Awards & honors

Advertiser Staff

'Green' awards presented

The following awards have been presented to individuals and organizations that contribute to keeping Hawai'i green:

• The Outstanding Urban Forestry Organization Award, sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Co., to Aloha Arborists Association, for dedication to arboriculture awareness and improving the maintenance and health of trees.
• The Riccio Award of Excellence to community volunteer Shad Kane of Kapolei, for his leadership in creating a "living lei" of native trees and plants at Pu'uokapolei.
• The Kaulunani Kauila Award, dedicated to the kupuna of modern Hawaiian arboriculture, to Abner Undan, president of Trees of Hawai'i in Kapolei, for his leadership and dedication to improving the arborist profession.
• The Christine Snyder Leadership Award, sponsored by The Outdoor Circle, to Gregory Severino, president of Aloha Arborists, for leadership in urban forestry.
  
  
  

Toastmasters officers named

Renaissance Toastmasters, who recently celebrated their sixth anniversary, have installed Violeta Luna-Hill as president.

Other officers are Babianna Chu, vice president for education; Bill Tyau, vice president for membership; Esther Maniago, vice president for public relations; Tamaki Havunen, secretary; Edith Ramiscal, treasurer; and Bill Tyau, sergeant at arms.

Vedanta degree accorded

Eliot Deutsch, professor and chairman of the philosophy department at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, has been honored by the International Congress of Vedanta.

During the congress' recent session at Miami University in Ohio, Deutsch was granted the degree of Vedanta Sudhakara, in recognition of his contributions to Indian and Vedanta philosophy.

Deutsch's publications on Asian traditions of thought include 15 books and more than 80 articles.

Professor wins counselor award

Judy A. Daniels, a professor in the University of Hawai'i department of counselor education, has received the American Counseling Association's award for counselor of the year.

In receiving the 26th annual Gilbert & Kathleen Wrenn Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person, Daniels was recognized for her work in helping underserved populations, including homeless children and at-risk adolescents, as well as her work in promoting the psychological development of UH student athletes.

She was the founding president of the Hawai'i chapter of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development and was instrumental in founding Counselors for Social Justice.

The American Counseling Association is the world's largest nonprofit organization for professional counselors, with nearly 55,000 members.