Awards

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HALT Excellence in Teaching Award

With the generous sponsorship of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, HALT typically recognizes two outstanding world language teachers (K-12, Higher Education) each year.

Nominators and nominees must be current HALT members in good standing. The HALT K-12 award winner will be HALT’s nominee for the SWCOLT regional Teacher of the Year.  HALT will provide travel support to help defray the nominee’s travel expenses.

2022 Winner

Natalie Lalagos (Spanish, Kealakehe High School)

2021 Winner

Rosa Bell pic
Rosa Bell (Spanish, James Campbell High School)

2020 Winners

Evelyn Coffey (French, UH Mānoa) & Diana Cristina Williams (Spanish, Waipahu High School)

2019 Winners

Will Smith (Japanese, Waipahu High School) & Anna Hawajska-Waters (German, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa)

 2018 Winner

Edna Mayra Hickling (Spanish, Waipahu High School)

2017 Winners

Heather Paulino (Spanish, Moanalua High School) & Rachel Mamiya Hernandez (Portuguese & Spanish, UH Mānoa)

2016 Winners

Nancy Wysard (Spanish, Mid-Pacific Institute)

Heather Nylen (Spanish, UH Mānoa)

Previous Winners:

  • 2015: Heui Chung Daisy Pei (Chinese, Mid-Pacific Institute) & Luisa Kou (Spanish, UH Mānoa)
  • 2014: Guia Melo (Spanish, ‘Iolani School) & Ron Kekeha Solis (Hawaiian, UH Mānoa)
  • 2013: Kim Galante Wong (Spanish, UH Mānoa) & Linda Fujikawa (Japanese, Kapi‘olani Community College)
  • 2012: Noriko Fujimoto-Vergel (Japanese, Island Pacific Academy) & Sheldon Ormsby (Spanish, Mililani High School)
  • 2011: Satoru Shinagawa (Japanese, Kapi‘olani Community College)
  • 2010: Marta Gonzalez-Lloret (Spanish, UH Mānoa), Sam L. “Noea‘u” Warner (Hawaiian, UH Mānoa), & Melvina Kurashige (Japanese, Mid-Pacific Institute)
  • 2009: Chie Tanaka Roessler (Japanese, Kauai High School) & Chhany Sak-Humphry (Khmer (Cambodian), UH Mānoa)
  • 2008: Aumua Mataitusi Simanu Papalii (Samoan, UH Mānoa) & Lyanne Iwamoto (Spanish, Roosevelt High School)
  • 2007: Esther Rodrigo Diez (Spanish, UH Mānoa) & Anne Marie Shim (Spanish, Mid-Pacific Institute)
  • 2006: Lucia Aranda (Spanish, UH Mānoa) & Kathryn A. Klingebiel (French and Welsh, UH Mānoa)
  • 2005: Cindy Wong (Japanese, Aiea High School) & Tess Lane (Spanish, Hawai’i Pacific University)
  • 2004: Naomi Hirano-Omizo (Japanese, Punahou School) & John Mayer (Samoan, UH Mānoa)
  • 2003: Sue Fujitani (Chinese, Kapi‘olani Community College) & Meg Uehara (Japanese, McKinley High School)
  • 2002: Junko Hanai Agena (Japanese, Aina Haina Elementary) & Gary Kanada (Hawaiian and Japanese, Hawai‘i Pacific University)
  • 2001: Jan Asato (Japanese, Punahou School), Luz-Marina Barnard (Spanish, UH Mānoa), & Ruth Elynia Mabanglo (Filipino, UH Mānoa)
  • 2000: Stephen Fleming (Chinese, UH Mānoa) & Lily Liu (Chinese, Maryknoll School)
  • 1999: Mia Asari (Japanese, Pearl City Highlands), Paul Chandler (Spanish, UH Mānoa), & Elizabeth Kauahipaula (Hawaiian, Waiau Elementary School)
  • 1998: William Burgwinkle (French, UH Mānoa), Vanny Clay (French, Punahou School), & Pat Harpstrite (Spanish, Leeward Community College)
  • 1997: Carol Beresiwsky (Spanish & French, Kapi‘olani Community College) & Melodee Metzger (Spanish, UH Mānoa)
  • 1994: Kyoko Hijirida (Japanese, UH Mānoa), Joy Logan (Spanish, UH Mānoa), & Cindy Ning (Chinese, UH Mānoa)
  • 1993: Teresita Ramos (Filipino, UH Mānoa)
  • 1992: Austin Dias (Spanish, UH Mānoa)
  • 1990: Hiromi Peterson (Japanese, Punahou School)
2012 Excellence in Teaching Award Winners: Noriko Fujimoto-Vergal (Island Pacific Academy - Japanese) on the left and Sheldon Ormsby (Mililani High School - Spanish) on the right. HALT President Satoru Shinagawa stands with them in the center.
2012 Excellence in Teaching Award Winners: Noriko Fujimoto-Vergal (Island Pacific Academy – Japanese) on the left and Sheldon Ormsby (Mililani High School – Spanish) on the right. HALT President Satoru Shinagawa stands with them in the center.
Awardees

From left to right, first row:  Vanny Clay, Jan Asato, Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Luz-Marina Barnard, Kyoko Hijirida, Teresita Ramos.
From left to right, second row: Hiromi Peterson, Carol Beresiwsky, Cindy Ning, Melodee Metzger, Paul Chandler, Austin Dias.

For more details, contact:
Will Smith
HALT Excellence in Teaching Awards Committee Chair