HCAP Weekly January 12, 2015

In this week’s issue:

Central District Service Center Manager Retires After 32 Years with HCAP
HCAP in Pacific Business News Book of Lists
U.S. Veteran Obtains Full-Time Employment
STEM Students Explore Engineering During Winter Break
Youth Services Students Study Hard to Raise Math and Reading Levels

Central District Service Center Manager Retires After 32 Years with HCAP

Last week, HCAP bid a fond farewell to Senior Community Services Manager, Sue Quinn. For 32 years, Sue has been instrumental in carrying out the HCAP mission of Providing Opportunities and Inspiration. Through her guidance, the Central District Service Center has provided a wide range of services unique to the community. She has empowered countless numbers of individuals and families to become self-reliant and have a voice in their community. Sue has truly been a warrior against poverty as she touched the hearts of many individuals young and old. She has been a dear friend to all and HCAP will surely miss her as she begins a new chapter in her life and a well-deserved retirement.

HCAP in Pacific Business News Book of Lists

HCAP was listed as number eleven in the 2014 Pacific Business News Book of Lists, ranked by 2013 revenue. In addition, HCAP had the third highest number of volunteers during the year- totaling 3,125! The Book of Lists is a compilation of lists that appeared in the weekly issues of Pacific Business News during the previous year.

U.S. Veteran Obtains Full-Time Employment

Gerald is a United States Veteran who was looking to return to the workforce after being unemployed for a while. Referred by U.S. Vets, he came to HCAP’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in search of part-time community service training that would provide him with job skills and an opportunity to transition into full-time employment.

Gerald was placed at U. S. Vets as a Canteen Monitor by his counselor Barbara Koike. While at the SCSEP training site, he continued to apply for regular job positions in the community. On December 10, Gerald notified Barbara that Star Protection Agency had hired him for a full-time position as a Security Guard. Congratulations and good luck in 2015, Gerald!

STEM Students Explore Engineering During Winter Break

Over the winter break, the Windward STEM students explored engineering through various building exercises: the marble tower, the log cabin, and the LEGO race car challenge.

The students worked together to construct a marble tower using all available pieces. They then had fun racing the marbles from the different parapets. They also built their own log cabins using Lincoln Logs.

The LEGO racecar challenge combined all of their engineering skills. The students built LEGO cars that could withstand a ride down the playground slide. At first, the students’ cars lost anywhere from 8-9 parts after racing down the slide. After making adjustments, that number dropped to 2-3. Finally, the students made landing pads out of boxes and blankets that allowed the LEGO cars to survive completely. The students enjoyed racing and making tweaks to help their racecar survive.

Youth Services Students Study Hard to Raise Math and Reading Levels

For the past few months, HCAP Youth Services has extended their tutoring services to Kapolei. Participants from the Westside have been able to meet Youth Services staff in Kapolei to receive individualized tutoring to raise math and reading levels in order to enter the Competency-Based Community School Diploma Program. Mobile tutoring services expands on our ability for staff to provide services to youth participants in their own neighborhood.