Akamai Summer STEM Internship Accepts 29 Students

Akamai Workforce Initiative image.

The Akamai Workforce Initiative has accepted 29 Hawai‘i students for its 2017 summer internship program to advance Hawai‘i college students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers.

With lead funding from the Thirty Meter Telescope, the internship provides community college students and university undergraduates with summer projects at observatories and high tech companies in Hawai‘i.

This year’s Akamai interns and their placements include:

• Daryl Albano – Thirty Meter Telescope, Pasadena, CA
• Jennifer Chun – Submillimeter Array, Hawai‘i Island
• Nicolas Colon – Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, Maui
• Brianna Craig – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Maui
• Sean Endo – W.M. Keck Observatory, Hawai‘i Island
• Jeri Goodin – W.M. Keck Observatory, Hawai‘i Island
• Nikki Imanaka – Canada-France-Hawai‘i Telescope, Hawai‘i Island
• Chantelle Kiessner – Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, Maui
• Christopher Kim – Air Force Research Laboratory, Maui
• Michelle Lau – Akimeka LLC, Maui
• Junhao Li – Subaru Telescope, Hawai‘i Island
• Brandi Liu – Institute for Astronomy, Maui
• Jamal Marshall – W.M. Keck Observatory, Hawai‘i Island
• Keoki Massad – Institute for Astronomy, Maui
• Reyn Mukai – Thirty Meter Telescope, Pasadena, CA
• Elton Nakagawa – Gemini North Observatory, Hawai‘i Island
• Talmage Nakamoto – Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i Authority (NELHA), Hawai‘i Island
• Kurt Noe – Akimeka LLC, Maui
• Joshua Parep – Institute for Astronomy, Maui
• Katie Park – Subaru Telescope, Hawai‘i Island
• Christopher Roof – Institute for Astronomy Hilo, Hawai‘i Island
• Catherine Sarte – Subaru Telescope, Hawai‘i Island
• Heather Situ – Gemini North Observatory, Hawai‘i Island
• Michael Spetich – Institute for Astronomy, Maui
• Varrick Suezaki – W.M. Keck Observatory, Hawai‘i Island
• Dallas Tada – Gemini North Observatory, Hawai‘i Island
• Ariel Todoki – Integrity Applications Incorporated, Maui
• Akira Vernon – Thirty Meter Telescope, Pasadena, CA
• Matthew Yuen – Pacific Disaster Center, Maui

All 29 Akamai students are from Hawai‘i or enrolled at a University of Hawai‘i campus. The students began the program on June 12, 2017, with a preparatory course taught by Akamai instructors. Under the guidance of a mentor, each student will complete a seven-week project at various observatories and high-tech facilities on Hawai‘i Island, Maui and in California.

Nearly 330 college students have worked in the Akamai internship program since 2002. At least 140 alumni now work in science and technology jobs, nearly two-thirds of them in Hawai‘i.

The program accepts college students from Hawai‘i with a key goal of providing opportunities to underrepresented and underserved populations in STEM. So far, the Akamai Workforce Initiative has mentored a demographic of 36 percent women, 25 percent Native Hawaiian and 47 percent underrepresented minorities.

To learn more about the Akamai summer internship program, visit www.akamaihawaii.org.