Ballplayer signed by Majors

Bryce Uegawachi, a senior shortstop at HPU was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 26th Round of Major League Baseball player draft last month. Uegawachi will join an East Coast short -season rookie league. “The wizard,” which is Uegawachi’s nickname, was this season’s top returning hitter with a .368 batting average. A 1997 Kaiser high school graduate, Uegawachi is an environmental studies major.

Facelift for HPU offices

HPU summer of renovation program included remodeling of the English Foundation Program offices on the ground level of the MP building at 1188 Fort St. The academic English Foundation Program is an intensive program that helps students improve their English skills.

Itoh named VP of IT Services

Justin Itoh has been presented to the position of associate vice president of Information Technology Services. In the past few years, Itoh has been responsible for building the new Information Technology Services division to centralize the management of computer, telecommunication and information resources at HPU. His numerous improvements in technology infrastructure have been cost-effective and improved University IT functions, propelling HPU to the forefront of institutions that utilize new technologies. Prior to joining HPU, Itoh served as manager of information technology for Safetran Systems, Inc., a manufacturing company based in California. He also taught advanced networking courses at California State University. He received his M.B.A. from California State University and his B.A. from Pacific Union College.

Nurses pinned

Each semester, HPU honors its graduating nursing students with a pinning ceremony held in the days prior to the commencement ceremony. On August 12, at HPU’s windward campus in Kane‘ohe, 16 students were recognized for their achievements.Catherine B. Ryan, HPU assistant professor of nursing, was the featured speaker in a traditional ceremony planned by a committee of graduating seniors. The graduating students recited the “Nightingale Pledge” as a commitment to the nursing ideals established by Florence Nightingale and received their pins from family members and friends. The HPU nursing pin is unique to HPU’s nursing program. It features the Ko‘olau mountains, which are green and represent eternal life; the blue sky, which represents truth, loyalty, and worthiness; an ‘iwa bird, signifying courage; and a gold background, which symbolizes the golden rule.

COM Dean in Marquis Who’s

Who Helen Varner, Ed.D., HPU dean of Communication will be included in the October-released 2002 Marquis Who’s Who, one of the world's leading biographical reference publications. Varner, who joined HPU in 1991, is a former president of the Professional Communicators Association, the Texas Public Relations Association, and the Galveston Visitors and Convention Bureau. In 1995, she was awarded the HPU Trustees’ Award for Teaching Excellence and was named Woman Leader of the Year by the Organization of Woman Leaders. Since 1899, Marquis Who’s Who has chronicled the lives of accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment.

ASC advisor Volunteer of the Year

Susan Cotellesse, Recruiter and Academic Advisor in the Adult Service Center, has recently been named the U.S. Army Reserve Volunteer of the Year for 2001. Ms. Cotellesse, spouse of Major (Ret.) John S. Cotellesse has been an active volunteer, supporting military families for over 15 years. She has been assisting the 9th RSC with Family Readiness issues for almost four years. Susan first became involved as a volunteer in 1995, teaching courses in the Army Family Team Building (AFTB) Program.

Susan so enjoyed training the soldiers and families on team building topics that she became an AFTB Master Trainer, then the Ft. Rucker VIP spokesperson for AFTB. Due to her dedication and commitment, she was awarded the Commander’s Award for Public Service and Volunteer of the Month of the Ft. Rucker Installation.

In January of 1998, Susan became a member of the Schofield Barracks AFTB Advisory Council and instructed AFTB classes at the 9th RSC family conference. It was during this period that she became highly involved in the conference planning activities for the 9th RSC and has continued to work with a dedicated group of volunteers to create the 9th RSC family conference each year. Currently, Susan holds the positions of the U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) Family Program Advisory Council Member, developing issues that impact Army Reserve families worldwide, 9th RSC Pacific Rim Regional FPAC President, and Co-Chairwoman of the 2001 Family Program Academy recently held at the Turtle Bay Hilton.

Her awards for volunteerism include the Commander’s Award for Public Service, Outstanding Civilian Service Award, Ft. Rucker Volunteer of the Month, and most recently the United States Army Reserve (USAR) Volunteer of the Year Award for 2001. She and her husband, John, son, James and daughter, Sharena reside in the Hawaii Kai area.