LA JOLLA, Calif., April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- What would you teach the world about saving the planet? High school students have a chance to win an all-expenses-paid scholarship to study for a week in Hawaii in August by creating a video on how to care for the planet.

The theme for the University of California San Diego's Academic Connections 2011 Hawai'i Scholarship Contest is "How to Care for the Earth," and entrants are asked to submit a short video on a variation of this theme.

The scholarship contest winner will receive full tuition and airfare (up to $5,000 in value, includes room and board) for a week-long course that will examine the diverse ecosystems and climate zones of the Island of Hawai'i, August 17-24, 2011, on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Scholarship applications and rules can be found at http://www.extension.ucsd.edu/scholarships.

Videos may be animations, photo slide shows, or live action, and high school students are encouraged to share how they care for the earth and what they do to help sustain the planet. Videos will be featured on the Academic Connections website and the UC San Diego Extension YouTube channel.

"The Hawai'i Island's root culture is embedded in knowledge of the natural world and excels in food self-reliance and ecosystem health," says Ed Abeyta, director of K-16 programs at UC San Diego Extension. "This course will expose students as to how the island thrives ecologically, economically, culturally and socially via first-hand guided tours and hands-on work at locations throughout the island - Kilauea Volcano, Kalaemano, Ka'upulehu Dry Forest, and Kukio."

Students will keep a journal of the week's activities and will give a presentation on what they learn, including how to apply that knowledge towards being "A Leader in Caring for the Earth" or, as translated into Hawaiian: Alaka'i i ka Malama Honua.

Students enrolled in the course will come to appreciate and learn how to take the lead in sustaining our planet environmentally, be it as future ecologists, conservation biologists, marine biologists, environmental educators, and more.

"The course teaches about the diverse ecosystems, climate zones, and cultures of Hawai'i Island, and how to apply what they learn towards future leadership roles in sustainability by continuing their education in science to achieve that goal," adds Abeyta.

More details about UC San Diego Academic Connections is available at http://www.academicconnections.ucsd.edu.

Media contact: Henry DeVries at hdevries@ucsd.edu or 858-534-9955 or 619-540-3031

SOURCE University of California San Diego Extension