BY ERIN TERUYA ’93 KINNEY
Typically held at the President’s Pavilion, this year’s Punahou Alumni Association (PAA) Awards ceremony was moved to Dillingham Hall and pre-recorded in May before a small audience. Both 2020 and 2021 PAA awardees were celebrated, and the event was broadcast on June 9 during Alumni Week and is now available on the School’s YouTube channel.
While social distancing requirements limited the size of the in-person audience, friends and family of the awardees were able to watch virtually on Zoom to support the awardees on stage.
Here are the Winners of the 2021 PAA Awards
Kitty Sullivan ’75 Wo Honored with ‘O’ in Life
Punahou Trustee Kitty Sullivan ’75 Wo, a longtime champion of education and the arts and a leader in the community, received the 2021 “O” in Life Award, honoring an individual who exemplifies the ideals of service to Punahou and the community.
Wo has served on Punahou’s Board of Trustees since 2001, including as a former chair and is now secretary and chair of the Education, Admission and Financial Aid committee. She also served as one of the three Trustee co-chairs of the School’s comprehensive Ku‘u Punahou Campaign and led fundraising for Punahou’s new Dance Pavilion and tennis facility. “Kitty leads with integrity, grace and compassion, and has had and continues to have an enormous positive impact on Punahou,” said Vice President of Institutional Advancement Noelehua Lyons ’91 Archambault. “We are deeply appreciative of her enthusiasm, wise guidance and incredible support for our School and our community.”
As a student, parent of alumnae, volunteer, donor and Trustee, Wo has seen many changes to Punahou’s campus and pedagogy over the years. “My admiration for our administration, faculty and staff grows deeper each year,” she said. “My aspirations for our students K – 12 and beyond, and my desire to keep Punahou at the forefront of education, is what fuels my commitment. I can say without question that serving this esteemed institution has been one of the great privileges of my life.”
Charles S. Judd ’38 Humanitarian Award
Dr. Bill Haning ’67 received the Charles S. Judd ’38 Humanitarian Award, given to Punahou alumni who have made outstanding contributions to society in Hawai‘i.
Haning is a physician and president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, which represents 6,600 physicians, clinicians and addiction medicine professionals nationwide. He is also a tenured professor at the University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), a retired captain in the Navy who served in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, and former director of health services for the Marine Corps Forces Pacific.
He had a personal connection with Judd while a student at JABSOM. “Charlie was unequivocally the most profound influence on my medical school career and subsequent choice of careers, of any of my very influential professors,” Haning said. “He was wonderful. There was almost nothing he couldn’t teach. I am exceptionally grateful to PAA and for the person to whom you give honor in the naming of this award.”
Old School Award
Three alumni volunteers received this year’s Old School Award, given to those who embody the spirit of Punahou through outstanding service to the School.
Laura Ing ’71 Baker
Laura Ing ’71 Baker served as PAA President from 2018 – 2019 and as a director prior to that time. Ing assisted with the worldwide mahalo tour for former Punahou President Jim Scott ’70, which brought hundreds of alumni from coast to coast together for his retirement festivities. Baker has also served on her Class Reunion committee.
Clayden Jim ’59
Clayden Jim ’59 has dedicated more than 50 years of service to Punahou, as a director of O-Men and past president of PAA. He is also a consistent volunteer at the PAA Golf Tournament and has participated on his Class Reunion committee.
Leeanne Jim ’87 Phillips
Leeanne Jim ’87 Phillips served as president of PAA from 2019 – 2020 and was a Carnival parent chair. She has served on her Reunion committee nearly every year.
Senior Awards
Two recent graduates from the Class of 2021 were recognized with the PAA’s Senior Awards.
Sydney Whittington ’21 and Robert “Ikaika” Van Dyke ’21 were recognized with a plaque and $1,000 award for their leadership – in and out of the classroom – during a difficult and unusual year. In addition to other achievements, Whittington and Van Dyke served as Commencement co-chairs, leading the Class of 2021 through end-of-year festivities.
