Photos: UH Hilo College of Natural and Health Sciences 2023 Spring Awards Ceremony

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Through awards and scholarships, outstanding students received recognition for their excellence in academics, research, and community service.

Photos by Cooper Lund/UH Hilo Stories.

The College of Natural and Health Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo hosted its annual awards ceremony Friday recognizing outstanding students of the year. The CNHS 2023 Awards Ceremony was held on April 28 on campus at Wentworth Hall.

Brian Wissman business portrait in outdoor setting.
Brian Wissman (File photo)

“It’s exciting to hold our annual award ceremony in-person again,” says Brian Wissman, interim dean of the college. This year’s event marked a return to an on-campus gathering following two years of virtual ceremonies during COVID-19.

“Congratulations to all our outstanding award and scholarship winners,” says Wissman. “Your commitment and dedication to your studies and research has inspired us all and I look forward to seeing your future work whether here at UH Hilo, elsewhere to further your studies, or through good work in our communities and environment. I am so proud of you all.”

The following students were recognized with awards and/or scholarships at the event.

Marine Science

Marine science students each wearing lei and holding their certificate, with faculty advisors, PowerPoint slide in background.
From left, Professor of Marine Science Tracy Wiegner, Instructor of Marine Science Lisa Parr, Chloe Molou, Madisen Coelho, Trevor Nishida, Skyler Dentlinger, Lily Gavagan, Sydney Lewis, Associate Professor Steven Colbert. (Photo: Cooper Lund/UH Hilo Stories)

Top Academic Achievement

  • Kelli McCarty (Sophomore)
  • Abigail Lewine (Junior)
  • Michaela Wong (Senior)

Senior Thesis Award

  • Skylar Dentlinger

NOAA Educational Partnership Program Scholarship

  • Michaela Wong (2022)
  • Lily Gavagan (2020)

NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship and *NOAA Hollings Summer Prep Program

  • Morgan Youngblood (2023)
  • Kara Murphy* (2023)
  • Abigail Lewine* (2022)
  • Quintin Allen (2022)
  • Sydney Lewis (2021)

Additional NOAA Awards

  • Trevor Nishida: NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Young Scientist Opportunity
  • Jacob Wessling: NOAA-MOP RAMP cruise internship

Marine Option Program Symposium Awards

  • Madisen Coelho, PACON award for a marine project with a technology: Developing Theodolite Workshops for MOP and Secondary Students
  • Chloe Molou, Best Internship: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Seawords Liaison
  • Sydney Lewis, Sherwood Maynard Ocean Impact Award: Hawaiʻi Island Fishing Line Recycling Program
  • Caden Christensen, Best Research: High Elevation Surveys for ʻUaʻu Burrows on Maunakea
  • Sydney Lewis, Anna Toy Ng Award for the student who has contributed the most to MOP

Computer Science

Two students holding their certificates, with faculty advisor, PowerPoint slide in background.
From left, Kaʻimilani Beatty, Ethan Sink, and Associate Professor of Computer Science Mike Peterson. (Photo: Cooper Lund/UH Hilo Stories)

Daniel G. Fox Awards for Excellence in Computer Science

  • 2022 recipient: Kaʻimilani Beatty
  • 2023 recipient: Ethan Sick

This award is in memory of Daniel Gideon Fox (1968-1989), UH Hilo Computer Science major and beloved son of former UH Hilo Ohana Robert Fox and Judith Goldstein. Purpose of the award is to recognize a rising senior with two remaining semesters who has demonstrated academic excellence in the computer science curriculum and has provided outstanding contributions to the CS community at UH Hilo. The award is a tuition grant of $1,200.00 per semester for the upcoming academic year plus $500 cash.

Chemistry

Students with faculty advisors, PowerPoint slide in background.
From left, Instructor of Chemistry Chester Dabalos, Professor of Chemistry Mazen Hamad, (at back) Associate Professor of Chemistry Charles Simmons, (at front) Sheyanne Mendez, Benedict Davidson, and Professor of Chemistry Matthew Platz. (Photo: Cooper Lund/UH Hilo Stories)

Outstanding Freshman Chemistry Award

  • Daniel K. Kurokawa
    Given to the highest achieving Chemistry Major in General Chemistry I (CHEM 161) and General Chemistry II (CHEM 162).

