La Pietra School senior Kim Tran has won a Gates Millennium Scholarship, which covers expenses for all four years of college.

She also received a $3,500 Rotary Scholarship and scholarships from Boston University, Vassar College, Barnard College and Mount Holyoke College.

Tran plans to major in science, with a focus on pre-medical studies. She would like to become a doctor. Tran's family emigrated from Vietnam in 1993.

The Gates Millennium Scholarship was established in 1999 by Bill and Melinda Gates to provide scholarships to outstanding minority students.

IOLANI STUDENTS COMPETE IN D.C.

Iolani School will join 64 teams representing high schools in 42 states to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy's National Science Bowl, the nation's largest academic competition, in Washington, D.C., beginning today.

The Iolani students include Egen Atkinson, Austin Barnes, Bryce Lee, Chau Huynh and Roydan Ongie.

They are coached by Susan Nishiura.

Regional winners have spent months preparing for the science contest. They will be quizzed on all disciplines including biology, chemistry, earth science, astronomy and math.

KA'ELEPULU EVENT TOMORROW NIGHT

Ka'elepulu Elementary School's Parent Teacher Student Association will hold its first Lawn Concert and Silent Auction from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. tomorrow on the school's field.

Tickets are $5 at the door. Children 4 and younger are free.

Slack-key guitarist and singer Ray Sowders, Bobby and Kahi of Maunalua, slack-key guitarist and singer Doug Fitch, and Kailua rock band Twenty Years Too Late will be the featured performers.

Proceeds will help the PTSA support Ka'elepulu's music and art programs.

For more information, call 389-5073.

MAUKA LANI GETS $4.6 MILLION

State officials have released nearly $4.6 million for the construction of a new eight-classroom building at Mauka Lani Elementary School in Maka-kilo.

The new building will house six general-education classrooms, a special-education classroom and a computer resource center.

Mauka Lani Elementary School now has 16 permanent and 13 portable classrooms.

Total cost of the project is $5.16 million.

Last May, $577,000 was released for the design of the building. Construction is expected to be complete by May 2007.

FUTURE CHEFS CAN GET A SCHOLARSHIP

David Paul's Lahaina Grill is offering its Maui Chef Scholarship for graduating seniors of any Maui public high school interested in pursuing a career in the culinary field.

One scholarship of $3,000 is available for a student who plans to enroll in Maui Community College's Maui Culinary Academy in the fall 2006 semester.

Interested students may call (808) 661-8005, ext. 2, for an application or write to ashleys@hawaii.rr.com.

The application should be mailed to Ashley Stepanek, Fresh Media LLC, 375 Kamano Place, Lahaina, HI 96761.

For more information about the scholarship program, see www.lahainagrill.com.