Two Campbell Grads To Hone Their Science Skills This Summer
Two recent Campbell High School graduates, Jayke Carig and Dairius Kawewehi – both from Ewa Beach – left the Islands last week for a four-week stay at the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, where they will participate in the National Youth Science Camp.
The two boys, who were classmates and friends at Campbell, are joining 118 other science enthusiasts from the class of 2012 from across the country and around the world to explore various topics related to a range of academic disciplines.
Dairius Kawewehi
The two were selected from a pool of international applicants based on their demonstrated excellence in math and science, as well as other subjects in school.
“I got heavily into math and science in my junior year when my AP calculus teacher taught me how much math can be used to help (solve problems) in the world,” Kawewehi said. “And then I had physics last year, and it was just a blast.”
Kawewehi’s science fair projects have included a study of the effectiveness of sunscreen and an analysis of calories in fast-food products.
Carig conducted a project that compares the conduciveness of different environments in growing papayas and also has participated in the state Science Olympiad.
The two may have just graduated, but they are thrilled to already resume their studies at camp.
“I tried to keep my cool, but I was really excited,” said Carig, recalling the moment he learned that he had been selected for the camp.
“I will learn a lot there, and I will also do things that I have never done before,” he said, adding that this will be his first time on the East Coast.
Their days will consist of lectures, seminars and directed study sessions. Scientists will visit the camp to give lectures on topics that include global warming, medicine and renewable energy. Seminars will provide an opportunity for students to explore other areas of study, including philosophy, music and art. Directed study sessions will offer hands-on activities, such as dissecting a human hand and searching through a DNA sequence.
But the camp won’t be all work and no play. The boys have heard from previous participants that they also will have a wide range of outdoor activities to choose from, including hiking, spelunking and kayaking in addition to their academic work load.
Carig and Kawewehi both plan to further their study of science in college. Carig will attend University of Hawaii at Manoa and plans to major in physics. Ultimately, he hopes to become an officer in the Marine Corps.
Kawewehi will be off to Purdue University in the fall on an ROTC scholarship, where he will major in mechanical or environmental engineering. After college, he plans to join the Navy before working as an engineer.
Kawewehi also was among the recent recipients of the Horatio Alger Scholarship, which is awarded to students who have excelled in academics as well as community service. Through his involvement in Campbell’s Navy JROTC, Kawewehi has participated in service projects that include beach cleanups and fundraising events.
The National Youth Science Camp is sponsored by the National Youth Science Foundation, a nonprofit that encourages interest and excellence in science among youths.
