Awards and Funding

The Communicology program recognizes both its undergraduate and graduate students with annual awards.

Learn more about the Communicology program.

Contact Us

comg@hawaii.edu

(808) 956-8202

Undergraduate

Selection Criteria

This award recognizes students whose efforts in the field of communicology have been meritorious. These contributions should be above and beyond course requirements. Foremost, the award recognizes academic excellence. The award also acknowledges notable contributions to communicology research, leading to a conference paper, publications, and/or admirable community/university service.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Communicology Award, applicants must be a full time student at UH Mānoa and major in Communicology regardless of undergraduate class standing (freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior). A minimum 3.50 GPA in Communicology and a minimum 3.20 GPA overall is required.

Selection Procedures

Faculty in the Communicology Program and all students (peers/classmates) can submit an award nomination form (deadline March 15, login required). Self-nomination is also encouraged. After eligibility verification, each nominee will be asked to complete and submit a nominee information form. The Award Committee will determine the nominee(s) that best meets all criteria. If no nominee clearly meets the criteria, as determined by the Awards Committee, no award will be given that year.

Award

Award recipients will have their names placed on a permanent plaque displayed in the office of the Communicology Program. For 2024, the recipient receives a cash award of $500.00.

Previous Winners

  • 2022-2023 – Chaerin Song and Marieyan Balagtas
  • 2021-2022 – Corey Frantz
  • 2020-2021 – Makena Duffy
  • 2019-2020 – Austin Choy and Kittra Evenson
  • 2018-2019 – Natalie Henderson and Micah Leval
  • 2017-2018 – Justine Cheang and Grace Peralta
  • 2016-2017 – Sanoe Burgess and Robert Casales
  • 2015-2016 – Sakaria Auelua-Toomey
  • 2014-2015 – Kayden Iwasaki
  • 2013-2014 – Kayden Iwasaki
  • 2012-2013 – Sterling Higa
  • 2011-2012 – Chelsey Nakanishi
  • 2010-2011 – Edward Toyozaki
  • 2009-2010 – Christian Gilbert
  • 2008-2009 – Meredith Trockman
  • 2007-2008 – Michele Hamada
  • 2006-2007 – Sophia Chang
  • 2005-2006 – [None]
  • 2004-2005 – Tina Kuribayashi
  • 2003-2004 – Marni Vidal
  • 2002-2003 – Melissa Stepp
  • 2001-2002 – [None]
  • 2000-2001 – [None]
  • 1999-2000 – Rachel Kim
  • 1998-1999 – [None]
  • 1997-1998 – [None]
  • 1996-1997 – Sandra Montour
  • 1995-1996 – Elijah Yip
  • 1994-1995 – Janice Nakatani

Selection Criteria

This award recognizes students whose service to the field of Communicology has been meritorious. These contributions may include but are not limited to, service in the Communicology Program, in the college, at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and/or in the community.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Communicology Undergraduate Service Award, applicants must be a full-time student at UH Mānoa and major in Communicology regardless of undergraduate class standing (freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior).

Selection Procedures

Faculty in the Communicology Program and all students (peers/classmates) can submit an award nomination form (deadline March 15, login required). Self-nomination is also encouraged. After eligibility verification, each nominee will be asked to complete and submit a nominee information form. The Award Committee will determine the nominee(s) that best meets all criteria. In the event that no nominee clearly meets the criteria, as determined by the Awards Committee, no award will be given that year.

Award

Award recipients will have their names placed on a permanent plaque displayed in the office of the Communicology Program. For 2024, the recipient also receives $500.00 toward tuition at UH Mānoa for one semester provided the student is enrolled full-time, and is in good academic standing.

Previous Winners

  • 2022-2023 – Paige Barnett
  • 2021-2022 – Samantha Hall
  • 2020-2021 – Bianka Diza
  • 2019-2020 – Makena Duffy
  • 2018-2019 – Natalie Henderson
  • 2017-2018 – Gabrielle Buist
  • 2016-2017 – Katherine Gaulke
  • 2015-2016 – Corey Watanabe
  • 2014-2015 – Alyssa-Marie Kau
  • 2013-2014 – Howard Kam, III
  • 2012-2013 – Kayden Iwasaki
  • 2011-2012 – Sara Ohashi
  • 2010-2011 – Maria Deguzman and Keani DiBerardino
  • 2009-2010 – Matthew Weyer and Thomas Craig
  • 2008-2009 – Michele Hamada
  • 2007-2008 – Allison Higashi
  • 2006-2007 – LeeAnn Freitas
  • 2005-2006 – [None]
  • 2004-2005 – Alfred Gonzales, Jr.
  • 2003-2004 – Rachel Thomas

Selection Criteria

This award recognizes superior endeavors in communicology that go above and beyond class assignments and projects. The award is based on speech communication performance(s), service to the Communicology Program, and/or active participation in communicology-related activities in the community. The award will not be granted to a student who has another academic award or scholarship at UH Mānoa that is equal to or higher in value than the Joseph Fielding Smith Memorial Award.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Joseph Fielding Smith Memorial Award, applicants must be a full-time classified UH Mānoa sophomore, junior, or senior (with one or more semesters remaining at the time of application) and be a declared Communicology major or a declared Education major with a minor (concentration) in Communicology. A minimum 3.0 GPA in Communicology and a minimum 2.8 GPA overall is required.

