Over 200 Hawai‘i students used their creativity to write commercial advertising scripts that encouraged their peers to prepare for college and careers in the "Take Charge of Your Future Commercial Script Writing Challenge," sponsored by GEAR UP Hawaiʻi, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, and Clear Channel Hawaiʻi. Hawaiʻi public school students in grades sixth through 12th were invited to write a script for a 30-second commercial , which could be produced for televeision and radio. The contest received entries from 45 middle and high schools statewide.

GEAR UP Hawaiʻi is proud to announce the following winners:

Grand Prize: Mc Millan Ching, Grade 12, Campbell High School

6th - 8th Grade Category:

• First Place: Kiana Anderson, Grade 8, Waiakea Intermediate School
• Second Place: Kaʻala Bajo, Grade 7, Waialua High and Intermediate School
• Thrid Place: Anisa Segovia, Grade 7, Mililani Middle School

9th - 10th Grade Category:

• First Place: Melia Orr, Grade 9, Kealakehe High School
• Second Place: Andrew Beeksma, Grade 9, Kauai High School
• Third Place: Sierra Kalama, Grade 9, Kauai High School

11th - 12th Grade Category:

• First Place: Mc Millan Ching, Grade 12, Campbell High School
• Second Place: Cara Cruse, Grade 12, Kauai High School
• Third Place: John Puaoi, Grade 12, Molokai High School

Grand prize winner, Mc Millan Ching, who is a graduating senior at Campbell High School and will be attending UH Mānoa in the fall, will have his winning script professionally produced into a commercial to air on television and radio statewide.

A big mahalo to the media sponsors for this contest: GEAR UP Hawaiʻi, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, Clear Channel Hawaiʻi Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union, Leavitt, Yamane, and Soldner, and Napa Auto Parts.