Derek Larson, a Hawaiʻi Island high school student who has also been enrolled in classes at Hawaiʻi Community College, was honored with a statewide college and career readiness award.
A senior at Konawaena High School, Larson was presented with the statewide Student Readiness Award at the Hawaiʻi ACT State Organization Conference in Honolulu on April 17. In addition, ACT has announced that Larson is one of just four semi-finalists who have been nominated for the national Student Readiness Award.
The Student Readiness Award recognizes academic accomplishments, college and career readiness and success in extracurricular activities.
Larson has a 4.2 high school grade-point average and is also on the dean’s list at Hawaiʻi CC where he has a 4.0 grade-point average. Larson is involved in extra-curricular activities, including sports and community service.
During the past year, Larson has been enrolled in Hawaiʻi CC classes as part of the college’s Running Start program. Running Start and other early college options at Hawaiʻi CC allow Larson and other high school students to enroll in Hawaiʻi CC classes and receive dual credit, which count as both high school credit and college credit.
Preparing for the future
Larson is projected to graduate from high school having already completed 36 college credits. He plans to attend The Sage Colleges in Albany, New York this fall where he will major in nursing and also enroll in pre-med courses.
Taking science classes at Hawaiʻi CC while in high school helped him choose the medical field for his undergraduate studies, said Larson.
“I was really able to explore the sciences, anatomy, microbiology, and that led me to wanting to join the medical field,” Larson said. The Hawaiʻi CC classes will also reduce the cost of his four-year degree because some of his pre-requisites are already complete, said Larson.
Jason Cifra, Hawaiʻi CC’s vice chancellor for student affairs, said Larson is a great example of why early college opportunities are provided to students.
“Derek has used early college courses from Hawaiʻi CC to become college-ready, and we are excited that he is being recognized by ACT,” said Cifra.
ACT also recognizes Hawaiʻi CC
At the conference in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi CC also received special recognition as the recipient of the “Career Preparedness Award.”
In announcing the award, the Hawaiʻi ACT State Organization said, “Hawaiʻi Community College made significant strides helping its students prepare for a successful career. Hawaiʻi Community College serves as a role model institution for others.”
For more information about Hawaiʻi Community College’s early college programs, visit hawaii.edu/runningstart or call (808) 934-2726.
—By Thatcher Moats
