{"id":12052,"date":"2012-11-29T15:39:03","date_gmt":"2012-11-30T01:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=12052"},"modified":"2021-01-21T13:59:10","modified_gmt":"2021-01-21T23:59:10","slug":"regents-medal-for-teaching-awarded","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2012\/11\/29\/regents-medal-for-teaching-awarded\/","title":{"rendered":"Regents\u2019 medal for teaching awarded"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> minute<\/span><\/span>
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The 2012 Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching award winners, from top left, Tod Aeby, Linda Furuto, Patricia Espiritu Halagao, Jennifer Higa-King, Reece Jones, Samuel Kaleikoa Kaʻeo<\/span>, Peter Leong and Floyd W. McCoy, bottom from left, Veronica Ogata, Kay S. Ono, Yucheng Qin, Matthew Romaniello, Kathryn Sims, Francis Takahashi and John Zuern<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching is awarded by the Board of Regents as tribute to faculty members who exhibit an extraordinary level of subject mastery and scholarship, teaching effectiveness and creativity and personal values that benefit students.<\/p>\n

2012 Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching honorees<\/h2>\n

Tod Aeby<\/strong>
\nAssociate Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a>, UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/p>\n

His students say Tod Aeby is a humble and caring doctor and a good listener. His calm and gentle personality puts his patients and students at ease. Aeby went to medical school at the University of New Mexico and completed his internship and residency at JABSOM<\/abbr>. He is the recipient of at least 11 local and national awards for his excellent work.<\/p>\n

Linda Furuto<\/strong>
\nAssociate Professor, Math and Science Division, University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Linda Furuto treasures each one of her students and considers it a gift to be in the classroom. She received her bachelor’s degree from BYU<\/abbr>, master’s degree from Harvard University and her PhD<\/abbr> from UCLA<\/abbr>. Furuto previously received the Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2011.\u00a0She grew up in Hauʻula<\/span> and enjoys spear-fishing, sailing with the Polynesian Voyaging Society and playing the organ.<\/p>\n

Patricia Espiritu Halagao<\/strong>
\nAssociate Professor, Department of Curriculum Studies, College of Education<\/a>, UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/p>\n

Patricia Espiritu Halagao has a teaching philosophy based on “stirring the heart, mind and soul” of students and inspiring them to promote equality and social justice in the world. Halagao teaches multicultural education and social studies. Her students describe her courses as “vehicles of self-discovery.” Halagao received her PhD<\/abbr> from the University of Washington, Seattle. She is the co-author and executive director of Pinoy Teach, one of the first multicultural and pedagogical curricula of Filipino Americans in the nation. She received the first Young Pioneer Award from the Filipino American National Historical Society in 2000.<\/p>\n

Jennifer Higa-King<\/strong>
\nAssistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Division of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Honolulu Community College<\/a><\/p>\n

Her students say Jennifer Higa-King is a role model who enriched their lives intellectually and personally. Higa-King was born and raised in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and graduated from Pearl City High School. She received her MS<\/abbr> and PhD<\/abbr> in experimental psychology at Washington State University. She is married to George King, an associate researcher at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. They have a daughter, Kaitlyn, a student at St. Andrew’s Priory.<\/p>\n

Reece Jones<\/strong>
\nAssociate Professor and Graduate Chair, Department of Geography, College of Social Sciences<\/a>, UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/p>\n

Reese Jones teaches courses that “traverse human geography through the economic, political, national, cultural, environmental and contemporary”. Jones received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. His students say he brings enormous enthusiasm to his teaching and demonstrates deep respect for his students. One student said Jones’ teaching style created “the most dramatic change in perspective and understanding of the world by any individual course.”<\/p>\n

Samuel Kaleikoa Kaʻeo<\/span><\/strong>
\nAssociate Professor, Hawaiian Studies, Department of Humanities, UH<\/abbr> Maui College<\/a><\/p>\n

Samuel Kaleikoa Kaʻeo<\/span> is a proud graduate of Baldwin High School on Maui and the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Mānoa. Prior to returning to his hometown, Kaʻeo<\/span> was a lecturer in Hawaiian language at UH<\/abbr> Mānoa, a teacher at the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program at King Kekaulike High School and the Culture and education program manager for the Kahoʻolawe<\/span> Island Reserve Commission. Kaʻeo<\/span> was born and raised on Maui. He and his family reside in Waiohuli.<\/p>\n

Peter Leong<\/strong>
\nAssistant Professor, Department of Educational Technology, College of Education<\/a>, UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/p>\n

Peter Leong is credited with organizing the first virtual graduation at the University ofÂ鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, for families who were not able to travel to Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> for commencement ceremonies. Leong has five years of experience in the development and delivery of online courses and distance education. His colleagues say Leong is one of the few Mānoa and system faculty members to teach and conduct research in virtual worlds. He says, “I strive to create learning environments that allow learners to create meaning from what they experience rather than “learning” my understanding as a teacher.”<\/p>\n

Floyd W. McCoy<\/strong>
\nProfessor and Chair, Department of Natural Sciences, Windward Community College<\/a><\/p>\n

