The UH System

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Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching

Teaching Medal Award Winner

Sandra Sanpei, headshot

Sandra Sanpei
Honolulu

Sandra Sanpei is a professor in communication arts at Honolulu Community College.

More than just an excellent classroom teacher, Sanpei received praise for her involvement in all aspects of the students’ program and providing the overall support needed to graduate from that program. She helps students in and out of the classroom, and even takes the time to fix administrative glitches for students.

Students often describe her as “challenging” and “stern,” with the description of being the “best teacher I have ever had” in the same breath. Students realize that Sanpei is aware of the competitive, time pressured nature of their chosen careers, and that in the real world their work will be technical, detailed and complicated, requiring not only mastered skills but a high quality work ethic.

Noted by one of her students as the “glue that holds the communication arts department together,” Sandra’s discipline and tireless attention to detail and quality are an educational lesson for how students must be to achieve their dream of being a part of the communication arts industry.

The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching is awarded by the Board of Regents as tribute to faculty members who exhibit an extraordinary level of subject mastery and scholarship, teaching effectiveness and creativity and personal values that benefit students. The board also awards the Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research.

Select a recipient for more about that individual.

Or view previous years’ winners: 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003-1965

2014

Richard Jones, headshot
Richard Jones
West O‘ahu
Helmut Kae, headshot
Helmut Kae
Leeward
Paul Lavy, headshot
Paul Lavy
Manoa
Michael Paulding, headshot
Michael Paulding
Kapi‘olani
Kavita Rao, headshot
Kavita Rao
Manoa
Sandra Sanpei, headshot
Sandra Sanpei
Honolulu
Jody-Lynn Storm, headshot
Jody-Lynn Storm
Windward
Gordon Talbo, headshot
Gordon Talbo
Kaua‘i
Alice Tse, headshot
Alice Tse
Manoa