ARCS Honolulu Chapter recognized 19 outstanding Univeristy of Hawai‘i at Manoa STEM PhD students and announced three Scholar of the Year awards at Outrigger Canoe Club on May 5.
Scholars of the Year Allie Hall, Ty Shitanaka, Courtney Kurashima
Columbia Communications ARCS Award in Astronomy Scholar Zac Bailey with ARCS member Joan Yanagihara
ARCS member Roz Pearson with Bretzlaff Foundation ARCS Award in Engineering Scholar Roxanne Balanay
ARCS member Roz Pearson with Frederick Kresser Memorial ARCS Award in Engineering Scholar Joshua Dyogi
Guy Moulton Yates ARCS Award in Medicine Scholar Anna Nilson with ARCS member Merilyn Gray
ARCS member Merilyn Gray with E. Palmer Payne ARCS Award in Medicine Scholar Courtney Kurashima
Poorman Hoyt Stratford Foundation ARCS Scholar in Earth Sciences Jade Comellas with Carol Stratford
Ellen M. Koenig ARCS Award in Atmospheric Sciences Scholar Audrey Nash and with ARCS member Carol Stratford
ARCS member Patty Lee with Feorge and Mona Elmore ARCS Award in Oceanography Scholar Christina Comfort
Toby Lee ARCS Scholar in Earth Sciences Tanner Hayes with ARCS member Patty Lee
ARCS member Sui-Lan Ellsworth with Ellen M. Koenig ARCS Award in Agriculture Kyle Marcelino
Helen Jones Farrar ARCS Award in Agriculture Scholar Ty Shitanaka
Honolulu Chapter ARCS Award Scholar Anne Innes-Gold with ARCS member Jacquie Maly
Maybelle F. Roth ARCS Award in Conservation Biology Scholar Amir Van Gieson with ARCS member Jacquie Maly
Dr. Jacqueline Maly ARCS Award in Life Sciences Scholar Taylor Ely with Jacquie Maly
Sarah Ann Martin ARCS Award in Life Sciences Scholar with Jacquie Maly
Dr. Jacqueline Maly ARCS Award in Computer Sciences Scholar Jesse McDonald with Jacquie Maly
George and Mona Elmore ARCS Award in Mathematics Scholar Jack McKee with ARCS member Jacquie Maly
Dr. Jacqueline Maly ARCS Award in Computer Sciences Scholar Jesse McDonald with Jacquie Maly
2025 Honolulu ARCS Scholars from the University of Hawai‘i's College of Natural Sciences
2025 Honolulu ARCS Scholars in the College of Engineering
2025 Honolulu ARCS Scholars in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources with CTAHR Dean Grewal Parwinder
2025 Honolulu ARCS Scholars in the University of Hawai‘i's John A. BurnsSchool of Medicine
2025 ARCS Scholars in UH's School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology
To Quote a Scholar: Benjamin Wiseman
"I hustle to make sure that my expenses are covered, often working part-time jobs to make ends meet. Receiving this award means that I can place greater focus on my academic research work."
2024 Helen Jones Farrar ARCS Scholar Ben Wiseman quantifies nematodes to study soil health and explores new cover crops as an effective, sustainable way to control the pest in sweet potato fields.
Scholar Alumna Pays it Forward
“ARCS Honolulu Chapter provided recognition that my efforts and education were a worthwhile investment at a time when others could see little future for me.”
1976 Honolulu ARCS Scholar and Tampa Chapter member Pamela Hallock Muller was named one of 25 Top Women Professors in Florida. The University of South Florida marine scientist overcame gender discrimination and has mentored 60 graduate students, 10 of them from underrepresented minorities.
To Quote a Scholar: Alexandru Sasuclark
“My research, if successful, would add a new diagnostic toolset for medical professionals to assess risk for those already at a high risk for developing neuropsychiatric disorders.”
Honolulu ARCS Scholar Alexandru Sasuclark received Best Poster Presentation at the John A. Burns School of Medicine’s 2021 Annual Biomedical Sciences and Health Disparities Symposium. The George and Virginia Starbuck ARCS Award receipient studies the role of selenium in development of particular neurons in the brain and the perineuronal net structures that surround them. Disruption in their development is characteristic of many neurodevelopmental diseases. A University of Hawai‘i at Manoa PhD candidate in Cell and Molecular Biology, Alexandru aspires to a career in industry pursuing treatments for neurological ailments.
Read about his inspiration or watch his video