UH West O'ahu honors two outstanding staff and faculty members with awards of excellence

University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu
Contact:
Julie Funasaki Yuen, (808) 454-4821
Public Relations and Marketing Department
Posted: Aug 3, 2009


UH West Oʻahu recently recognized two outstanding staff and faculty members for their contributions to the University.

Academic Support Specialist Terri Ota won the UH West Oʻahu Chancellor‘s Award in recognition of her exemplary work performance in fostering excellence in higher education. With more than 20 years of experience, she demonstrates an in-depth understanding of university processes and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

"Over the years I have known Terri, I have seen firsthand her drive, positive work ethic and contagious desire to do everything possible to ensure we have only the highest services for our students," said UH West Oʻahu Chancellor Gene Awakuni. "Our school‘s standard of quality is high, thanks in part to Terri."

Among her many contributions, Ota developed procedures to enhance the efficiency of departmental operations including assisting in the transition to a new student information system that improved access and storage of confidential information. She was instrumental in ensuring that all UH West Oʻahu graduating seniors received actual diplomas during commencement exercises and developed procedures for maintaining online and print catalogs, academic reporting functions, records management, agreements, curricular changes and academic policies. She spends countless hours ensuring that the requests from students, faculty and staff are met in a timely manner.

Ota is an active member of the UH West Oʻahu ʻohana and a volunteer advisor for the UH West Oʻahu Alumni Association and volunteer photographer at university functions.

Dr. Franklin Kudo, assistant professor of accounting at UH West Oʻahu, won the Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award. He demonstrates a genuine enthusiasm for teaching and a dedication to his students that makes him an outstanding instructor and excellent role model. Kudo draws from his years of experience working in the private sector as a business and accounting professional and uses real-world examples to inspire and educate his students.

"Frank is an innovator in the classroom," added Chancellor Awakuni. "He is able to find new ways to inspire students while helping them develop a long-term appreciation of their academic discipline and its application outside of the classroom."

"I firmly believe that Dr. Kudo is one of the best instructors I‘ve had in my collegiate career. He understands me as a student and all that I struggle with on a daily basis and is there for me should I need his assistance. He is passionate about my learning and academic goals and strives to help me and my fellow classmates out as best as he can," noted a UH West Oʻahu student.

Kudo is an active faculty member outside of the classroom and is the co-advisor to the UH West Oʻahu Accounting Club as well as the service-learning faculty advisor for the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid assistance program. He also volunteers as part of the UH Faculty Ambassador‘s Program.

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About UH West Oʻahu

UH West Oʻahu became a four-year, comprehensive university when it served its first class of freshmen in fall 2007. The University offers quality education, small classes and personalized attention at convenient locations. UH West Oʻahu held a ground blessing ceremony in January in anticipation of the start of construction for a state-of-the art, new campus in the City of Kapolei. For more information, visit http://www.uhwo.hawaii.edu, http://www.twitter.com/uhwestoahu, http://www.facebook.com/uhwestoahu or call 454-4700 or toll-free (866) 299-8656.

For more information, visit: http://www.uhwo.hawaii.edu