Photos: 2025 Awards and Recognition Celebration; UH Hilo annual event honors faculty, staff

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In a celebratory event hosted by Chancellor Bonnie Irwin, honorees include award recipients for extraordinary contributions to campus, last year’s retirees, and those celebrating milestone years of service.

Intro slide: UH Hilo red seal, UH Hilo 2025 Awards & Recognition Celebration May 6, 2025.

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin, on May 6, 2025, hosted the annual Awards and Recognition Celebration. Honorees at the event were faculty and staff who won awards given out annually for extraordinary contributions to the campus, those who retired during the previous year, and those recognized for milestone years of service.

UH System Awards

  • UH Board of Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching: Charmaine Higa-McMillan, Professor of Psychology. This award is a tribute to faculty members who exhibit an extraordinary level of subject mastery and scholarship, teaching effectiveness and creativity, and personal values that benefit students.
Chancellor, nominator and regent with honoree who is in lei and holding certificate.
At the May 6, 2025, award event, from left, UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin; Professor of Psychology Charmaine Higa-McMillan, awarded the UH Board of Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching; Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Division of Social Sciences Bryan Kim; and UH Regent Mike Miyahira (Hawaiʻi County). (Photo: Kamakaniokaʻāina Paikai/University Relations/UH Hilo)
  • Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: Nick Krueger, Instructor at the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management. A memorial to the late Frances Davis, this award recognizes recipients for their dedication to teaching, for their demonstrated excellence as teachers, and for their attention to undergraduate students.
Nominator, Chancellor and Regent with honoree, who wears medal and lei around his neck, holds certificate, and gives the shaka.
At the May 6, 2025, award event, from left, Director of the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management Norman Arancon; Chancellor Bonnie Irwin; Nicholas Krueger, awarded the UH System Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching; and UH Regent Mike Miyahira. (Photo: Kamakaniokaʻāina Paikai/University Relations/UH Hilo)

UH Hilo Awards

  • Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching: Gladys Megargel, Instructor, School of Nursing. This award honors excellence in teaching by a lecturer or instructor, recognizes recipients for their teaching effectiveness, personal values beneficial to students, effectiveness as an academic advisor, and subject mastery and creativity.
Nominator and Chancellor with honoree, who has several lei and a bouquet of flowers. The nominator and Chancellor are holding certificate and plaque.
At the May 6, 2025, award event, from left, Nursing Lab Coordinator Janis Tatum; Instructor at the School of Nursing Gladys Megargel, awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching; and Chancellor Bonnie Irwin. (Photo: Kamakaniokaʻāina Paikai/University Relations/UH Hilo)
  • Outstanding Advisor/Mentor Award: Alexander Nagurney, Associate Professor of Psychology. Recognizes a faculty member (including instructors) who has demonstrated outstanding academic advising and/or mentoring of students.
Nominator, Chancellor and honoree hold paddle that serves as the plaque for the award.
At the May 6, 2025, award event, from left, Professor of Psychology Adam Pack; Associate Professor of Psychology Alexander Nagurney, awarded the Outstanding Advisor/Mentor Award; and Chancellor Bonnie Irwin. (Photo: Kamakaniokaʻāina Paikai/University Relations/UH Hilo)
  • Outstanding Research Corporation of University of Hawaiʻi (RCUH) Employee: Lori Bufil, Project Coordinator of the Hawaiʻi Cooperative Studies Unit. This award recognizes a RCUH employee who has made demonstrable, significant, and outstanding contributions to their UH Hilo project throughout the past year or years.
Nominator, Chancellor, and honoree who is in lei and holds certificate.
At the May 6, 2025, award event, from left, Director of Research and Community Partnerships Sharon Ziegler-Chong; Project Coordinator of the Hawaiʻi Cooperative Studies Unit Lori Bufil, awarded the Outstanding Research Corporation of University of Hawaiʻi (RCUH) Employee; and Chancellor Bonnie Irwin. (Photo: Kamakaniokaʻāina Paikai/University Relations/UH Hilo)

UH Hilo Biennial Awards

  • Outstanding University Support Employee Award: Diane Wissing, Athletics Compliance Specialist. This award is presented to a university support service employee who has made significant contributions to UH Hilo.
Athletics Director, Chancellor and nominee who is in lei. Chancellor holds certificate.
At the May 6, 2025, award event, from left, Director of Athletics Patrick Guillen; Athletics Compliance Specialist Diane Wissing, awarded the Outstanding University Support Employee Award; and Chancellor Bonnie Irwin. (Photo: Kamakaniokaʻāina Paikai/University Relations/UH Hilo)
  • Professional Staff Award: Donna Ohora, Librarian. This award is presented to a faculty/professional staff member who has made major professional contributions to their unit and to the university as a whole, and has made a positive impact on the welfare of students and colleagues at UH Hilo.
Librarian and Chancellor with nominee, who wears lei and medal and holds certificate.
At the May 6, 2025, award event, from left, Hawaiian Collection Librarian Annemarie Paikai; Librarian Donna Ohora, awarded the Professional Staff Award; and Chancellor Bonnie Irwin. (Photo: Kamakaniokaʻāina Paikai/University Relations/UH Hilo)

RECOGNITIONS

Retirees

(as of Dec. 31, 2024)