Selection Procedures

Faculty in the Communicology Program and all students (peers/classmates) can submit an award nomination form (deadline March 15, login required). Self-nomination is also encouraged. After eligibility verification, each nominee will be asked to complete and submit a nominee information form. The nominee may be invited to participate in a 15-20 minute informal interview with the Awards Committee. The interview will focus on the selection criteria. Nominees should be prepared to discuss their qualifications for the award. The committee will determine the nominee(s) that best meets all criteria. In the event that no nominee clearly meets the criteria, as determined by the Awards Committee, no award will be given that year.

Award

The award pays one recipient $1000.00 toward UH Mānoa tuition for one semester provided that the student is enrolled full-time, is in good academic standing, and the funds are available.

Previous Winners

  • 2022-2023 – Madeline Chorney
  • 2021-2022 – Tara Sutton
  • 2020-2021 – Darcy Lynn Ing
  • 2018-2019 – Dayna Asuncion
  • 2017-2018 – Robert Casale
  • 2016-2017 – Louie Anthony Sicorsicon
  • 2015-2016 – Sakaria Auelua-Toomey
  • 2014-2015 – Gabriel Candelario
  • 2013-2014 – Gabriel Candelario
  • 2012-2013 – Richard Mizusawa
  • 2011-2012 – James Kim & Sara Ohashi
  • 2010-2011 – Justice Quick
  • 2009-2010 – Nga Nguyen
  • 2007-2008 – Michele Hamada and Audrey Mendoza
  • 2006-2007 – Ju Lynn Seet and Michele Hamada
  • 2005-2006 – Claire Sakata and Alfred Gonzales, Jr.
  • 2004-2005 – Claire Sakata
  • 2003-2004 – Melissa Mayse
  • 2002-2003 – [None]
  • 2001-2002 – Cherakah Cunningham
  • 2000-2001 – Reginald Condes and Kellie Mickelson
  • 1999-2000 – Rachel Kim and Carrie Oliveira
  • 1998-1999 – Rachel Kim
  • 1997-1998 – Karen Kahanu Kailimai
  • 1996-1997 – Karen Kahanu Kailimai
  • 1995-1996 – [None]
  • 1994-1995 – Jo-Ann Ablog Lagud
  • 1992-1993 – Ursula Chan Rodillas
  • 1991-1992 – [None]
  • 1990-1991 – Alma Ramiro Alonzo
  • 1989-1990 – Lynn Lorenz
  • 1988-1989 – [None]
  • 1987-1988 – Kathleen Kondo and Mitchell Roth
  • 1986-1987 – Lesly Takemoto
  • 1985-1986 – [None]
  • 1984-1985 – John Olinger
  • 1983-1984 – [None]
  • 1982-1983 – [None]
  • 1981-1982 – Sheryll Bonilla and Stanford Egi
  • 1980-1981 – [None]
  • 1979-1980 – Dean Yokotake
  • 1978-1979 – Stanley Lui
  • 1977-1978 – Geralyn Vasconcellos
  • 1976-1977 – [None]
  • 1975-1976 – John Honda and Randall Obata
  • 1974-1975 – Lloyd Nakata and Stephen Hioki
  • 1973-1974 – Amy Jenks and Milton Lau
  • 1972-1973 – Errol Kane
  • 1971-1972 – [None]
  • 1970-1971 – Anthony Curry
  • 1969-1970 – Sharon Emiko Otake
  • 1968-1969 – John Cassell
  • 1967-1968 – Terrance Tom
  • 1966-1967 – Sylvia Kiosterud

Graduate

Purpose

This award recognizes academic excellence, outstanding research that leads to a conference paper(s) or publication(s) and/or program citizenship.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Outstanding Graduate Student in Communicology Award, applicants must be a full-time classified Communicology graduate student, and must be the first- or second- year student in the program and have a minimum 3.7 GPA (overall and in Communicology).

Procedure

The Award Committee will review each candidate’s eligibility for the award based on the criteria. Those who meet or exceed the criteria will then be reviewed by the remaining faculty members, who will provide evaluation and feedback. Based on the evaluation by the faculty members, the Award Committee will make the final selection of the awardee.

Award

Award recipients will have their names placed on a permanent plaque displayed in the Communicology Program main office. For 2024, the recipient also receives a cash award of $500.00.

