Super Students
Saturday, May 10, 1997
Name: Mark Pinho
Age: 18
School: Academy of the Pacific
Favorite subject: Science and history
Future: Secondary school teacher
As director of the CIA, Mark Pinho found himself in a tough position when Russia invaded Ukraine and presented a global nuclear crisis. Almost any high school senior would be intimidated, but Pinho thought it was fun. A leader with many interests
In February, Pinho participated in the Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., where for six days, 350 students toured the Capitol, met with some government representatives and role-played leadership positions in a hypothetical political crises. "It enlightened me quite a bit," Pinho said. "There's a lot more steps you have to take to get things done - more than most people think."
Pinho was nominated to participate in the conference by his high school. "We chose Mark because of his high academic achievement," said Robert Iverson, dean of students. "He is our valedictorian this year, but he's also a golfer, a singer, and he plays the ukulele."
Pinho has many interests. "I read, draw, play basketball, go bodyboarding at Makapuu," Pinho said. Last summer he taught guitar and was a performing arts teaching aide at the Kamehameha Schools summer program. He also excels in tennis.
Pinho's parents, Louis and Deidra, said the family has traveled through much of North America by car and believe travel is a form of education. "Mark really remembers a trip we took where we saw a lot of sites that had to do with U.S. history," said Deidra Pinho. "Travel is an adjunct to the classroom."
Mary Sano, Special to the Star-Bulletin
