University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu students and their accomplishments, as well as their mentors, were recognized and honored at the Fall 2024 Pueo Awards Ceremony and Reception, which took place on Dec. 6 at the Campus Center Multipurpose Room.
The semesterly event was the largest Pueo Awards Ceremony held to date, with about 120 people in attendance, said UH West O‘ahu Director of Student Life Rouel Velasco.
“To see the increased engagement of our students involved in campus recreation and student organizations and leadership is amazing,” Velasco said. “And to see students who excel academically interact with their professors is an amazing sight to see.”
Velasco continued, “The goal of the Pueo Awards is to celebrate excellence. Yet the significance of the Pueo Awards is to further strengthen our connection to one another as a beloved community.”
The Fall 2024 Pueo Awards Ceremony and Reception was sponsored by the Campus Center Board (CCB), one of the Chartered Student Organizations at UH West O‘ahu. Board members who planned and coordinated the event included Belja-Jaem (B.J.) Aneo, Kekahu Hamili, and Kimberly Murphy, with Velasco, CCB advisor.
The following is a list of the awards and recipients:
Academic Excellence Awards
Education Division – Pueo Academic Excellence Award
- Joshua Kamalani
Humanities Division – “Outstanding Academic Achievement in the Humanities Award”
- Travis Antonacci
- Annette Bell
- Dominque Cortez-Montiho
- Abigail Gonzales
- Mahina Kauhi
- Kawena Lorenzo
- Maria Pou
- Aloha Pula
- Nicole Quibol
- Lia Monica Reyes
- Megan Tossey
- Cami Wong
- Tomoko Yamashita
Math, Natural, and Health Sciences Division – Pueo RISE RISE (Resilient Innovative Scholarly Exceptional)
- Pueo RISE Pre-Medicine: Bashir El-Orm
- Pueo RISE Excellence Award: David Werhanowicz
- Pueo RISE Health Information Manager: Ernie John Mariano
- Pueo RISE Life Scientist Award: Hiwa Campbell
- Pueo RISE Intellectual Curiosity: Jacklene Tata
- Pueo RISE Pre-Nursing: Jewel Chung
- Pueo RISE Learner of Physics Lecture: John Wright
- Pueo RISE Applied Mathematician: Kanisa Ching
- Pueo RISE Healer: Lindsey Millerd
- Pueo RISE Learner of Health Information Manager: OliviaLynn Chong Tim
- Pueo RISE Learner of Physics Lab: Ryan Kapono Pereira
Public Administration Division – Academic Excellence
- Justice Administration: Ashlie Ferido
- General PUBA: John Cortez
- Health Care Administration
- Riley Adams
- Deziree Lewis
- Barry Rice
- Steven Ruiz
- Kamiko Santiago-Stephens
- Alicia Wilson
Sustainability Pitch and Present Competition Winners
- Jordan Echiberi
- Kawena Lorenzo
- Sarah Murakami
Campus Recreation Awards
Fitness Awards
- Josiah Aleka
- Bryson Bucao
- Chloe Chen
- Evana Ekmekcioglu
- Kayla Marie – Koide
- Kamyrn Lapinid
- Whitney Mai
- Noah Padilla
- Jett Umeno
Yoga Awards
- Bryleigh Ballesteros
- Sienna Ebert
- Lilinoe Kauweloa-Pilialoha
- Alexandra Malo
- Jessica Miranda
- Tracy Nishihara
- Shan Parmley
- Serena Tianero
Flag Football – Team Strix
- Adrian Mada
- Chasyn Amano
- Kristian Kraytchev
- Blaine Reyes
- Ronald Shiue
- Jake Godfrey
- Ian Bleakley
- Levi Gunthrope
- Kapono Perreira
- Dante Bareng
Basketball
- Kristian Kraytchev
- Jasianna Ah Nee-Green
- (AJ) A Junior Moses
- Belja-Jaem (B.J.) Aneo
- Kaipo‘auikekai Pennington (Aukai) Pennington
- Mathan Kuhaulua
- Keoni Reyes-Huynh
- Kapono Perreira
- Chasyn Amano
- Justis Weldon
- Nick Murphy
- Adrian Mada
- La‘anui Nihipali
- Cheyenne Peralta-Blue
- Izaiah Ibarra
- Ronald Shiue
- Brian Joshua Tijam
- (Theo) Dominic Morella
- Levi Gunthrope
- Kai Briggs
- Javian Preza
- Regan Naira
- Jon Shifflett
- Justin Ricafort
- Fedrick Holmes
- Ian Bleakley
- Kekoa Lucas
ASUHWO Awards
Appreciation Award
- Hiwa Campbell
- Dr. Christina Pascua-Galdiano
- Anuhea Piliere
Distinguished Service Award
- Georcelle Lozano
- Anna Paguirigan
- Sydney Whitley
RISO Awards
Accounting Club
- Most active Accounting Club member: Jayla Loftis
- Serving as an Accounting Club Treasurer: Serene Tianero
- Serving as an Accounting Club Vice President: Lyliahn Lee
- Serving as an Accounting Club President: Troy Bunce
Student Employment Awards
Student Employee of the Semester
- Finalists
- Aralen Hā‘ilima Sakura Haiola
- Izaiah Ibarra
- Winner
- Marianne Joy Bonilla
Leadership and Excellence Awards
University-wide Student Leadership
- ASUHWO
- Danielle Ethan Bantilan
- Jace Battalia
- Jasmine Dumbrigue
- Alexandria Felton
- Kyra Furukawa
- Leviticus Kaopuiki
- Lulani Kuehu-Chung
- Georcelle Lozano
- Lena Lutzke
- Hunter Mishina
- Anna Paguirigan
- Jesica Paredes
- Kayden Rego
- Tawny Tynanes
- Sydney Whitley
- Campus Center Board
- Belja-Jaem Aneo
- Kekahu Hamili
- Kimberly Murphy
- Student Activity Fee Board
- Olivia Chung
- Jasmine Dumbrigue
- Mia Maynard
- Leviticus Kaopuiki
- Alyssa Gwendoleen Talioaga
- Student Media Board
- Zander DeMarco
- Ashley Macho
- Noah Dods Medeiros
- Anncelitta Meli
- The Hoot
- Moises Alhambra, Jr.
- Levi Kaopuiki
- Georcelle Lozano
- Carley Matsumura
- Lindsey Millerd
- Noah Padilla
- Grace Sapolu
- Landon Tupper
- Josephine Uson
- Tre Zamora
- Health, Technology, and Transportation Advisory Committee
- Olivia Chung
- Carley Matsumura
- Jared McCann
Recognition of Leadership Service for Graduating Student Leaders
- Danielle Bantilan
- Noah Dods Medeiros
- Gabrielle Grohowski
- Carley Matsumura
- Jared McCann
- Lindsey Millerd
Outstanding Mentor Award
- Anthony Eich
- Dr. Edward Keaunui
- Ryan Perreira
- Stephanie Tavajian
Outstanding Success Advocate Award
- Kristina Pang
- Carley Matsumura
- Dr. Steven Taketa