If the 44 public high school students who received this year's Citizenship Awards are any indication, the future is in good hands.

Consider how they spent the past several years: mentoring as Big Brothers and Sisters, cleaning up community parks, serving Thanksgiving dinners, organizing after-school tutoring programs at elementary schools, all while maintaining top grades.

In their third year, the Citizenship Awards were created by The Honolulu Advertiser's Newspaper in Education program and the Hawai'i Hotel and Lodging Association. They are awarded to the public school senior students who best exemplify the state Department of Education's vision of a public school graduate.

Each winner receives a $1,000 scholarship. The students were recognized yesterday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village before friends, parents and teachers for their academic achievement, their community service and their athletic accomplishments.

One student, James Aoki, a graduating senior from Roosevelt High School, was nominated by nearly all of his teachers for the award, said Peter Coleman, Aoki's English teacher. Aoki, who plans to attend the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, wants to become a civil engineer. Coleman said students such as Aoki remind teachers why they got into the profession in the first place.

"He's a gift to the universe," Coleman said. "We have many excellent students in our school."

Aoki stands out, not just because of his top grades, but because he is on the National Honor Society, is co-captain of the school's football and wrestling teams, and a member of the marching band.

"I'm not overly ambitious," Aoki said. "But I'm very fortunate. In high school it's about learning to be well-rounded and how to live in the world. My coaches and my teachers and my family have taught me that it's important to give back to the community and to treat others how I want to be treated."

Recognizing students for their commitment to the community rewards them for being well-rounded, said Murray Towill, president of the Hawai'i Hotel & Lodging Association. By holding these 44 students up, it shows others that there is more to high school than academics and athletics, Towill said.

For Jester Galiza, being a leader has been second nature to him since he was in elementary school. Galiza, who attended Campbell High School, was the one who always volunteered to help others. For the past two years he has been a Big Brother to two elementary school boys who needed a male role model.

"It's been intrinsic in me," Galiza said. "I've always helped others out and volunteered. In high school I went overboard."

Galiza, one of five children, is the only one of his family to go to a four-year college. He was awarded a four-year scholarship to Dartmouth and plans to major in biology and pre-med.

"My parents are really happy," he said. "They could not have afforded college. I'm looking forward to the challenges of going to an Ivy League school. Hopefully, I will have learned enough in high school to survive."

2007 CITIZENSHIP AWARD WINNERS

'Aiea High School — Amanda Tanhchaleun
Baldwin High School — Alexandra McKeon
Campbell High School — Jester Paddayuman Galiza
Castle High School — Jenifer Guieb
Farrington High School — Tatiana Ramirez de Arellano
Hana High & Elementary — Jared Diego
Hilo High School — Haley Ann Bufil
Honoka'a High & Intermediate School — Megan Wilkes
Kahuku High & Intermediate School — Lucie Wilson
Kailua High School — Kelsey S. Anderson
Kaimuki High School — Kenneth Hu
Kaiser High School — Jessica Au
Kalaheo High School — Lindsey Nakashima
Kalani High School — Jennifer Noborikawa
Kapa'a High School — Elizabeth D. Blaylock
Kapolei High School — Danielle Castro
Ka'u High School — Kane Thomas
Kaua'i High School — Gail Acob
Kea'au High School — David Howell
Kealakehe High School — Elena Chen
Kihei Public Charter School — Erendira "Dida" Jedemo
King Kekaulike High School — Benjamin Ballard Massenburg
Kohala High & Intermediate School — Ron Minezo Nakahara
Konawaena High School — Mitchell Atsushi Byars
Kua O Ka La Public Charter School — Clayton Tompkins
Lahainaluna High School — Ellen Maezel A. Cabading
Lana'i High/Elementary — Monique Oriol
Laupahoehoe High School — Chasity Y.K. Salvador
Leilehua High School — Yvonne Villegas
Maui High School — Karen Tiburcio Bagcal
McKinley High School — Alvin Cheung
Mililani High School — Kyle Monette
Moanalua High School — Christopher Ragsdale
Moloka'i High/Intermediate — Zaneta Whitten
Nanakuli High School — Lulia Teofilo
Pahoa High & Intermediate — Bonnie Sheehey
Pearl City High School — Stayson Isobe
Radford High School — Kimberly Kisner
Roosevelt High School — James Aoki
Waiakea High School — Kelsey Copes-Gerbitz
Waialua High & Intermediate School — Rabelle Garcia Bruno
Wai'anae High School — Princess Samante
Waimea High School — Shantal R. Guirao
Waipahu High School — Chelsea Tejada

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.