UH Faculty Members from Across the System Recognized with Teaching and Service Awards

University of Hawaiʻi
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Posted: Sep 19, 2002

The following University of Hawaiʻi faculty members were named recipients of the UH Hilo Chancellor‘s Award for Teaching Excellence, UH Community Colleges Chancellor‘s Award for Outstanding Service, and UH Community Colleges Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Vocational Education. They were recently recognized at the 2002 Awards Convocation Ceremony.

UH Hilo Chancellor‘s Award for Teaching Excellence

The Chancellor‘s Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes a UH Hilo instructor or lecturer who demonstrates outstanding subject mastery, teaching effectiveness, scholarship and creativity.

Robin Takahashi is an instructor of health and physical education. Takahashi works to ensure that his students‘ time at UH Hilo is an enriching experience. According to Rose Tseng, UH Hilo chancellor, his enthusiasm for teaching, the great amount of effort he puts into his courses and advising, and the motivation he provides students were noted by the committee. He is determined to make a difference is students‘ lives, and the gratification of witnessing his students mature provides his motivation to excel as a teacher.

UH Community Colleges Chancellor‘s Award for Outstanding Service

The Chancellor‘s Award for Outstanding Service acknowledges a civil service and/or administrative, professional or technical staff member at the community colleges for outstanding service to the university. The award was established in 1984 by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

Takako Desaki is a personnel officer at Leeward Community College. She has provided continuity, stability, and leadership in human resources. She is a valued and trusted colleague who has effectively guided her staff in the hiring of faculty and staff.

Desaki has initiated an in-house computerized information system, which expedites timely processing and payment of student employees, non-regular employees, and lecturers, and she also established the annual Leeward CC Student of the Year Award to honor outstanding student employees.

Masaki and Momoe Kunimoto Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Vocational Education

The Kunimoto award recognizes a faculty member or student within the UH Community Colleges system for outstanding achievement and significant contributions to vocational and technical education. The award was established by Tadashi and Elizabeth Nakaeda Kunimoto to honor their parents‘ role in development of the food industry in Hawai'i.

Mary E. Goya is an assistant professor in early childhood education at Hawaiʻi Community College. She has initiated, expanded and maintained a high-quality early childhood education program, which has become the campus‘ largest vocational program, with more than 125 majors. She serves on the Hawaiʻi Career Development Coalition and the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (TEACH) committee, and is a vice president and conference coordinator for the Big Island Chapter of the Hawaiʻi Association for the Education of Young Children.