Molokai robotics teacher inducted into STEM Hall of Fame

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Molokai robotics teacher was recently inducted into the STEM Hall of Fame.

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Edwin Mendija, 32, was one of five honorees worldwide in his category and the fourth ever from Hawaii.

“It’s like five teachers from around the globe get award given this award,” Mendija said. “It was really cool for me because I wasn’t aware that I was actually nominated for it.”

Mendjia works with 7th through 12th graders, and for more than 15 years, he’s grown Molokai Robotics into a nationally competitive team and inspired students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

“I started doing this because I didn’t get to,” he said.

When he was growing up, Mendija thought he was going into nursing, but then the robotics program launched at Molokai High during his senior year.

“I kind of realized that ‘Wow,’ this is kind of what I wanted to do instead, but for me it was kind of too late. I couldn’t get the scholarships I needed to attend engineering school,” he said.

Mendjia said he did a year of college, but had to leave to support himself and started working full-time, earning a few certifications and doing IT work as his day job.

Recently, Mendjia said the team has won the state championship, one of which was this current season, and within the last two years, two global awards, including a VEX Community Award.

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“We were one of over like 60 teams globally that entered that competition on the online challenge, and we were the sole winner,” he said.

Despite the accolades, Mendjia said the most important thing for him is making sure his students succeed after they leave.

“I want to see them going out and having success in life and chasing their dreams and putting their all into whatever it is,” Mendjia said.

He added that even if some of his students don’t get into STEM fields, they take the skills they were taught into what they choose to do.

“We teach them leadership skills, communication skills, organization, and, on top of that… for me personally is that my students go on to be good people,” Mendjia said. “I push for the kids like, ‘hey, you know, you see somebody needs help, help them out… If someone needs something, try to give what you can.’”

Some of his students have gone on to earn college degrees in engineering, and he said they “either come home to help their communities or go out into the world and just do great things.”

Mendjia said that since they’re on Molokai, the team spends a lot on travel expenses just to compete, and community members who would like to help can donate online here.

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Click here to learn more about the Molokai Robotics Program.