Photos: UH Hilo College of Arts and Sciences 2026 Student Award Convocation Celebration

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The annual event honors academic excellence and outstanding achievements of students from all departments at the College of Arts and Sciences.

Sita Hale holds her plaque and certificate.
Anthropology student Sita Hale holds her department’s perpetual plaque after receiving the UH Hilo Department of Anthropology Outstanding Student Award, May 8, 2026, at the College of Arts and Science’s annual Student Award Convocation Celebration.

Compiled by Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories. Photos by Carson West/University Relations/UH Hilo.

Michael Bitter casual portrait.
Michael Bitter (File photo)

The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo held its annual Student Award Convocation Celebration on May 8, 2026. The event honors academic excellence and outstanding achievements of students from all departments at the college.

“The annual College of Arts and Sciences Student Awards Convocation Celebration is one of the most important events of the academic year because we gather to recognize and celebrate the core of our college mission — academic excellence and student success,” says Michael Bitter, dean of the college. “These are goals all of us — students, faculty, and staff — work toward every day here at UH Hilo.

“The students who received awards have done an outstanding job and should be very proud of their achievements,” he adds. “Their professors and all of us across the college are proud of them as well.”

Here are this year’s award recipients!

Administration of Justice

Mia holds her certificate.
Mia Berney
  • Academic Achievement Award: Mia Berney, Carlton Helm, Chance Tulang
  • Outstanding Senior Award: Kamaehu Akina

Anthropology

Group of anthro students pose with their professors. Student hold their certificates and one holds a plaque.
From left, Professor Lynn Morrison, Benney Lat, Professor Peter Mills, Sita Hale, Professor Joe Genz, Abby Benefield, and Assistant Professor Jillian Swift.
  • Outstanding Student Award: Sita Hale
  • Academic Achievement Award: Abby Benefield, Benney Lat

Art

Two students stand with their professor holding their certificates.
From left, Professor Jean Ippolito, Jesse Watanabe, and Shuntaro Tanaka.
  • Academic Achievement Award: Aralye Lie, Leilanihuanani Ortiz, Shuntaro Tanaka, Jesse Watanabe

Communication

Professor stands with his students.
From left, Associate Professor Colby Miyose, Instructor Dana Van Winkle, Yuki Watabe, Cody Marsh, Reana Marie Deleon Guerrero, Emerson Reinke, Associate Professor Rayna Morel, and Professor Jing Yin.
  • Academic Achievement Award: Taylor Evangelista, Reana Marie Deleon Guerrero, Cody Marsh, Yuki Watabe
  • Maury Zimring Communication Paper Award: Emerson Reinke

Education

Award winner and her professor pose.
From left, Adriana Bernal and Associate Professor Tobias Irish.
  • Academic Achievement Award: Adriana Bernal, Lydia Keller

English

Group of students each holding a manila envelope, stand with their professors.
From left, Professor Kirsten Møllegaard, Hoʻolaokealoha Higuchi-Simmons, Raven Daegmorgan, Lauren Aoki, Xailea Anderson-Iopa, Valhalla Kalvaitis, Associate Professor Leanne Day, and Associate Professor Francis Dumanig.
  • Matthew Somchai Therrien Memorial Award: Xailea Anderson-Iopa
  • Howard and Yoneko Droste Award for Outstanding 100-level Paper: John Artillero
  • Howard and Yoneko Droste Award for Outstanding 200-level Paper: Xailea Anderson-Iopa
  • Howard and Yoneko Droste Award for Outstanding Poetry: Hoʻolaokealoha Higuchi-Simmons
  • Howard and Yoneko Droste Award for Outstanding Playwriting: Valhalla Kalvaitis
  • Howard and Yoneko Droste Award for Outstanding Fiction: Xailea Anderson-Iopa, Lauren Aoki, Raven Daegmorgan
  • Howard and Yoneko Droste Award for Outstanding Upper-Division Paper: Hoʻolaokealoha Higuchi-Simmons
  • TESOL Recognition Certificate: Brooklyn Naia Geiger, Mellanwut Kaiko, Grace Kiser, Grant Mower, Mason Selley, Eden Tobey

Gender and Women’s Studies

Gracie McMullen holding her certificate Gender and Women's Studies.
Gracie McMullen
  • Outstanding Graduating Senior: Gracie McMullen

Geography and Environmental Science

Group of students with their professors, one holds a baby.
From left, Instructor Kalani Carlson, Tori Valdez, Samson David, Adriana Vasquez, Professor Ryan Perroy, Trinity Silbanuz, Associate Professor Christopher Knudson, and Kaʻimihokulani Kaleleiki.
  • Academic Achievement Award: Kaʻimihokulani Kaleleiki, Kamakanōweo Kekauoha-Schultz, Trinity Silbanuz, Adriana Vasquez
  • Outstanding Senior Award: Samson David, Tori Valdez

