University of Hawai'i University Relations Media & Publications Honolulu, HI 96822	(808) 956-8856 Telephone (808) 956-3441 Facsimile ur@hawaii.edu E-Mail
For Immediate Release:	July 19, 1999
Contact: Jenny Tom, 956-8856

Morton and Omiya, UH nominees for state service awards Two employees from the University of Hawai'i Community Colleges were selected as UH nominees for the 1999 Governor's Awards for Distinguished State Service and State Manager of the Year. They compete for the state title at the Governor's Award ceremony Sept. 10 at the State Capitol. Ann Omiya, a library technician at Windward Community College, was nominated for the Distinguished State Service Award while Kapi'olani Community College Provost John Morton was the nominee for State Manager of the Year. Omiya was nominated for consistently providing outstanding service at Windward CC's library for the past 24 years. She has helped to transform a traditional library into a "teaching library" and has played an integral part in providing expanded informational services to patrons. Omiya and her student assistants frequently teach library patrons how to use computers, microfiche reader/printers, the on-line catalog system, the Internet and other services now available at the library. Windward CC Provost Peter Dyer wrote: "Ms. Omiya works closely with faculty to help find particular books, periodicals or articles and to ensure the materials they require for their classes are available; with students to assist them with their library needs; with colleagues to implement new systems and projects and to find solutions to space, logistical and operational problems; and with student employees to develop desirable work habits, positive attitudes and skills that they can take with them when they graduate." Over the years, Omiya has help computerize the library's Reserve Collection, completed procedures for the inventory of a book collection of 44,500 titles and initiated other procedures and forms to regularize and streamline various tasks and services. Morton deserves to be recognized for his outstanding leadership as provost of Kapi'olani CC, his colleagues wrote in nomination papers. "John Morton, in his personal and professional commitment to and leadership of Kapi'olani CC has created a remarkable example of the way in which the term 'Community College' can represent a merging of academics, business and cultural resources into a center of learning and life," say colleagues. Under Morton's leadership, Kapi'olani CC has built numerous local and international partnerships in the areas of business, culture and education. Examples of this partnering and extension include the designation of Kapi'olani CC's Food Services and Hospitality Program as the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, which showcases Hawai'i's unique culinary resources and expertise; the Waikiki Lifelong Learning Center project involving labor unions, the Department of Education, local hotels and small businesses; the League for Innovation in the Community College, a consortium of colleges promoting new management and leadership skills and practices; a visitor industry workforce development partnership with public and private sector organizations in Sri Lanka; and numerous Service Learning projects where Kapi'olani CC students and faculty are engaged in community outreach and support. During Morton's 15-year tenure as provost, the campus has grown to serve more than 27,000 students in credit and noncredit courses. Kapi'olani CC managed to sustain enrollment despite budget constraints and fiscal realities facing the University. In addition to his administrative duties, Morton has taken the lead to create a new student information system for the entire UH system, a multi-million dollar project that will positively impact student services systemwide. Colleagues say Morton's leadership style is "visionary, but firmly anchored in a collaborative approach that encourages broad-based sharing of and involvement in information and decision making." For example, faculty enjoy a high degree of openness and self-governance through KCC's Faculty Senate. Likewise he conducts annual retreats with his administrative staff so "everyone contributes to a relaxed but focused session of assessment, planning and brainstorming aimed towards creating a better college."

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