{"id":974,"date":"2026-06-05T08:35:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T08:35:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=974"},"modified":"2026-06-05T08:35:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T08:35:20","slug":"molokai-robotics-teacher-inducted-into-stem-hall-of-fame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiimovinginsider.com\/?p=974","title":{"rendered":"Molokai robotics teacher inducted into STEM Hall of Fame"},"content":{"rendered":"
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Molokai robotics teacher was recently inducted into the STEM Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n

Read more 6 juveniles charged; 7th suspect arrested in North Shore mob beating<\/a><\/p>\n

Edwin Mendija, 32, was one of five honorees worldwide in his category and the fourth ever from Hawaii.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like five teachers from around the globe get award given this award,\u201d Mendija said. \u201cIt was really cool for me because I wasn\u2019t aware that I was actually nominated for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mendjia works with 7th through 12th graders, and for more than 15 years, he\u2019s grown Molokai Robotics into a nationally competitive team and inspired students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI started doing this because I didn\u2019t get to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI kind of realized that \u2018Wow,\u2019 this is kind of what I wanted to do instead, but for me it was kind of too late. I couldn\u2019t get the scholarships I needed to attend engineering school,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe were one of over like 60 teams globally that entered that competition on the online challenge, and we were the sole winner,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Despite the accolades, Mendjia said the most important thing for him is making sure his students succeed after they leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to see them going out and having success in life and chasing their dreams and putting their all into whatever it is,\u201d Mendjia said.<\/p>\n

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He added that even if some of his students don\u2019t get into STEM fields, they take the skills they were taught into what they choose to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe teach them leadership skills, communication skills, organization, and, on top of that\u2026 for me personally is that my students go on to be good people,” Mendjia said. \u201cI push for the kids like, \u2018hey, you know, you see somebody needs help, help them out… If someone needs something, try to give what you can.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of his students have gone on to earn college degrees in engineering, and he said they \u201ceither come home to help their communities or go out into the world and just do great things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mendjia said that since they\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

Read more Low income families to build their own affordable housing in Nanakuli<\/a><\/p>\n

Click here to learn more about the Molokai Robotics Program.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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