University of Hawaii and learning," Groves said. "I hope that others will be inspired in their own way by this piece."

The new Oahu companion directory also features a digitally enhanced photograph taken by Groves of a canoe. The Maui County, Kauai County and Big Island directories being distributed in February also will feature photos taken by Groves in each county.

For the past 20 years, Groves has been a critical-care registered nurse specializing in cardiology, intensive care and emergency services. After being injured on the job and unable to perform her duties, she enrolled at Leeward Community College and is currently working to earn her second degree, in digital media.