'Iolani senior Robert Tamai is one of two Presidential Scholars from the State of Hawaii for 2009, according to an annoucement today from the office of U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.
Robert is the son of Dr. James Tamai and Mrs. Tina Lee Tamai.
He currently carries a cumulative GPA of 4.31 while taking AP Micro/Macroeconomics; AP Calculus BC; AP Chemistry; AP English Lit; and electives in Orchestra 5 and Graphics.
As active outside the classroom as he is in it, Robert is one of three Proconsuls who lead the school. 
He also plays tennis, runs cross country and is a member of the Key Club, a service organization.
Robert says he was surprised by his selection.
"I found out yesterday in the SAO when I checked my email. I didn't really think much of it and neither did my parents until we both started to read more about it later that night. I feel very honored to represent 'Iolani School and Hawaii, and I still cannot believe it."
Tamai named chemistry teacher Ms. Gail Tuthill as the most influential teacher in his high school career.
When asked why he selected Ms. Tuthill, Robert replied, "I chose Mrs. Tuthill because I had her as both a class adviser (when I was a class officer) and as a chemistry teacher.
"One moment that really meant a lot to me happened when Mrs. Tuthill sat me down after chemistry class. I had been contemplating giving up student council next year to focus more on my academics. Mrs. Tuthill heard about this and decided to talk to me. She convinced me to continue with student government and told me that she could tell that I really enjoyed being a part of the student council. I'm very glad that she convinced me to stay with student government and that she cared enough to talk to me. I have really enjoyed being a proconsul, and I do not know what my 'Iolani experience would have been like without it."
Both Robert and Ms. Tuthill are invited to Washington, D.C. for an award ceremony in June. And perhaps a meeting with the President, for whom the program is named.
Robert gave credit to 'Iolani, saying, "I am really thankful to be a part of the 'Iolani community and to have been surrounded by a great faculty and student body for the past thirteen years."
Robert will be attending Harvard College in the fall, saying, "I am really looking forward to a wonderful experience in Cambridge."
Tamai is among 141 Presidential Scholars nationwide, two from each state plus others from abroad and for their achievements in the arts.
The other Presidential Scholar from Hawaii is Lucia Mocz of Mililani High School.
According to the press release from the U.S. Education office, "The[se] students have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, and community service."
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Press release:
(WASHINGTON D.C.) - U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced the selection of 141 outstanding high school seniors as the 2009 Presidential Scholars. The students have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, and community service. Presidential scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington D.C., tentatively scheduled from June 20-24.
“Every year for nearly half a century we've been honoring America's best and brightest students and every year they continue to make outstanding contributions to society while reaching milestones in their academic pursuits," Duncan said. "This year's Presidential Scholars continue that trend. They are shining examples of excellence in academics and in the arts and are role models that all students should emulate.”
The 141 Presidential Scholars include one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts. A 29-member Commission on Presidential Scholars appointed by the President selected the scholars based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.
For the past 45 years, this prestigious program has honored more than 6,000 of the nation’s top-performing students. Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 3,000 candidates qualified on the basis of outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams, or by nomination through the nationwide youngARTS™ competition conducted by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.
The Presidential Scholars program was created in 1964 to honor academic achievement. It was expanded in 1979 to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, literary and performing arts.
Since 1983, each Presidential Scholar has invited his or her most inspiring and challenging teacher to travel to Washington, D.C., to receive a Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education and to participate in the recognition events.