Previous Winners

  • 2022-2023 – Kayla Soma Tsutsuse
  • 2021-2022 – Mark Jehnsen Bumanglang
  • 2020-2021 – Dayna Aulani Asuncion
  • 2019-2020 Sanoe Burgess and Marguerite Liechtenstein
  • 2018-2019 Jeanna Chi
  • 2017-2018 – Sheana Humphries
  • 2016-2017 – Katelyn Smith
  • 2015-2016 – Kayden Iwasaki
  • 2014-2015 – Jaymian Urashima
  • 2013-2014 – Chelsey Nakanishi
  • 2012-2013 – Abel Gustafson
  • 2011-2012 – Lisa Van Raalte
  • 2010-2011 – Emiko Taniguchi and Amy Wisner
  • 2009-2010 – Keri Fehrenbach
  • 2008-2009 – Jennifer Sur
  • 2007-2008 – Matthew Savage
  • 2006-2007 – Hae Lin Han
  • 2005-2006 – Whitney Kim
  • 2004-2005 – Douglas Raphael
  • 2003-2004 – Induk Kim
  • 2002-2003 – Rachel Kim
  • 2001-2002 – Marybeth Callison
  • 2000-2001 – Kelli Asada
  • 1999-2000 – Lori Anders
  • 1998-1999 – Allison Hu
  • 1997-1998 – HeeSun Park
  • 1996-1997 – HeeSun Park
  • 1995-1996 – Cailin Kulp
  • 1994-1995 – [None]
  • 1993-1994 – Maria Lapinski

Purpose

This award recognizes a graduate teaching assistant in the Communicology Program who has demonstrated outstanding achievements in teaching.

Eligibility

A graduate student is eligible for the Communicology Graduate Teaching Assistant Award if they are teaching undergraduate courses in the Communicology Program. The award is based on outstanding performance in the classroom, evaluations from the course director and from students, display of creative and innovative teaching practices, and service to the course (e.g., sharing teaching ideas, providing assistance to other teaching assistants and to the course director, etc.).

Procedure

Course Directors for COMG 151 and COMG 251 or other faculty members who supervise teaching assistants may nominate Communicology Program graduate teaching assistants whom they feel meets or exceeds the eligibility requirements to the Award Committee. The Award Committee will determine the nominee(s) that best meets all criteria.

Award

Award recipients will have their names placed on a permanent plaque displayed in the Communicology Program main office. For 2024, the recipient also receives a cash award of $500.00.

Previous Winners

  • 2022-2023 – Kimberly Serratos
  • 2021-2022 – Kayla Soma Tsutsuse
  • 2020-2021 – Kayla Soma Tsutsuse
  • 2019-2020 Sanoe Burgess
  • 2018-2019 Sanoe Burgess & Jeanna Chi
  • 2017-2018 – Sheana Humphries
  • 2016-2017 – Haley Collins
  • 2015-2016 – Justice Quick
  • 2014-2015 – Elizabeth Bendix Harper
  • 2013-2014 – Caroline Kennedy & Jessica Kaneshiro
  • 2012-2013 – Abel Gustafson
  • 2011-2012 – Christian Gilbert & Andra Kubulins
  • 2010-2011 – Michele Hamada & Audrey Mendoza
  • 2009-2010 – Ashley Hanna
  • 2008-2009 – Blake Hendrickson
  • 2007-2008 – Jennifer Sur
  • 2006-2007 – Matthew Savage
  • 2005-2006 – Whitney Kim
  • 2004-2005 – Marni Vidal
  • 2003-2004 – Michelle Jerney-Davis
  • 2002-2003 – Anthony Ongyod
  • 2001-2002 – Olivia Federico

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to recognize and assist Master’s students in the Communicology Program in their efforts to conduct research (e.g., collect data) and execute applied projects (e.g., participation incentives) by giving them resources to support their scholarship and research activities.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Communicology Graduate Student Research Award, applicants must be a continuing full-time degree-seeking student pursuing a master’s degree in Communicology with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and in good academic standing. Past recipients are eligible, but preference will be given to first time applicants.

Award

Scholarships in amounts ranging from $200 to $500 will be awarded, pending availability of funds. More than one award may be granted in a given academic year.

Procedure

Applications will be accepted year-round. Applicants will submit a complete application to the Award Committee:

  1. A cover letter (two double-spaced pages maximum) indicating your interest in this award, a brief description of your achievements to date, and how this award will be used to significantly enhance your thesis/research project
  2. A double-spaced two page paper of your proposed thesis/research project describing its rationale, theoretical framework, research questions, and methods
  3. A complete curriculum vitae
  4. A brief memo of recommendation from the student’s thesis/research project advisor via the graduate chair with endorsement signature

Previous Winners

  • 2022-2023 – Nga Nguyen, Kayla Soma Tsutsuse, and Rebekka Williams
  • 2021-2022 – Julia De Jong
  • 2020-2021 – Dayna Aulani Asuncion

Learn more about financial support for graduate students, achievement scholarships, and financial aid.