History

Students holding their certificates stand with their professors.
From left, Sean Estavillo, Assistant Professor Makana Kushi, Antonio Vite, Orion Behrendt, Benney Lat, Professor Yucheng Qin, Briana Gaylord, Will Sherman, Jaydee Ah Sing, Professor Kerri Inglis, and Haukea Valdez.
  • Academic Achievement Award: Orion Behrendt, Sean Estavillo, Briana Gaylord, Ethan Walters
  • Outstanding Student Writing Award: Jaydee Ah Sing, Mason Selley, Will Sherman
  • Gary Y. Okihiro & Marina A. Henriquez Community Engagement Award: Benney Lat, Haukea Valdez, Antonio Vite

Languages

Group of five poses.
From left Kevin Corrales, Language Lab Tutor Ghelie Lei Tamayo, Haruka Kozaki, Associate Professor Francis Dumanig, and Lecturer Lark Jason Canico.
  • Academic Achievement Award: Kevin Corrales, Haruka Kozakai, Nathanial Ragasa

Performing Arts

Group of students stand with their four professors.
Front row, from left, Associate Professor Justina Mattos, Valhalla Kalvaitis, Hokulani Thomas, Malachi Oandasan, Cailin Gaume, and Performing Arts Center Manager Lee Barnette-Dombroski. Back row, from left, Assistant Professor Ocean Akaka, Damien Stack, Ronnie Palikū Malone, Tiffany Johnston, and Instructor Kea Kapahua.
  • Academic Excellence Award: Tiffany Johnston, Valhalla Kalvaitis, Ronnie Palikū Malone, Hokulani Thomas
  • Hawaiʻi Concert Society Scholarship (Music): Malachi Oandasan
  • Hawaiʻi Concert Society Scholarship (Dance): Cailin Gaume
  • Legacy Award, Service to the Department: Hokulani Thomas
  • Legacy Award, Artistic Excellence in Music: Ronnie Palikū Malone
  • Legacy Award, Artistic Excellence in Drama: Valhalla Kalvaitis
  • Legacy Award, Hawaiian Language in Performing Arts: Damien Stack
  • Legacy Award, Academic Excellence: Sean Mcmillan
  • Legacy Award, Competitive Talent (Music): Ronnie Palikū Malone
  • Performing Arts Center Scholarship: Tiffany Johnston, Valhalla Kalvaitis, Ronnie Palikū Malone, Hokulani Thomas

Philosophy

Two students holding certificates stand with their professor.
From left, Andrew Kerr, Professor Christopher Lauer, and Krysta Costa.
  • Academic Achievement Award: Krysta Costa
  • Essay Contest Winner: Andrew Kerr

Political Science

Five students holding certificates with their professor.
From left, Leila Vigorito-Kekuewa, Kawai Smith, Mark Rebellon, William Angus, Everett Nguyen-Roach. At far right, Professor Sarah Marusek is holding Kuʻuleikaumaka Atay’s certificate.
  • Academic Achievement Award: William Angus, Everett Nguyen-Roach
  • Williard D. Keim Memorial Scholarship: William Angus, Kuʻuleikaumaka Atay, Leila Vigorito-Kekuewa
  • Didrick A. Castberg Outstanding Graduating Senior Award: Mark Rebellon
  • Regina F. Titunik Distinguished Research Paper Award: Kawai Smith

Psychology

Front row is all students holding their certificates. Back row is professors. All standing.
Front row, from left, Nicholas Renner, Mia Wheeler, Jordyn Haramura, Julia Simoes, and Ghelie Lei Tamayo. Back row, from left, Assistant Professor Keith Feigenson, Associate Professor Alex Nagurney, Professor Sunyoung Kim, Assistant Professor Jennifer Turner, and Professor Bryan Kim.
  • Academic Achievement Award: Milan Beymer, Lynette Green, Jordyn Haramura, Keanikuuipo Midel, Jaylah Nelson, Kira Okazaki, Nicholas Renner, Betsy Ruiz-Santiago, Julia Simoes, Ghelie Lei Tamayo, Mia Wheeler

Sociology

Sociology students holding their certificates stand with their professors.
Front row, from left, Angelina Daniel, Kassidie Hayashida, Associate Professor Lindy Hern, and Danielle Murphy. Back row, from left, Assistant Professor Ellen Meiser, Starlye Koehler, Bernadette Yandall, and at back right, Associate Professor Alton Okinaka.
  • Academic Achievment Award: Angelina Daniel, Kassidie Hayashida, Bernadette Yandall
  • Exemplar of Sociological Research Award: Kassidie Hayashida
  • Excellence in Sociology Award: Starlye Koehler, Danielle Murphy

Compiled by Susan Enright, public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.

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