Teacher of the Year and Fellow of the Pacific awards presented at Commencement

At Hawai‘i Pacific University’s 86^th Commencement, which was held on Thursday, May 12, at the Neal Blaisdell Arena, two special awards were presented.

2015 Teacher of the Year Regina Ostergaard-Klem, Ph.D., presents
the 2016 Teacher of the Year award to Margo Bare

HPU Award for Teaching Excellence

Each year, HPU graduating students are asked to nominate candidates for the Teacher of the Year award. Instructor of Social Work and Master of Social Work Field Coordinator Margo Bare was named the 2016 Teacher of the Year. Bare, who joined the faculty of HPU in 2008 after serving 21 years on the faculty of Cabrini College in Pennsylvania, will retire from the University this summer.

Among Bare’s many professional accomplishments at HPU, she led the establishment of more than 150 field sites for MSW student practicum placement. Working in collaboration with a colleague, Bare was instrumental in launching the HPU School of Social Work Professional Development Workshop Series. In 2015, she co-chaired the School of Social Work Homelessness Awareness Week, which engaged students and the Honolulu community in a series of university-sponsored activities such as speakers, dialogues, service projects, a community resource fair and art events.

Bare has made an impact on hundreds of the University’s Social Work students and the work they do in their communities. Her students sing her praises. 

One student said, “She teaches us realistic social work situations and the correct, culturally-competent way to handle them.” While another student said,  “She’s encouraging, kind, and genuinely interested in the academic and personal successes of her students.” These are just a couple of the many glowing student comments submitted.

Commencement speaker Major General Arthur “Joe” Logan, Adjutant General, Hawai‘i,
recipient of the Fellow of the Pacific award 

HPU Fellow of the Pacific Award

Commencement speaker Major General Arthur “Joe” Logan, Adjutant General, Hawai‘i, was presented the Fellow of the Pacific award, recognizing his contributions to Hawai‘i, the Pacific Rim and the University.

As Adjutant General Hawai‘i, General Logan oversees the training and readiness of 5,500 Hawaii National Guard soldiers and airmen. He also serves as the Homeland Security Advisor to the governor and the Director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

He is a graduate of HPU, with a distinguished career of service in Hawai‘i and abroad.

General Logan was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2007-2008, serving as Commander, Regional Police Advisory Command to the Afghan Central Region. On that tour, he mentored an Afghan 2 Star Police Commander who was responsible for 22,000 Afghan National Police across 10 Provinces.

From 1982-2002, General Logan also concurrently served in the Honolulu Police Department. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Justice Administration and Management at HPU in 1993, while serving with the National Guard. General Logan went on to earn his Masters of Strategic Studies in 2004, at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

During his 37 years of military experience, General Logan received numerous awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal.