Financial Aid Office Offers Free Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Workshops
Attend the free UH West O'ahu FAFSA Workshop to learn how to apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Sign up at the Student Services Office for one of four time slots on March 20 and March 27:

5 - 5:45 p.m.
5:45 - 6:30 p.m.
6:30 - 7:15 p.m.
7:15 - 8 p.m.

Bring the following information/documents to the workshop:

·     Social Security number
·     Federal and State Income Tax returns for 2008 (2007 returns are acceptable if 2008 taxes have not yet been filed)
·     W-2 Forms
·     PIN and password if already registered with FAFSA

The workshops take place in the UH West O‘ahu Computer Lab. For questions, contact the UH West O'ahu Financial Aid Office at 454-4700 or finaid@uhwo.hawaii.edu

Support the UH West O‘ahu Hawaii Foodbank Drive
Help feed Hawai‘i’s hungry today! Show your support for the Hawaii Foodbank’s 20th Annual Food Drive by:

·     dropping off canned goods and cash or check donations to the Hawai‘i Foodbank tent during the West O‘ahu Day festivities on April 9. The most needed items are canned meats and tuna, canned meals including spaghetti, chili and corned beef hash, canned soups, vegetables and fruits. Donations are also being accepted now through April 9 at the UH West O‘ahu Business Office.

·     purchasing an Aloha Diner’s Club coupon book or the Hawaii Foodbank 20th Anniversary T-shirt for $14.

·     purchasing an item from the Business Office White Elephant booth at West O‘ahu Day with proceeds benefitting the Hawaii Foodbank.

To purchase an Aloha Diner’s Club coupon book or Hawaii Foodbank T-shirt, email Jennifer Watanabe at jennifer@uhwo.hawaii.edu. For more information, email Sharon Cox at coxs@hawaii.edu.

Mark Your Calendars for UH West O‘ahu Day on April 9!
UH West O‘ahu’s annual West O‘ahu Day event is happening on Thursday, April 9 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Festivities include a talent show, food, games, raffle prizes, Makahiki (Hawaiian games) and a Hawaiian band. Be on the look out for additional details posted on campus soon! For information on how to participate, contact Kelly Ching at kelly.ching@hawaii.edu or 454-4700.

Enter the UH Alumni Association (UHAA) 2009 Student Grant Video Competition for a Chance to Win $500
All currently enrolled full- or part-time UH West O‘ahu students are encouraged to enter the UH Alumni Association’s 2009 Student Grant Competition. To enter, submit a video based on the theme “What I will always remember about my days on campus” to UHAA’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/uhalumni. UH West O‘ahu students should upload videos to www.youtube.com/group/UHAA. Video submissions must be completely uploaded to the UHAA YouTube channel no later than 4 p.m. HST on April 10. Video submissions will be evaluated based on best interpretation of the theme, creativity, originality and content. Winners will be announced on April 24 via email and public announcement. All submissions will become property of UHAA and may be used for other promotional purposes. For more information and technical specifications, contact the Alumni Relations office at 956-2586 or 1.877.842.5867 or visit www.uhalumni.org

Enter the ASUHWO T-Shirt Contest!
Show off your design skills for a chance to win a free T-shirt, gift card and recognition at West O‘ahu Day on April 9. The top 20 T-shirt entries will receive a reward.

Contest Guidelines:
·     The design will be printed on a white T-shirt
·     The design should be for only one side of the shirt
·     The design should include no more than two colors and the words “UH West O‘ahu”

Email all T-shirt design entries to uhwoday@yahoo.com by March 19. The student government may alter designs to meet the listed guidelines.

West Press Deadline, Monday, March 16
All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to send in submissions for the April issue of the West Press. The submission deadline for story ideas including club events, recent publications, class projects and any UH West O‘ahu items of interest is Monday, March 16. Please send all submissions and questions to westpress@uhwo.hawaii.edu.

UH West O‘ahu Students Offer Free Tax Assistance to Low to Moderate Income Taxpayers Every Saturday Now Through March 28
Student volunteers from UH West O‘ahu and Leeward Community College accounting classes and other community members are providing free tax help for low to moderate-income taxpayers with preparing 2008 federal and Hawai‘i State tax returns as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Volunteers are trained and certified to prepare basic tax returns.

