Each year, the Kathy Kawaguchi Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership is presented to an exemplary leader in the field of education in Hawai’i. This year’s award went to Joyce Yang, Vice-Principal at Holomua Elementary in ‘Ewa Beach.
“Ms. Yang is a dedicated leader in Hawai’i’s educational community,” says Dr. Dale Fryxell, dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Chaminade University. “She leads with intelligence and integrity, and she helps instill these attributes in others. We are honored to be able to present her with this cherished award this year.”
The Kathy Kawaguchi Award was created in 2016 in honor of the late Katherine Takeko Kawaguchi. Before passing, Kawaguchi held an extensive career in education and served as director of Leadership and Education Projects at Chaminade University for nearly a decade. She launched and led two major programs at Chaminade: the Castle K-16 Engineering Pipeline Project and the Office of Naval Research Project and Educational Leadership Program.
At her celebration of life at Chaminade University in 2016, Bro. Bernard Ploeger, SM, then-university president, and Dr. Dale Fryxell honored Kawaguchi with a special plaque that inaugurated the annual award.
The award is presented each year to an individual who has demonstrated the highest level of professionalism in education and has served as an exemplary leader and stellar role model. Ms. Yang joins Derek K. Santos (2017), Thomas J. Cox (2018), Ken Kakesako (2018) and Diann “Dolly” Wong (2019) in receiving this award.
