Youth Academic Success:It Starts in the Home

Academic Success of youth is critical for their future success as well as for the economic and social health of their communities. Using a mixed methods approach (the 2008-2013 “Social Capital and Children’s Development” survey and commentaries of eight education professionals), academic support in the home was found to be the most influential in promoting sociable and non-disruptive behaviors in the classroom and contributing to academic success of 1800 youth. The importance of a supportive home ecological environment (relative to the school and community ecologies of youth) lent support to the predictions of social and cultural capital theories in shaping the core academic self-concept of youth. Education professionals lent support for the importance of a supportive home environment in youth academics. These findings, while contributing to the scholarship in the field of early education, also pointed to new research directions on how schools and communities can support parents

Spitzer and near-infrared observations of a new bi-polar protostellar outflow in the Rosette Molecular Cloud

We present and discuss \emph{Spitzer} and near-infrared H$_{2}$ observations of a new bi-polar protostellar outflow in the Rosette Molecular Cloud. The outflow is seen in all four IRAC bands and partially as diffuse emission in the MIPS 24 $\mu$m band. An embedded MIPS 24 $\mu$m source bisects the outflow and appears to be the driving source. This source is coincident with a dark patch seen in absorption in the 8 $\mu$m IRAC image. \emph{Spitzer} IRAC color analysis of the shocked emission was performed from which thermal and column density maps of the outflow were constructed. Narrow-band near-infrared (NIR) images of the flow reveal H$_2$ emission features coincident with the high temperature regions of the outflow. This outflow has now been given the designation MHO 1321 due to the detection of NIR H$_2$ features. We use these data and maps to probe the physical conditions and structure of the flow.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Low speed testing of the inlets designed for a tamden-fan V/STOL nacelle

An approximately 0.25 scale model of a tandem fan nacelle, designed for a subsonic V/STOL aircraft, was tested in a Lewis wind tunnel. Model variables included long and short aft inlet cowls and the addition of exterior strakes to the short inlet cowl. Inlet pressure recoveries and distortion were measured at pitch angles to 40 deg and at combinations of pitch and yaw to 30 deg. Airspeeds covered a range to 135 knots (69 m/sec). The short aft inlet with added strakes had the best aerodynamic performance and is considered suitable for the intended V/STOL application

CHIMERA rising

Chimera has three definitions, each so equally fitting of my work that this word has come to embody what I consider my own holy trinity. One: a firebreathing female monster in Greek mythology, often read as an omen for disaster. She was a hybrid animal made up of three – lion, goat, and serpent. Two: an unrealizable dream, a fanciful illusion composed of discordant parts – improbable but dazzling, wild. Three: an organism formed by multiple sets of distinct DNA, human, plant or animal. Chimera – a hybrid monster, an impossible dream, a harmonious organism composed from disparate origins. There is family folklore I was told from a young age about generations of my grandfathers in Hawaii serving as Kahuna ninau ‘uhane. Kahuna means “keeper of secrets” and ninau ‘uhane is “one who speaks with spirits.” The story goes that one ancestor generations back had contacted a bad spirit and made a deal he could not keep. As punishment, the spirit laid a curse upon our family line and promised to torment every generation to come. ...CHIMERA rising formed through dream logic, instinct, and play. The works are amulets, totems, votive objects – their intended function is an offering to you, the viewer. Regardless of each unit’s actual supernatural powers (or lack thereof), they aim to physically manifest impulses just beneath the arena of the conscious, where there exists tension between mysticism, emotion and rational thought. They want us to know that what we believe is always our own

A Cultural Approach to Education via Master Plan Culture, Education, and Community Leaders

For decades, native Hawaiian public schools have been at the bottom of the national educational ladder. As Hawaiʻi’s education system progresses into the 21st century, there is need for contemporary education to address and support the annual intake of 70,000 school children. Twentieth century curricula is based solely on what we learn and fails to focus on how we learn. Contemporary educational environments in Hawaiʻi need to differentiate from that of the 20th century to provide quality education to our youth. By integrating technological advancements and innovative teaching methods in which are driven by cultural awareness, the contemporary education system will provide our children with the learning environments that suit their individual learning behavior, thus paving the way for community growth and future prosperity for Hawaiian children. Hawaiʻi is unique, as it is sensitive to its place, heritage, and people. All of which are factors that are rooted in its distant cultural past. Culture-based education research states that cultural and ethnic identity builds self-esteem and confidence – leading to resiliency among youth and adults. The culture-based education model seeks to mobilize this growing body of knowledge of improving the educational outcomes of individuals, families, and communities. Hawaiian-focused charter schools are innovators in the development of experiential and place-based learning, and are the leaders in focusing on cultural identity as the foundation for social and emotional well-being. Culture is the continuity of unique languages and practices, thus strengthening familial social connections and support systems.1 Therefore, the integration of cultural awareness into educational spaces within the architectural design process would improve how we learn. This integration transforms current learning environments that extend beyond the traditional classroom by embracing its surrounding landscape, resulting in the development of an innovative education curriculum. This thesis explores a culturally informed conceptual master plan for a hybridized educational model that merges traditional Hawaiian worldviews, guiding principles, values, and learning styles into the contemporary context

The Shared Experiences of Black Women Faculty in Counselor Education Programs at Predominately White Institutions: A Thematic Analysis

Black women faculty (BWF) are underrepresented in university settings when compared to national representation in the population. This underrepresentation of Black women is also seen in counselor education; however, there is a lack of research regarding the factors that influence BWF to pursue and secure tenured positions at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Given the current underrepresentation of BWF at PWIs, there is a need to examine the factors that would increase the recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty. Prior research has mainly focused on factors that supported the recruitment and retention of Black women doctoral students, but little research has been conducted in examining the factors that contribute to the underrepresentation of BWF. To this end, a qualitative thematic analysis design was used to gain knowledge of the factors that impact the recruitment and retention of BWF members in a counselor education program at a PWI based on their personal experiences. The implications of these themes in the recruitment and retention of BWF in counselor education and supervision and recommendations for future research are discussed