The President’s Award for Excellence in Building and Grounds Maintenance

University of Hawai‘i
2002 The President’s Award for Excellence in Building and Grounds Maintenance

Since the mid 1980s, this president’s award has honored employees in the UH system who exhibit dedication and sustained superior performance in a maintenance, landscaping, custodial, shop or trucking position.

Kathleen Wong, a working supervisor, is an excellent leader and team player. She sincerely cares about her job, her colleagues and the College of Business Administration (CBA) Building she maintains at UH Manoa. Those submitting nomination papers strongly support Wong with enthusiasm and without reservation.

Compliments about the business building’s up-keep is credited to Wong said CBA Dean David McClain. "The college’s extensive evening and weekend class schedules make her duties all that more difficult, but Wong and her crew keep our building and grounds in the best possible shape for our guests and for the faculty and staff," wrote McClain.

At the start of every academic year, Wong welcomes students and faculty back to a spotless building. She ensures that restrooms are at its tip-top cleanliness. She leads the pressure washing of each floor of the building for a sparkling appearance. Wong makes sure classrooms are ready for instruction.

As a manager and head trainer, Wong has the command and respect of her custodial group, but remains a team player by lending a hand during large jobs or staff shortages. During storms, you'll find Wong with her crew pushing rain water from the courtyard and corridors of the building for the safety of students and staff. "The workers under her supervision admire her fairness, understanding and professionalism," said Alice Shibata, a secretary in the financial economics and institutions department.

Wong has also given helpful and constructive suggestions to the college administration and maintenance office on how to keep the building looking cleaner and nicer.

"A task has never been too large for Kats to handle. Her knowledge of university procedures and more importantly, the idiosyncrasies of the BusAd Building, has enabled her to stay on top of her job. As a team leader, she leads her group well, providing specific and explicit training. She stands as a role model as she strives for excellence and immaculate cleaning," commented Eva Fong Sekimoto, a CBA secretary who has known Wong for 10 years.