» Island Insurance Foundation recently donated $10,000 to Teach For America-Hawaii, in support of the nonprofit’s work in high-need communities. The donation was presented to Teach For America-Hawaii Executive Director Jill Baldemor by Tyler Tokioka, president of Island Insurance Foundation, during a ceremony at Palolo Elementary School.

Teach For America recruits, trains and supports recent college graduates and professionals who commit to teach in under-resourced communities and gain the foundational experience for educational leadership and advocacy. The organization has partnered with schools in Hawaii since 2006 and currently supports about 180 teachers who will collectively impact more than 12,000 students.

The Island Insurance Foundation donation will support the training and ongoing leadership development of teachers and program alumni dedicated to working alongside community efforts to ensure that all students have educational opportunities. Teach For America-Hawaii corps members are public school teachers in more than 50 schools on Oahu and Hawaii island, serving populations and communities from Native Hawaiian homesteads to military bases and charter schools.

» A high school senior from Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama and another from Punahou School are among 1,600 African-American students designated as semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Program.

Terina K. Faagau of Kamehameha and Makana D. Williams of Punahou now qualify to compete next spring for achievement scholarship awards worth about $2.5 million, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. About 80 percent of semifinalists will be named finalists, and more than half of the finalists will win awards.

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. administers the National Achievement Scholarship Program, which was initiated in 1964 to recognize academically promising African-American students.

» The Hawaii Medical Association will recognize Jerris Hedges as its Physician of the Year.

Hedges is dean of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and is scheduled to receive the award tonight at a gala at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Since taking over as dean in 2008, the medical school has been ranked each year as one of the best by U.S. News and World Report.

"As the leader of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Dean Jerris Hedges has made immense contributions to Hawaii and has built strong collaborations among health-related units and activities throughout the state," Interim UH President David Lassner said in a press release. "On behalf of the entire UH system, I applaud Jerris’ dedication and commitment to developing first-rate physicians to serve all our islands and his personal compassion and service as a healer and teacher."

Hedges is credited with increasing the number of medical school students, recognizing the urgency of a growing shortage of physicians in Hawaii.