State Sen. Norman Sakamoto and University of Hawai'i Vice President of Community Colleges John Morton are heading a task force charged with developing a new budgetary system for the 10-campus university.

The task force, established through Act 188 enacted in the last legislative session, will prepare a report that will assist the university in creating an equitable funding formula to distribute resources throughout the university system.

Other members of the task force include UH-Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw, UH-Hilo Chancellor Rose Tseng and UH-West O'ahu Chancellor Gene Awakuni.

The task force will give its report to UH President David McClain for submittal to the 2009 Legislature.

STUDENT AWARD APPLICATIONS OUT

Applications are now available for the 2008 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, which honors more than 25,000 young people in grades 5 through 12 nationwide who have volunteered in their communities.

The Spirit of Community Awards is the nation's largest youth volunteer awards program. Deadline for the 2008 program is Oct. 31.

Online application forms are available through middle and high schools, Girl Scout councils and county 4-H offices.

Students may also obtain an application at www.prudential.com/community/spirit or by calling 888-450-9961.

ENTER HPU'S POETRY CONTEST

Hawai'i Pacific University is seeking entries for the James M. Vaughan Award for Poetry, which recognizes a Hawai'i writer for an outstanding poem or group of poems.

The winner will receive a $500 cash award and have his or her works featured in Hawai'i Pacific Review, the annual literary magazine published by HPU.

To participate, send three poems with a 100-line limit each along with your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, names of poems on a cover page and a five-line biography to the James M. Vaughan Award for Poetry, 1060 Bishop St., LB 7A, Honolulu, HI 96813.

Submissions must be postmarked between now and Dec. 1. For more information, contact Patrice M. Wilson, award coordinator, at pwilson@hpu.edu or 544-1108.

BOOK FAIR AIDS CHARTER SCHOOLS

The Native Hawaiian Library's Charter School Book Fair will be held from Oct. 13 to 17 at ALU LIKE Inc.'s Kaka'ako location from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The event will benefit 14 participating charter schools statewide. Evening activities will include local authors and cultural demonstrations.

ALU LIKE Inc. is a nonprofit service organization whose mission is to help Native Hawaiians achieve social and economic self-sufficiency.

For more information, call 535-1360 or visit www.alulike.org.

DOLE SEEKING GRADS TO HONOR

Governor Sanford B. Dole Middle School is looking for graduates who have distinguished themselves in their careers and their communities as potential nominees for the annual Pride of Dole Award.

Nominees must have attended Dole for at least two years, be at least 40 years old and demonstrate a sustained record of bringing honor and pride to the community.

To get an application mailed to you, call the school at 832-3340 and ask for Calvin Misaki or Vera Shishido. Forms will be accepted until Oct. 24.