Hundreds of faculty, staff, administrators, service missionaries, volunteers, spouses and guests culminated BYU-Hawaii Employee Appreciation week from March 31 to April 2 and celebrated the university's "new horizons" with a ho'omaika'i [thankfulness] program and luau dinner at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Prior to the banquet in the PCC's Hale Aloha, the large crowd gathered in the IMAX Polynesia Theater for a special program honoring 49 faculty and staff, including Dr. Keith Roberts [pictured at left with his wife, Judy], outgoing Vice President of Academics, six who recently have or will soon retire, and the rest for reaching years of service marked in five-year increments.
Calling Roberts to the front, BYU-Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright honored him for "your intellect, your determination and your many contributions to the academic excellence we enjoy on campus." He noted some of those highlights include "raising the visibility and prestige of the university, both locally and internationally. During his tenure, U.S. News and World Report ranked BYU-Hawaii as a top-tier university for eight consecutive years."
President Wheelwright also pointed out that Roberts served the community as a founding member of Empower Oahu and "supported the faculty in creating curricular reforms that have improved the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of the educational and academic programs."
Roberts, who joined the administration in 1992, thanked the university ohana or "family" for supporting each other and loving the students. "It's obvious in what you do. I appreciate so much the years that we've had here...and the opportunity that Judy and I have had to live in this community and get to know so many of you as close, close friends. It's been a wonderful time."
The retirees are:
• Napua Baker, Vice President of University Advancement. President Wheelwright pointed out Baker, a CCH alumna who will retire in June, joined the university administration in 1981 as Director of Continuing Education. In 1987 she became an assistant to President Alton H. Wade, and in 1992 became the first female and first Hawaiian vice president in the Church Education System. "She has had a profound influence for good and a truly positive impact in every area that has been touched by her service," he said.
• Rex Frandsen [on the left, with BYUH President Wheelwright, in the photo on the right], an Associate Dean under the Chief Information Officer and 40-year veteran — 27 of those spent in Library and information related services — and a CCH alum. President Wheelwright praised Frandsen for helping with the change from "books and mortar to media technology."
• "Mom" Therese Cummings, "who sometimes was called ‘Mother Theresa' by a generation of young men in Hale 4," joined the residential staff in 1992. Cummings is another CCH alum who helped open the Tahitian village at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
• Tehina Mo'o, a CCH alum, retired from Physical Plant in December after working fulltime in various areas since 1975. "His greatest joy was working with students," President Wheelwright said. "Tehina led by example."
• Sherrill Erickson, who first ran the Shear Perfection hair salon in the Aloha Center and later joined the fulltime staff in 1994.
• Jean Langi with Media Services in the Library also retired earlier, and has since moved to the U.S. mainland.
The most senior of those receiving five-year service recognition included Vernelle Lakatani, 40 years; Clarence Ah Quin and Charlene Keliiliki, 30; Marynelle Chew, Tesi Faustino, Martin Miller, S. Wilfred Navalta, David Porter and Earl Wyman, 25; and Laurie Abregano, Lorraine Matagi and Roy Winstead, 20 years.
Lakatani, BYU-Hawaii's Registrar who has spent her entire career in that office after graduating from Church College of Hawaii (renamed BYU-Hawaii in 1974), said later she has "lasted this long because of all the people and the support they gave me."
She also noted that the technology and procedures have changed significantly over those years: "We started doing records, typing the grades on paper. Then we'd copy them and put stamps on them. Now we have technology that faculty members can get the grades on much faster. But the people are still lovable. They've got the aloha spirit." She added she's not planning to retire yet.
Earlier during Employee Appreciation Week, the BYU-Hawaii President's Council served faculty "breakfast on the boss," held a pep rally and enjoyed entertainment by staff members. Following the April 2 luau, the popular Hawaiian musical group Kapena entertained the university ohana.
— Photos by Larrin Wada