Memorandum
February 12, 2026
To: Mānoa Cabinet / Mānoa Provost’s Council
From: Wendy Hensel President
Subject: 2026 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Presidential Awards for Outstanding Service
The nomination period for the Mānoa Presidential Awards for Outstanding Service has opened. These awards recognize sustained and exceptional leadership and service to offices, departments and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH Mānoa). Our staff and specialist faculty are an integral part of our mission, and these nominations and awards provide a vital opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of your team members.
I encourage you, your administrative teams, faculty and staff to nominate outstanding colleagues from the Civil Service, Buildings and Grounds Maintenance, Administrative, Professional and Technical (APT) and/or Faculty Specialist categories who continue to improve our campus and serve our students and community.
Award details:
- Recognition: One recipient per category will receive a $1,000 monetary gift and certificate.
- Ceremony: Recipients will be honored at a special in-person ceremony at the end of the 2025–2026 academic year.
- Criteria: The award information, eligibility, and criteria are posted on the UH Mānoa awards website (Eligibility Requirements).
We are proud to celebrate the 2025 recipients:
- John Gestrich, Carpentry Shops Manager (Campus Operations and Facilities)
- Marla Fergerstrom, Farm Manager, Hawaiʻi County (College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience)
- Seung Yang, Assistant Director, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship)
- Jennifer Frank, Specialist and Physician, University Health Services (Division of Student Success)
Nomination deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026
Submit nominations here: https://go.hawaii.edu/kRT
Please contact Debra Ishii (debrai@hawaii.edu or 808-956-7500) if you need further information.