  • Clifford Ah Chong, Tractor Operator, Auxiliary Services, 25 years.
  • Alison Akamine, Human Resource Specialist, Human Resources, 12 years.
  • Darcy Bevens, Education Specialist, Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes, 34 years.
  • Philippe Binder, Professor of Physics, 22 years.
  • Robert Chi, Distance Learning Specialist, 19 years.
  • Lincoln Gotshalk, Professor of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, 23 years.
  • Sidney Ichinotsubo, Janitor, Auxiliary Services, 21 years.
  • Miriam Jacobson, Library Technician, 15 years.
  • Terrance Jalbert, Professor of Business Administration, 28 years.
  • Terilyn Kubo, Account Clerk, Office of Business Management, 35 years.
  • Faith Mishina, Professor of European Languages, 30 years.
  • Joan Pagan, Associate Professor of Nursing, 20 years.
  • Dolly Roth, Student Services Specialist, Office of the Registrar, 23 years.
  • Enbao Wang, Professor of Political Science, 26 years.
  • Reed Yoshiwa, Janitor, Auxiliary Services, 18 years.

Years of Service

(Includes any years at other UH System campuses)

10 Years

  • Holly Garriques, Coordinator, National Student Exchange.
  • Lyssa Sakamoto, Exploratory Health Sciences Advisor, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Christina Requelman, Clinical Education Support Specialist of Pharmacy Practice, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.
  • Hiʻilei Vuta, Fiscal Support Specialist, Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language.
  • Malia Callo, Assistant Registrar, Office of the Registrar.
  • Tiffnie Kakalia, Admissions Counselor, Office of Admissions.
  • Jaynal Ioane, Student Development Coordinator, Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center.
  • Alana Ortiz, Institutional Research Support, Office of the Chancellor.
  • Micah Herron, Information Technology Specialist, Information Technology Services.
  • Sherrie Padilla, Enrollment Services Manager and Director of Financial Aid, Division of Student Affairs.
  • Su-Mi Lee, Professor of Political Science, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Shihwu Sung, Professor of Applied Engineering, College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management.
  • Misty Pacheco, Professor of Kinesiology and Exercise Science, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Zinat Rahman, Instructor of Mathematics, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Li Tao, Professor of Biology, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Diane Van Hoose, Associate Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing.
  • Brandi Paulo, Human Resources Assistant, Office of Human Resources.
  • Francis Cristobal, Junior Specialist of Computer Science, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Dana-Lee Cabatic, Circulation Manager, Mookini Library.
  • Matthew Connelly, Educational Specialist of Marine Science, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Justin Reinicke, Assistant Specialist of Chemistry, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Kelli Okumura, Institutional Research Analyst, Office of the Chancellor.
  • Jennifer Stotter, Director of Institutional Research, Office of the Chancellor.
  • Camlyn Masuda, Associate Specialist of Pharmacy Practice, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.

20 Years

  • Lauri Sagle, Instructor of English, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Tracy Wiegner, Professor of Marine Science, College of Natural and Health Sciences.
  • Sheiladine Kaupu, Janitor, Auxiliary Services.
  • Yumiko Ohara, Associate Professor of Linguistics, Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language.
  • Yoshitaka Miike, Professor of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Mark Panek, Professor of English, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Keith Edwards, Professor of Computer Science, College of Natural and Health Science.
  • Lori Hu, Secretary to the Chancellor, Office of the Chancellor.
  • Deanna Manley, Library Technician, Mookini Library.
  • Kathryn Besio, Professor of Geography and Environmental Science, College of Arts and Sciences.

30 Years

  • Christine Iha, Secretary to the Dean, Daniel. K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.
  • Debbie Ogata, Office Assistant, Auxiliary Services.
  • Cheryl De Mello, Office Assistant, Office of Admissions.
  • Aaron Yokomura, Information Technology Specialist, Information Technology Services.

40 Years

  • Kalena Silva, Professor of Hawaiian Language and Hawaiian Studies, Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language.
  • Michael Marshall, Professor of Art, College of Arts and Sciences.

RCUH Years of Service

(Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi)

10 Years

  • Charlotte Forbes Perry, Biologist, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit.
  • Heather Forester, Ant Lab, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit.
  • Atsuko Fukunaga, Ecological Research Statistician, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research.
  • Lori Hiramatsu, Director, Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Pacific.
  • Yumi Nagayoshi, Fiscal Accounting Clerk, Institute for Astronomy.
  • Rodrigo Romo, General Manager, Maunakea Shared Services.
  • Alexander Toledo, General Maintenance Supervisor, Institute for Astronomy.
  • Thomas Waltjen, Senior Maunakea Ranger, Institute for Astronomy.

15 Years

  • Edith Adkins, Conservation Planner, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit.
  • Jessie Camara, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit.
  • Christina Leopold, Research Analyst, Hawaiʻi Cooperative Studies Unit.
  • Corinna Pinzari, Research Specialist, Hawaiʻi Cooperative Studies Unit.
  • Wade Yoshizumi, Hale Pōhaku Cook/Service Worker, Maunakea Support Services, Institute for Astronomy.

20 Years

  • David Nardini, Research Operations Associate, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research.
  • Cynthia Vanderlip, Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center.
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