---

6 Big Island graduates win scholarships

The Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union awarded scholarships of $2,500 each to five graduating seniors: Ryan Daugherty of Konawaena High School; Caylin Gans, Kealakehe High School; Mariko Fujio-White, Hawaii Preparatory Academy; Allyson Fujii, Honokaa High School; and Reina Ojiri, Hilo High School.

Chelsey Utemei of Kohala High School was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Lance Garner, 19, of Volcano won the 2008 Hawaii Spirit of Youth Award, and the National Spirit of Youth Award from the Coalition for Juvenile Justice. James Hao, 18, of Kailua-Kona received the honorable-mention Hawaii Spirit of Youth Award.

Professor Adelheid Kuehnle of the University of Hawaii at Manoa was named the 2008 Scientist of the Year by the Honolulu chapter of Achievement Rewards for College Scientists.

She is a horticulture professor in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Kuehnle has co-authored, with veteran horticulturist Haruyuki Kamemoto, books about anthurium and dendrobium breeding, and has written articles in scientific and trade journals.

---