University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo electrician Shannon Asejo was honored with the President’s Award for Excellence in Buildings and Grounds Maintenance at the February 16 Board of Regents meeting in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The award is given to an employee from one of UH’s 10 campuses who has exhibited sustained superior performance in a maintenance, landscaping, custodial or trucking position.
Asejo has been with UH Hilo since 2017, and is the sole electrician for the entire campus. Beyond his daily electrician duties, which he performs thoughtfully and efficiently, Asejo assists co-workers with building maintenance and has also become the “go-to” person for support for student-focused projects. He received a standing ovation when he was presented the award and credits his mom for his work ethic.
“She said, you want to work hard, you got to make a difference,” said Asejo shortly after receiving the award. “I love what I do, I love my job, everyone around the university here, they give me love, they send it back, I want to help people I love so I do it for them, too. I do everything I do to help the university and I couldnʻt do it without my crew.”
Asejo’s nominators commend his stellar work ethic and its positive impact on the campus.
One nominator stated, “The sheer volume of electrical work order requests completed within the day would lead one to believe that UH Hilo has several electricians; however, Shannon singlehandedly oversees and completes all electrical requirements for the entire campus, then assists other trades to clear building maintenance backlog.”
His many contributions to campus improvements include:
- An open-air cafe with outdoor seating and accessible outlets
- PV panels, timers and controls for solar powered charging stations in high demand locations
- Assembly and installation of food pantry shelving, as well as keeping the pantry stocked
- Signage, LED tube covers and electrical requirements for a new eSport Lounge
- Refinishing the Library Lanai outdoor furniture
Asejo impresses, not only with his high standards of workmanship, but also with his commitment to cost-saving measures.
Another nominator stated, “Shannon is a clear standout because of his deep rooted spirit of goodwill, coupled with his positive ‘can-do’ work ethic and creative solutions. His willingness to take on challenging projects, and put forth whatever effort is necessary to achieve positive results in a cost-effective manner is a tremendous asset to UH Hilo.”
Read more about previous winners of the Excellence in Buildings & Grounds Maintenance award.
