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Writer's pictureHawaiʻi State Senate
May 16, 2019

World Surf League ‘legacy’ project unveiled by Farrington High’s Engineering Academy students


HONOLULU - Farrington High School’s Engineering Academy students unveiled their World Surf League (WSL) ‘legacy’ project this morning to a group of lawmakers, Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) leaders, community partners and alumni. The mobile merchandise trailer, built from the ground up by more than 200 students, will be used by the WSL to sell t-shirts, stickers and other merchandise at surf meets.

“This is more than a trailer, it is a symbol of the potential of Kalihi students,” said Jeremy Seitz, head of FHS’ Engineering Academy. “This project has enhanced the reputation of our Academy and has given our students a valuable professional learning experience. The academy is excited and proud to finally unveil what they have been working on for the past 18 months, and hope that this will open the door for opportunities like this in the future with other major organizations.”

The project is part of FHS’ ongoing partnership with WSL’s Hawaii regional office and was sponsored by the Hawaii Youth Surfing Development Organization (HYSDO) education grant and numerous community donors. The collaboration is much bigger than surfing; it represents the occasion for youth to explore career paths, the opportunity for hands-on, real-world business experiences, and the education to spark successful future paths and energize communities. The partnership between FHS and WSL Hawaii’s regional office began over three years ago when Farrington staff sought real-world collaborations for students to gain experience across multiple disciplines for career opportunities within Hawaii. The WSL took students behind-the-scenes of some of its largest events in the world, provided role-mirroring and in-class mentoring with students, and taught about job opportunities that exist within Hawaii's sport of surfing.

For more information, view the HIDOE story about this project here.

*Photos courtesy of the Hawaii Department of Education

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About Farrington High School Engineering Academy Farrington Engineering Academy is a student-focused academy that provides real-world, hands-on opportunities that focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and preparing students to be career ready. It is a high-achieving, skillful, hardworking, professional academy and provides high school students with hands on experience through innovative classes, collaborative learning and partnerships with real clients. This academy strives to teach its students to be diligent, to communicate well with clients and other people, to be open-minded, and other real-world skills that the students need to enter the workforce. About Hawai'i Youth Surfing Development Organization (HYSDO) Founded by Jodi Wilmott, Waialua resident and WSL General Manager of North America & Hawaii, HYSDO was created as a way to inspire local youth through the sport of surfing -- which has shaped every aspect of Jodi's life and is the lens with which she experiences the world -- through regional youth opportunities. A 501c3 non-profit, HYSDO's mission is to deliver greater opportunities for Hawai'i youth in and out of the water, to harness the power of surfing to build careers, strengthen communities, and develop the future of Hawai'i's Sport of Kings. About the World Surf League (WSL) The World Surf League (WSL) is dedicated to celebrating the world's best surfing on the world's best waves through a variety of best-in-class audience platforms. The organization, headquartered in Santa Monica, is a global sport with regional offices in Australasia, Africa, North America, South America, Hawaii, Japan and Europe. The WSL has been championing the world's best surfing since 1976, annually running more than 180 global events across the Men's and Women's Championship Tours, the Big Wave Tour, Qualifying Series, Junior and Longboard Championships, as well as the WSL Big Wave Awards. The League possesses a deep appreciation for the sport's rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation and performance at the highest levels, and in doing so crowns the undisputed Men’s and Women’s World Champions across all tours. Showcasing the world's best surfing on its digital platform at WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL has a passionate global fan base with millions tuning in to see world-class athletes like Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Tyler Wright, John Florence, Lakey Peterson, Paige Alms, Kai Lenny, Steven Sawyer, Soleil Errico, Carissa Moore, Gabriel Medina, Courtney Conlogue and more battle on the most dynamic field of play of any global sport. About the Hawaii State Department of Education The Hawaii State Department of Education is the ninth-largest U.S. school district and the only statewide educational system in the country. Established in 1840 by King Kamehameha III, today's public school system serves more than 170,000 students across 256 schools and 36 charter schools. The Department is committed to ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education and can successfully discover and embark upon their chosen path in life.

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