MEDIA RELEASE

The Office of Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi has announced the Student Malama Award, the first Big Island student sustainability award to highlight and celebrate youth-led stewardship and sustainability initiatives.

Outstanding student leaders in this field will be awarded $500 scholarships.

Individual students and student groups from public, charter and private schools, as well as for-profit or non-profit youth organizations are eligible to apply.

Projects may include, but are not limited to topics such as renewable energy and energy efficiency, agriculture such as school gardens and local foods; resource management such as zero waste, community-based volunteerism, social and community service, and environmental projects such as conservation and preservation of the ocean, land and forest.

Scholarships will be awarded to winners in K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 grade categories. An awards ceremony luncheon with Kenoi will be scheduled for the end of the school year.

Nomination applications may be found on the Office of the Mayor’s website at www.hawaiicounty.gov/office-of-the-mayor/categories/SMA

The nomination deadline is April 15, 2012.

For further information, call Barbara Kossow at 323-4448 or Lisa Robertson at 961-8211.