MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences student Frances Garry receives a proclamation from Mayor Billy Kenoi as family friend Zoe Avalon looks on.

Frances Garry, a 15-year-old student at Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science, was mayor for the day in Hawaii County on March 12, 2009.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi gave up his seat temporarily in honor of Garry, who won the State Legislature’s 2008 Leader of the Day essay writing contest on the Big Island.

Ms. Garry impressed the judges with her 500-word essay on, “What Peace Means to You.”

“It means where people get along with each other and they hardly get into any problems,” she said, summarizing her essay.

Ms. Garry, an aspiring attorney, is a special education student enrolled in the school’s Workplace Readiness Program. She visited the Mayor’s office on Ululani Street in Hilo on Thursday with her teacher, John Theismann, HAAS Principal Steve Hirakami, her family friend Zoe Avalon, and the school’s student videographer John Haas.

“Mayor Garry” was escorted by Mayor Kenoi on tours of the Hawaii County Police Department, which she expressed a special interest in seeing, and the Civil Defense command center.

“Frances is an impressive young lady with an outstanding future ahead,” said Mayor Kenoi. “Her accomplishments are a reminder of the skill and dedication our educators have in helping our young people to become good, knowledgeable and responsible citizens.

“It was certainly a pleasure meeting Frances and allowing her to be Mayor for the Day in Hawaii County,” he said. “She’s to be commended for her great essay and a job well done.”

Ms. Garry is the first public Charter School student in Hawaii to win the essay contest. Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences is located in Pahoa.