Ernest Kho Outstanding Organic Chemistry Award

  • Benedict P. Davidson and Jace Sugimoto. Awarded to best performing Chemistry Major(s) in Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 241) and Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 242)

Outstanding Graduating Senior in Chemistry Award

  • Sheyanne M. Mendez. Given to student graduating with a BS in Chemistry that shows high academic achievement in upper level chemistry courses and chemistry research. Recipients receives check from the UH Foundation, name engraved on perpetual plaque in the chemistry department, certificate of excellence and invitation to awards banquet dinner held by the American Chemical Society-Hawaiʻi.

Geology

Students with their faculty advisors, holding two plaques, PowerPoint slide in background.
From left, Associate Professor of Geology Jim Anderson, Professor of Geology Jene Michaud, Natsumi Takeda, Baylee McDade, Teagan Maher, Professor of Geology Steve Lundblad. (Photo: Cooper Lund/UH Hilo Stories)

Outstanding graduating senior

  • Baylee McDade
  • Teagan Maher

Barnard Award

  • Natsumi Takeda

Physics and Astronomy

Students holding their certificates, with faculty advisors, PowerPoint slide in the background.
From left, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Heather Kaluna, Edward Ward, Xavier Tablitz, Koji Miyakawa, Kylea Medeiros, and Professor of Physics and Astronomy Marianne Takamiya. (Photo: Cooper Lund/UH Hilo Stories)

Physics and Astronomy Academic Awards

  • Paige Matheson
  • Edward Ward
  • Xavier Tablitz
  • Michelle Bolanos
  • Koji Miyakawa

Daniel K. Inouye Award

  • Xavier Tablitz

Paul Coleman Award

  • Tyler Ogawa

Walter and Betty Steiger Award

  • Kylea Medeiros

Richard Crowe Award

  • Koji Miyakawa

Biology

Two students wearing lei and holding certificates, with their advisor, PowerPoint slide in the background.
From left, Kit Neikirk, Mishell Vasquez Morales, and Professor of Biology Patrick Hart. (Photo: Cooper Lund/UH Hilo Stories)

Don Hemmes Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior in Cell, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences

  • Kit Neikirk

Mae Mull Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology

  • Mishell Vasquez-Morales

Outstanding Graduating Senior in Biology, BA track

  • Daniela Panasyuk

Mathematics

Two students holding their certificates, with faculty advisor, PowerPoint slide in the background.
Associate Professor of Mathematics Grady Weyenberg, Koji Miyakawa, and Nicholas Boo-Rivera. (Photo: Cooper Lund/UH Hilo Stories)

Outstanding Achievement in Mathematics for Continuing Students

  • Nicholas Boo-Rivera
  • Koji Miyakawa

STEM Honors Program Graduates

Students wearing red sashes, one in lei, with faculty advisor.
From left, Kit Neikirk, Miranda Maassen, Sydney Lewis, Teagan Maher, and Professor of Mathematics Reni Ivanova. (Photo: Cooper Lund/UH Hilo Stories)
  • Sydney Lewis
  • Miranda Maassen
  • Teagan Maher
  • Kit Neikirk

Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Graduate Program

Two students wearing lei and holding their certificates, with two faculty advisors, one holding a plaque. PowerPoint slide in background.
From left, Professor of Geography Jonathan Price, Brianna Ninomoto, Sydney Lewis, and Professor of Marine Science Tracy Wiegner. (Photo: Cooper Lund/UH Hilo Stories)

Spring 2023 TCBES Symposium

Best 5-minute talk

  • 1st place: Brianna Ninomoto, “Rising coastlines: The future impact of sea level rise.” Thesis track.
  • Honorable mention: Konapiliahi Dancil, “Developing Climate Resilient Restoration Techniques for Hawaiʻiʻs Lowland Wet Forests.” Thesis track.

Best 10-minute talk

  • 1st place: Avalon Paradea, “Kuku Kapa and Pilina ʻĀina: Barkcloth-making and Relationships with Nature.” Professional Internship track.

Best poster

  • Honorable mention: Sydney Lyn Lewis, “Into the Wormhole: Assessing associations between Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus corniculatus) and coral health conditions.” Marine Science Undergraduate.

Photographer Cooper Lund is a marine science major.

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