Several Waimanalo Elementary and Intermediate School students are the state winners of the NASA sponsored Space Science Student Involvement Program (SSIP) Competitions for 1995. Elementary students were eligible to enter three competitions categories.

One of the contests, "Mission to Planet Earth," asks a team of three students to investigate and design a satellite program to study the effects of human activity on the Earth's ecosystem using satellite and remote sensing technology. The first place winners are Samuel Andrade (now attending Kamehameha School), Gino Gosiaco and Lawrence Gabriel (both attending Waimanalo School). Their theme: Using Solar, Geothermal, and Wind Energy as Non-Polluting Energy Sources.

Students also entered the "Future Aircraft/Spacecraft Design Competition." A team of three students illustrated and explained an original design of a futuristic aircraft or spacecraft. Three Waimanalo School students are the second place winners in this category. Michelle Advincula, Mitchell Kealoha III, and Le Shay Keliiholokai designed a spacecraft named Venus Astronomer #1 that traveled and explored Venus. All three students are continuing at Waimanalo School.

Students depict scenes from space in "Interplanetary Art." The state winners--all from Waimanalo School--are: First place winner Richae Baqui (presently attending Kailua Intermediate School) for her "Andromeda Galaxy;" Second place winner Jimmy Lee Hernandez for his "Crab Nebula;" and Third place winner Chad Adviento for his "Solar Prominences." Both Jimmy Lee and Chad are presently attending Waimanalo School.

The award winning art work for the Aircraft/Spacecraft Design and Interplanetary Art are on display in the foyer of Waimanalo Public Library. Congratulations to these winners and all the other G/T Science students who participated.