James Ah Heong,
Hawai'i Community College
CfAO Site for Internship: Institute for Astronomy
Project: RedStar3 Array Controller Electronics Bench System (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Advisor: Mark Chun
Supervisor: Darryl Watanabe
James Ah Heong Jr. was born in Hilo and graduated form Waiakea High School. He attended Hawai’i Community College studying Electronics Technology and is currently completing a Liberal Arts degree to transfer to UH Hilo. James currently holds a position as a student technician for the Infra Red Telescope Facility. He hopes to gain great experience while interning for the CfAO. (Top)
Megan Ansdell,
University of St. Andrews, Scotland
CfAO Site for Internship: Gemini Observatory
Project: De-Fringing of High Resolution MICHELLE Spectra Through Fourier Filtering (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Supervisor: Scott Fisher
Megan Ansdell was lucky enough to be born and raised on the island of O’ahu where she graduated from Punahou School in 2004. She currently attends the University of St. Andrews in Scotland where she is in her second year of pursuing a masters degree in astrophysics. She enjoys the experience of living in a foreign country and hopes to someday come back to Hawai’i and have a career in astronomy. She enjoys surfing (although, doesn't get to do much of that in Scotland), hiking, traveling and has a passion for art as well. (Top)
Kaniela Dement,
University of Hawaii, Hilo
CfAO Site for Internship: W.M. Keck Observatory
Project: Analysis of Atmospheric Differential Refraction on OSIRIS Infrared Spectra (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Advisor: Bob Goodrich
Supervisor: Randy Campbell
Denny Kaniela Dement is a junior at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo majoring in Astronomy. He enjoys camping, hiking, reading, and any water sports, especially surfing. His interest in astronomy comes from the spirit of discovery, unveiling the secrets of the Universe for the benefit of all. (Top)
Jason Hardman, Hawai’i Community College
CfAO Site for Internship: University of Hawai'i at Hilo
Project: Constructing the High Energy Cosmic Ray Detector (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Advisors: John Hamilton & Robert Fox
Supervisor: Yoichi Asaoka
Jason Hardman was born in Hilo, Hawai’i. He is now completing his final semester at Hawai’i Community College. Majoring in Electronics Technology, Jason hopes to attend at University of Hawai’i at Hilo to possibly study Computer Science. Currently Jason is a member of the Hawai’i Air National Guard working mostly with communication equipment. With his huge fascination with electronics, astronomy, and computers he believes he has much to gain from this experience. (Top)
Benjamin Honey, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
CfAO Site for Internship: W.M. Keck Observatory
Project: Improving Efficiency of Access to Keck Interferometer M7 Optics Bench (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Advisor: Jim Bell
Supervisor: Drew Medeiros
Benjamin Honey is a sophomore studying aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. Ben is a resident of Waikoloa on the Big Island and grew up amidst the local astronomical community, which helped to develop his passion for astronomy and space exploration. The sport of Ultimate Frisbee is Ben’s second passion; he is considering attending Stanford University to earn his master’s degree and to play on their Ultimate team. Ben hopes to apply his education to a career in space exploration. (Top)
Vladimir Ivanov, University of Hawaii, Hilo
CfAO Site for Internship: W.M. Keck Observatory
Project: Creating an Image Database Catalog (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Advisor: Shui Kwok
Supervisor: Peggi Kamisato
Vladimir Ivanov was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria. In 2005 he moved to Hilo with his family. He is currently attending University of Hawai’i at Hilo as a freshman. Vladimir is majoring in Computer Science, with a minor in Business Administration. He enjoys hiking, biking, jogging, swimming, and most of all, playing soccer. (Top)
Arlen Kam,
University of California, Los Angeles
CfAO Site for Internship: Gemini Observatory
Project: Measuring the Deflection of the Telescope Mount (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Advisor: John White
Supervisor: Neal Masuda
Arlen was born and raised in Honolulu. She is currently a first year undergraduate student at UCLA, majoring in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Chinese. She has a younger brother who is currently a sophomore at Punahou School. Arlen has been interested in Astronomy her entire life, so this internship is a perfect opportunity for her to get experience in the field of engineering while learning more about astronomy. (Top)
Kenyan Kawauchi, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
CfAO Site for Internship:Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Project: Curvature Wavefront Sensor Arbitrary Waveform Generator (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Supervisor: Steve Colley
Kenyan Kawauchi was born and raised in Hilo on the Big Island. He is currently a senior majoring in Electrical Engineering at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. He is interested in electronics and IC devices. In his spare time, Kenyan enjoys surfing, swimming, and weight lifting. (Top)
Cherie Kinoshita,
University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
CfAO Site for Internship: Smithsonian Submillimeter Array
Project: Building and Mounting a Strain Gauge on an Antenna (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Supervisors: Billie Chitwood & Robert Christensen
Cherie Kinoshita was born and raised on the beautiful island of Oahu in Kaneohe. She is a sophomore at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa planning to major in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics, and hopes to be a project manager. She loves sports, especially basketball and soccer. Not only is she a student at the University, but she loves to be involved with the community and is an assistant coach for a high school varsity girl’s basketball team. Sports, science and math are her passions. (Top)
Bronson Libed, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
CfAO Site for Internship: W.M. Keck Observatory
Project: Tribological Analysis & Maintenance of Telescopes (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Advisor: Allen Agliam
Supervisor: Craig Nance
Bronson Libed is currently finishing his sophomore year at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa as he pursues a degree in Civil Engineering. He is a native to the island of O’ahu and now resides in the town of Mililani. He is the eldest of three and enjoys swimming, boogie boarding, and making everyone laugh. (Top)
Lisa Rightmire, University of Hawai’i at Hilo and the University of Memphis
CfAO Site for Internship: W.M. Keck Observatory
Project: Creating an Adaptive Optics Control Interface (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Supervisor: Marcos Van Dam
Lisa Rightmire is enrolled at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo through the National Student Exchange Program. She is from the University of Memphis, where she is a double major in Electrical Engineering and Physics. Her passion for Physics and Astronomy and brought her to Hawai’i to experience first-hand the assets that only the telescopes on Mauna Kea have to offer. Expected to complete her undergraduate work in the Fall of 2007, she will go on to pursue her masters degree. An adventurer at heart, she enjoys hiking, camping, and traveling. She would like to thank her family for giving her the inspiration and support to pursue all of her dreams. (Top)
Jennifer Takaki, Hawai’i Community College
CfAO Site for Internship: Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Project: Expansion of Helium Compressor Remote Control Accessibility (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Advisor: Scot Kleinman
Supervisor: Lucio Ramos
Jennifer Takaki is currently finishing her second semester in the Electronics Technology program at Hawai’i Community College. Born and raised in Hilo on the Big Island, Jennifer has always been interested in science and technology, especially physics, astronomy, and electronics. After receiving her degree in electronics, she plans on continuing her education at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa as a communications major, focusing on digital media and broadcasting technology. (Top)
David Trang, University of Hawai'i at Hilo
CfAO Site for Internship: University of Hawai'i at Hilo
Project: Gazing the Sky for Air Showers (Abstract, Presentation, Poster)
Advisors: Dr. Robert Fox & John Hamilton
Supervisor: Yoichi Asaoka
David Trang is a native to a small Dutch town called Holland in Michigan. In hopes to escape the winter, he now attends the University of Hawai’i-Hilo where he is currently majoring in astronomy, geology and psychology. His strong curiosity about nature enabled him to help one of his psychology professors at UH-Hilo research how religion affects the brain. At the age of 19, David submitted his first scientific paper with the help from another professor and hopes to finish editing it to have it published. After graduation he plans to study planetary science. (Top)