UH Hilo Press Release
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Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Contact: Alyson Kakugawa-Leong, (808) 974-7642
For Immediate Release
Two UH Hilo faculty recognized for teaching excellence
Two faculty members at the University of Hawaii at Hilo have been recognized by the University of Hawai`i Board of Regents for their excellence in teaching.
Dr. Ronald Amundson, professor of philosophy and chair of the philosophy and religious studies departments, was awarded the Regents Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Seri Luangphinith, assistant professor of English, was awarded the Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Both Amundson and Luangphinith received their awards at UH Hilo’s Spring Commencement ceremony held on May 15, 2004.
One colleague praised Amundson as “a committed scholar who loves his field of study” and a “‘people person’ who enjoys getting to know his students as people, not just warm bodies.”
A UH Hilo senior with dual majors in history and philosophy who nominated Amundson credits him as the inspiration for his decision to declare a second major in philosophy.
“Professor Amundson has demonstrated again and again an ability to invoke with enthusiasm the desire for growth and understanding in students,” the student noted.
A colleague of Luangphinith’s wrote that she has “brought rigor and high standards in the expected level of reading and writing in her classes while developing a strong student following.”
“Her teaching style demands that each student make an honest effort to meet her standards of excellence,” the student who nominated Luangphinith said. “A grade was never given without a meticulous commentary on how the paper might be improved to meet the standards of graduate program application essays.”
A second colleague noted that Luangphinith helped students create an English Club at UH Hilo, which assisted with a variety of University and community service projects, such as the annual UH Hilo Food Drive and renovation of the dormitories’ volleyball area.
“Seri models the desirable behavior we would like our students to engage in so they will be involved and be caring citizens of their communities,” the colleague concluded.
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