Saturdays through March 28
Leeward Community College, Business Education Building Room 229
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

For more information, visit
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kamida/Index_files/vita/VITA%20Information.htm

Virtual Professional-in-Residence Program Offers Free Opportunity to Consult with Industry Experts
The Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship and E-Business at the UH Manoa Shidler College of Business welcomes all UH students and faculty to access the Virtual Professional-in-Residence (VPIR) Program, a “live library” of resources that provides consultation from business executives with a wide array of expertise. All VPIRs are volunteers and genuinely interested in offering their knowledge to the UH community. The service is free and provides a rare opportunity to make contact with industry experts by phone or email.
 
Appointments are required.  To see a full listing of the current VPIRs, or to schedule an appointment, visit http://www.shidler.hawaii.edu/VPIR For more information, call 956-5083 or email pace@hawaii.edu.

Attention, Karaoke Enthusiasts!
Have you been looking for the opportunity to demonstrate your school spirit while showing off your group or department's impressive musical talent? Enter the first-ever UH West O‘ahu Karaoke Challenge!
 
Contest information:
• Open to all UH West O‘ahu students, faculty and staff
• Form a team (minimum three)
• Be prepared for round-robin competition
• Semi-finals in March
• Finals on West O‘ahu Day, April 9

First-ever Conference March 19-21 to Review
Okinawan Studies as Viable Field of Study
This inaugural event brings together Okinawan Studies experts from the University of Hawai‘i, mainland, Okinawa and Japan. The symposium, co-chaired by UH West O‘ahu Professor Joyce Chinen and UH Manoa Associate Professor Leon Serafim, will cover the topic of Okinawan Studies and the potential of further developing it into a viable field of study.

The conference takes place at the Hawai‘i Imin International Conference Center in the East West Center at the UH Manoa campus. Registration forms are available at http://www.hawaii.edu/cjs. Registration is free before March 15. On-site registration is available for a $5 cash fee. For more information, email cos@hawaii.edu or visit the UH West O‘ahu website at http://www.uhwo.hawaii.edu.

Upcoming Writing and Learning Center Workshops

Call 454-4794 or email Emily Nye at emilynye@hawaii.edu to reserve a space in any of the following workshops sponsored by the UH West O‘ahu Writing and Learning Center. All workshops are held in E-104 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

March 18
How to Write an ‘A’ Paper
What are professors looking for? This workshop outlines the importance of constructing a strong, clear thesis supported by well-organized evidence.

April 15
Writing a Winning Resume
This workshop offers techniques for writing a resume for the appropriate audience using persuasive, action-oriented words and following an easy-to-read format.

UH West O‘ahu Math Center Open Additional Hours this Spring
Hours of Operation:
Monday/Wednesday - 2-5 p.m.            
Tuesday/Thursday - 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Friday - Closed  
 
Tutoring is offered by appointment, on a walk-in basis, and online during operational hours. All tutoring services are free of charge to registered UH West O‘ahu students. The Math Center is located in B-108. For additional information, call 454-4794, email uhwomc@hawaii.edu or visit http://www2.hawaii.edu/~uhwomc

UH System Presidential Search Committee Reviews Applicants
The search is on for the next UH System president to succeed David McClain, whose term of appointment concludes on July 31. The UH Advisory Presidential Selection Committee began review of nominations and applications on Feb. 20. The position remains open until filled.

Follow the search process on the committee's website,
http://www.hawaii.edu/president. The site contains the job listing, selection criteria and information on committee members and meetings, as well as feedback from listening tours on UH campuses and an opportunity to submit questions or comments.

Career Services Update
UH West O‘ahu Career Services is no longer staffed but students can access handouts on majors, practicums, job or graduate school search, resumes and interviews, and more at the Career Resources website at http://www.uhwo.hawaii.edu/career2.

Need financial aid for next year?
Need financial aid for next year? Log on to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov to apply. The 2009-2010 Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available online! Turn in your FAFSA by the April 1 priority deadline to increase your chance of receiving the maximum amount of aid. For assistance with the FAFSA, attend one of the UH West O‘ahu FAFSA Workshops on March 20 or 27. Call 454-4700 or email finaid@uhwo.hawaii.edu for more information.

Many external scholarship applications are due this March. Apply today! Log on to http://www.uhwo.hawaii.edu/scholarship