Nisei Veterans Endowed Forum Series Sponsors Essay Contest For Hawai'i High School Students

HONOLULU-The University of Hawai'i at Manoa Colleges of Arts & Sciencesannounces the Spring Forum of the "Universal Values for a DemocraticSociety-Nisei Veterans Endowed Forum Series," Wednesday, April 18 from8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, 2454 SouthBeretania Street.

This third forum is a celebration of young people who are just beginningtheir journey on the road of life. It will feature high school studentsfrom around the state who participated in the "Values for Life"essay contest.

Modeled after the John Templeton Foundation's "Laws of Life"program, students in grades nine through twelve were invited to participate. Three statewide winners will be announced at the forum and will presenttheir winning essays to forum participants. These students will receivea cash award that will be donated in their behalf to a charitable organizationof their choice or their school. All school winners will be recognizedand presented certificates of merit and the book, Japanese Eyes, AmericanHeart.

Angela Perez Baraquio, Miss America 2001 and Leslie Lam, Mrs. America2000-2001, will serve as guest speakers at the forum and will discuss theirnational platforms: character education and family values, respectively.

The forum series was established to foster thoughtful discussions onvalues and their role in enhancing a democratic society. Each forum featuresan address by a speaker or panel of speakers on values from various perspectives,which is followed by small roundtable discussions engaging all forum attendees. The forum series is named in honor of Nisei (second generation JapaneseAmerican) veterans whose conduct during and after World War II exemplifythe importance of values in everyday life.

The public is invited to attend this free event. Bento lunches willbe available for $6 at the door. Parking is available at the Japanese CulturalCenter for a flat fee of $2. For more information, call 944-7773.