For more than two decades, Floyd McCoy has taught his students to wake up and “smell the rocks.” His colleagues and students agree he is a master teacher of geology and oceanography who has inspired a generation of students at Windward Community College. McCoy received his PhD<\/abbr> in geological sciences at Harvard University. He is among the faculty members who founded the Polynesian Voyaging program at WIndwardᾹthe first such program in the UH<\/abbr> community college system.<\/p>\n

Veronica Ogata<\/strong>
\nAssociate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Division of Arts and Sciences, Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College<\/a><\/p>\n

Veronica Ogata knew early on that she would become a special education teacher because both her mom and sister have disabilities. Ogata received her BS<\/abbr> in family resources, MEd<\/abbr> in special education and her PhD<\/abbr> in exceptionalities from UH<\/abbr> Mānoa. She believes that learning is a two-way street, not just a process that involves “depositing” knowledge into students. Ogata runs the education program at Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College, where she is shaping future elementary and special education teachers.<\/p>\n

Kay S. Ono<\/strong>
\nAssociate Professor, Business Technology, Business Division, Leeward Community College<\/a><\/p>\n

Kay Ono’s parents were interned during World War Two when her mother taught typing without typewriters. Ono believes her parents’ experiences, values and morals shaped her strong work ethic and desire to help students. She earned her bachelors and masters degrees from Loma Linda University, La Sierra and had a successful high school teaching career in California before moving to Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. She received the National Business Education Association’s Teacher of the Year award in 2011 and has been recognized many times for her vast accomplishments.<\/p>\n

Yucheng Qin<\/strong>
\nAssistant Professor, Department of History, Social Sciences Division, College of Arts and Sciences, UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/a><\/p>\n

Yucheng Qin received his MA<\/abbr> in History from Peking University in China, and a PhD in history from the University of Iowa. He has been an assistant professor of Asian history at UH<\/abbr> Hilo’s history department and assistant professor of history with the Japanese studies program since 2008. He has also taught in Guam, Ohio, Iowa and China. Qin’s students say he is a powerful and loving teacher who has charisma, fervor and the ability to invigorate his students.<\/p>\n

Matthew Romaniello<\/strong>
\nAssociate Professor, Department of History, College of Arts and Humanities, UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/p>\n

Matt Romaniello is currently working on a project focused on tobacco consumption in the Russian Empire, to better understand Russia’s global connections and cultural exchanges. Romaniello received his BA from Brown University and his MA<\/abbr> and PhD<\/abbr> from Ohio State University. His colleagues have noticed his office is always full of students seeking his advice on historical studies and research. Romaniello has extended his commitment to history educators nationally with an educational website dedicated to providing practicing teachers with the ability to make “historical thinking” visible to students through case studies.<\/p>\n

Kathryn Sims<\/strong>
\nAssociate Professor, Department of English, UH<\/abbr> Center–West Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Community College<\/a><\/p>\n

Kathryn “Kate” Sims has taught internationally since she became a teacher 29 years ago. She has worked in Australia, the Cook Islands as well as the U.S. mainland before joining Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Community College, UH<\/abbr> Center at West Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> in 1993. Sims is currently the accreditation liaison officer at Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> CC<\/abbr>. She was raised in Oakland, California and received her BA<\/abbr> in English with a French minor from the University of California, Davis. She completed her MA<\/abbr> in English and education at the University of California, Berkeley.<\/p>\n

Francis T. Takahashi<\/strong>
\nAssistant Professor, Electronics Technology Program, Trade Technology Division, Kauaʻi<\/span> Community College<\/a> <\/p>\n

Francis Takahashi once wrote, “We must encourage students to become lifelong learners expanding their minds and horizons on the voyage to discover new ‘worlds’ on an island they may have once perceived as very small.”Takahashi received a BA<\/abbr> and MS<\/abbr> in zoology at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> before completing his PhD in physiology at Oregon State University. He is also trained in business administration, electronics and data processing, which led to stints at IBM, Domain and Maxtor. This broad background enabled Takahashi to start an electronics technology program at Kauaʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> in 1985.<\/p>\n

John Zuern<\/strong>
\nAssociate Professor, Department of English, College of Languages, Linguistics and Literature, UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/p>\n

Colleagues and students describe John Zuern as approachable, creative, intelligent and diligent. Zuern is an associate professor of literature, literacy theory and electronic media. He has been involved in various community-school-based technology initiatives in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, including an effort to integrate digital video and multimedia development into the middle-school Hawaiian language immersion curriculum. Zuern earned his MA and PhD in comparative literature from the University of Texas-Austin. He received the Presidential\/Chancellor’s Citation for Meritorious Teaching in 2005.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching awarded to 15 faculty members across the UH<\/abbr> system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[1091,61,62,63,64,65,14,9,60,59,66],"class_list":["post-12052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-bor-medal-teaching","tag-hawaii-community-college","tag-honolulu-community-college","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-kauai-community-college","tag-leeward-community-college","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-manoa","tag-maui-college","tag-uh-west-oahu","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12052","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12052"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12052\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":134150,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12052\/revisions\/134150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}