UH Manoa Student Employment & Coop Education Director Receives Double National Honors

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Chassidy Shinno, (808) 956-3591
Student Employment & Cooperative Services
Arlene Abiang, (808) 956-5637
External Affairs & University Relations
Posted: Jan 28, 2005


HONOLULU — The National Association of Student Employment Administrators (NSEA) recently honored Myrtle Ching-Rappa, director of UH Mānoa‘s Student Employment & Cooperative Education (SECE), with two awards at the 2004 NSEA Conference in Boston — the NSEA President‘s Award and the John. R. Griffin Service Award.

The NSEA President‘s Award is presented at the discretion of the NSEA President to an individual who has shown exceptional dedication and made significant contributions to the association through leadership, commitment, and accomplishment on special projects and committee assignments. The John R. Griffin Service Award is given in recognition of distinguished service and contributions to NSEA.

"It is unusual for an NSEA member to receive more than one award in a year," said Jim DeWilde, NSEA Vice-President for Member Services. "That Myrtle Ching-Rappa received two awards is indicative of her success in the student employment profession."

Ching-Rappa has been part of the UH team for 36 years, serving students with SECE for almost 25 years. She has been an active participant of NSEA for 21 years, holding leadership positions as national treasurer for five years and as national board member for six years (one year as VP for administration, two years as president, and three years as national conference chairperson).

"Myrtle's selection for both awards is very well deserved," said Dr. Alan Yang, UH Mānoa Dean of Students. "Given our geographic isolation, it‘s especially important for university staff to remain actively involved with professional organizations. The recognition of Myrtle's exceptional contributions to her profession is an outstanding example of this."

A pacesetter for the University of Hawaiʻi, many regard Ching-Rappa as an innovative and dynamic leader. She has earned the respect of her colleagues as an expert in the field of student employment, as well as student affairs and continues to be an irreplaceable resource for the university.