University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu students and their accomplishments were honored at the Fall 2023 Pueo Awards Ceremony & Reception, held Dec. 7 at the Campus Center Multipurpose Room.
“The significance of the Pueo Awards Ceremony is to celebrate our students,” said UH West O‘ahu Director of Student Life Rouel Velasco. “Students are the heartbeat of campus. They make life happen!”
The semesterly event is an all-in-one celebration recognizing the excellence, achievements, and service of students from their academic programs, participation in campus recreation programs, work in student employment, and involvement in student organizations, Velasco said.
Dozens were recognized at the event, which was hosted by the Campus Center Board, one of the Chartered Student Organizations at UH West O‘ahu. Board members who planned and coordinated the event were James Enne, Jeanee Frasco-Brewer, Ilikea Gould, and Kamryn Lapinid, with advisor Rouel Velasco.
Velasco noted the turnout for the Dec. 7 event was the largest for the Pueo Awards Ceremony with close to 100 students and their loved ones, along with faculty and staff, present.
“It is my hope that our students know that they matter and valued by the university,” he said.
The following is a list of the awards and recipients:
ASUHWO Awards
Appreciation Medal
Olivia Chung
Eleneki Fernandes
Sierra Furukawa
Leviticus Kaopuiki
Dr. Katie Landgraf
Volunteerism Medal
Mikaela Eaton
Lindsey Millerd
RISO Awards
Pueo Gaming: Distinguished Gamer Award: Seniors
Eleneki Fernandes
Nigel Arias
Christopher Kitamura
Melanie Denda
Campus Recreation Awards
Fitness Center Attendance
Josiah Aleka
Brenden Racoma
Jaime Perreira
Jenna Perreira
Free Play Attendance
Ty Fajardo
James Enne
Game Night Attendance
Garrett Lau
Zander Demarco
Ty Fajardo
Intramural Sports Flag Football
Alfredo Polendy III
Pomaikai Poti
Kristian Kraytchev
James Enne
Michael Pascual
Charles Conkelton
Frankie Brown
Ian Bleakley
Jay Miller
Brandon Feliciano
Jake Godfrey
Blaine Reyes
Paytan Grant
Intramural Sports Basketball Strix
Kristian Kraytchev
Mathan Kuhaulua
Paytan Grant
Charles Conkelton
Ronald Shiue
Ryan (Kapono) Perreira
Frankie Brown
Brandon Feliciano
Intramural Sports Basketball Tyto
Alfredo Polendy III
Jake Godfrey
Michael Pascual
Pomaikai Poti
Ian Bleakley
Maria Enriquez
James Enne
Justin Ricafort
Brycen Amorozo
Gabriel Manninen
Yoga Recognize Yogis Best Attendances
Platinum: Noah Padilla
Gold: Alexandra Malo
Silver: Alianis Ayala-Reyes
Bronze: Alyssa General
Chellezette Mapp
Bryleigh Ballesteros
Isabella Headrick
Han Redoble
Mia Maynard
Chloe Chen
Porsha Toma
Malia Makroro
Arlene Fa
Carley Matsumura
Academic Excellence Awards
Humanities — Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in Humanities
Sean Priester
Sage Marume
Miki‘ala Okuda
Maria Pou
Ilima Edwards
Math, Natural, and Health Sciences (MNSH) — Pueo RISE (Resilient Innovative Scholarly Exceptional) Awards
Pueo RISE Pre-Physical Therapy: Kelsey Slade
Pueo RISE Pre-Nursing: Aaron Ramirez
Pueo RISE Pre-Medicine Physician: Katelyn Sebastian
Pueo RISE Pre-Pharmacist: Natalie Gamboa
Pueo RISE Pre-Physician Assistant: Chiara Ganeku
Pueo RISE Pre-Occupational Therapy: Misa Murata
Pueo RISE Health Information Manager: Kari Uyehara
Pueo RISE Healer: Kalāwena Kaluehuawehe
Public Administration (PUBA) — Outstanding Students
Community Health
Nicole Trinidad
General Public Administration
Karla Angela Sales
Yasmine Cameron
Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management
Edward Lee
Justice Administration
Julia Espaniola
Health Care Administration
Taysia Canon
Danielle Tsuha
Student Employment Awards
Outstanding Student Employee of the Semester
Kassidy Kibota
Misa Murata
Tanara Faamausili
Leadership Excellence Awards
Appreciation of University Leadership Service (serving in any of the Chartered Student Organizations — ASUHWO Senate, Campus Center Board, Student Activity Fee Board, Student Media Board/The Hoot, and Health, Technology, and Transportation Advisory)
Moises Alhambra, Jr.
Kanoelani Bagorio
Danielle Ethan Bantilan
Oliva Chung
Mikaela Eaton
James Enne
Jeanee Frasco-Brewer
Ilikea Gould
Jasika Gouveia
John Kamakana, V
Leviticus Kaopuiki
Kamryn Lapinid
Ashley Macho
Nyle Manzano
Carley Matsumura
Mia Maynard
Jared McCann
Noah Dods Medeiros
Marc Mercado, Jr.
Lindsey Millerd
Anna Paguirigan
Grace Sapolu
Tawny Tynanes
Sydney Whitley
Tre Zamora
Recognition of Leadership Service for Graduating Student Leaders
Mikaela Eaton
James Enne
Zaira Cruz
Eleneki Fernandes
Kristi Quiocho Oshiro
Oustanding Advisor Award
Dr. Katherine Aumer
Emerging Leadership Award
Gabrielle Grohowski
Student Service and Leadership Distinction
Mikaela Eaton
Eleneki Fernandes