The University of Hawai'i is the recipient of a $9 million grant from the National Science Foundation's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.

The three-year grant will help support Investing in Multidisciplinary University Activities through NSF Hawai'i EPSCoR, a program administered by the university that aims to help the state expand research infrastructure in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The grant will be partially matched by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to enhance workforce skills through private sector internships, mentorships and other experiential learning programs in the technology areas.

MAUI HIGH SENIORS 5TH IN AUTO CONTEST

Glen Bissell and Joey Hoopai Souza, seniors at Maui High School, placed fifth in the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills national finals in Michigan last week. The students were coached by teacher Neill Nakamura of Kahului.

Each year, the Student Auto Skills competition puts some of the nation's best high school automotive studies students through a two-part test including a written exam, worth 40 percent of their overall score, and a hands-on portion, worth 60 percent.

Competitors were given 90 minutes to identify identical problems in a 2006 Ford Mustang convertible and repair the numerous "bugs."

Bissell and Souza received general educational scholarships valued at up to $4,000 from Ford Motor Co. and AAA.