* Personal: Age 17; son of Yuki Lei and Takashi Sugimura of Kula; enjoys photography, martial arts, engineering, events management, entrepreneurial enterprises, fundraising.
* At School: Headmaster's and High Honors lists, junior class treasurer, senior class president, Interact Club (co-president this year), Kids Helping Kids, Alzheimer's Walk, Sudan Nesei (New Sudan Education Initiative) fundraiser, Senior Luau co-chairman (event is organized by the junior class), Senior Leadership Day coordinator, Seabury Hall Craft Fair, Seabury Hall student coordinator, presenter at Maui Energy Expo, photographer.
* Off Campus: Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryuu Iaijutsu, kendo, Haleakala restoration projects, Xterra, Camp Imua, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka re-election campaign, poll worker for primary and general elections, chaired booths at events such as the Meadow Gold Healthy Baby Contest, Chinese New Year celebration, Maui Matsuri, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers picnic.
Article Photos
Michael Sugimura
* Beyond High School: Current field of interest is working with renewable energies through engineering, in particular electric vehicles and batteries. As such, major short-term goal is to earn a master's or doctorate in this field, and a long-term goal is to help make Maui be to renewable energy what Silicon Valley is to technology.
* What do you think is the biggest problem facing youth today?
"Every generation is defined by the challenges that it overcomes. For my generation it may very well be the ending of mankind's reliance on unsustainable resources. Over the past century mankind has driven its innovation through fossil fuels; as a result we have ravished our planet like a virus. The time has come to make a stand. Through the utilization of all types of renewable energy we can work to amend the past by successfully integrating these energy sources. In time, we will make a world where rather than a virus, mankind will live symbiotically with our planet Earth."
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The students in this weekly feature are selected by officials at their respective high schools. "Student Spotlight" recognizes students of good character who are involved in school or community activities such as athletics, clubs, student government and volunteer work.
