The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa celebrated the exceptional achievements of its faculty, staff and students at the 2025 UH Mānoa Awards Ceremony, on April 28 at Kennedy Theatre.
UH President Wendy Hensel, UH Mānoa Vice Provost for Academic Excellence Laura Lyons and Board of Regents Vice Chair Laurie Tochiki recognized this year’s honorees for their outstanding accomplishments.
A video recording of the event will be available on the UH Manoa Awards page at a later date.
Congratulations to all our winners!
2025 UH Mānoa Awards winners
Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Teaching
- Mapuana C.K. Antonio, associate professor, public health
- Matthew F. Cain, associate professor, chemistry
- Elisabeth Mehana Makaʻinaʻi, instructor, Hawaiian studies
- Hannah Manshel, assistant professor, English
- Masaru Mito, instructor, Japanese language
- Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio, associate professor, political science
Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Research
- Sloan Coats, assistant professor, Earth sciences
- Matthieu Dubarry, associate researcher, Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute
- Rick Kazman, professor, information technology management
Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
- Margaret Colleen Rost-Banik, instructor, sociology
- Sara Maaria Saastamoinen, PhD student, political science
Robert W. Clopton Award for Distinguished Community Service
- Maya Soetoro-Ng, associate specialist, Matsunaga Institute for Peace
Presidential Citation for Meritorious Teaching
- Dean Domingo, instructor, Ilokano language
- Chad Edward Miller, specialist, teacher education
- You-il (Chris) Park, associate professor, accounting
- Melissa Renae Price, associate professor, wildlife management
- Jennifer D.S. Griswold, professor, atmospheric sciences
- Kaori Tamura, associate professor, kinesiology and rehabilitation science
Presidential Award for Outstanding Service
- Seung Yang, assistant director, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
- John Gestrich, carpentry shops manager, Campus Operations and Facilities
- Marla Fergerstrom, farm manager, College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resilience
- Jennifer Frank, physician, University Health Services Mānoa
Jean Takamura Staff Excellence Award
- Michele Inouchi, administrative officer, Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success
- Roy Tom, machinist, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Peter V. Garrod Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Award
- Michael Liu, astronomer, Institute for Astronomy
Pakela Award for Outstanding Academic Advisor
- Kenny Kaʻaiakamanu-Quibilan, assistant faculty specialist, Department of Information & Computer Sciences
ʻOikela Award for Outstanding Advising Unit
- Academic & Student Affairs Office, College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resilience
(Kayden Iwasaki, Irene Morrow, Maile Sing and Jessica Strenstrom)
OVPRS Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research and Creative Work
- Sladjana Prišić, associate professor, microbiology
- Pei-Ling Kao, associate professor, dance
Student Excellence in Research Award
- Aláine Fiona Lee, undergraduate student, astrophysics
- Kazuumi Fujioka, PhD candidate, chemistry
- Nick Saunders, PhD candidate, astronomy
- Shayla Spotkaeff, undergraduate research assistant, Center for Oral History
Awardees were selected following careful review by the various awards committees, based on nominations and supporting materials across teaching, research, mentoring and service. Mahalo to all who participated in the selection process.
See the awards page for a complete list of winner biographies.
